His 1973 best actor win was all but expected given the tremendous success of 1972's "The Godfather," in which Brando played Don Vito Corleone.

Ironically, he was nominated for Academy Awards 22 times and didn’t win until “Around the World in 80 Days.” He died on Nov. 10, 1956, at age 56, a few months before the Oscar ceremony.

The actor would come to define a brave new style of realist acting, as well as defy the Academy Awards when he refused his 1973 Oscar for "The Godfather."© Evening Standard, Getty Images ...