Secretary sues Brando’s estate

Marlon Brando’s longtime personal secretary sued the late actor’s estate for more than $1 million Wednesday, seeking access to personal letters, journals, movie scripts and other biographical documents about the Oscar-winning star of “On the Waterfront” and “The Godfather,” and monetary damages for “promises and representations” she claims Brando made to her over the years that weren’t kept.

Alice Marchak of Newport Beach claims the documents, including computer hard drives and notebooks, were kept in her personal workspace at Brando’s house on Mulholland Drive, where she conducted the actor’s day-to-day business and personal matters. Brando died July 1, 2004.

The suit, which was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims that Brando received $485,000 from a loan taken out on Marchak’s home but never repaid it as promised. The suit also contends that Marchak is entitled to possession of property on the South Pacific island of Bora Bora.

The Brando estate has already rejected Marchak’s creditor claims. The attorney for the estate could not immediately be reached for comment.

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-- Robert K. Welkos