3 Jul 2004

Future of Marlon Brando's Tahitian island unclear

7:28 am on 3 July 2004

The future of Marlon Brando's private island in French Polynesia is unclear, after the actor's death at the age of 80.

Mr Brando bought the remote atoll of Tetiaroa near Tahiti in 1966, and spent millions of US dollars on trying to make it into a resort.

It's understood the screen legend wanted his ashes to be scattered there.

Mr Brando fell in love with the Pacific during the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty in Tahiti in 1962, in which he played Fletcher Christian.

His co-star Tarita Teriipia, became his third wife and mother of two of his children.

Mr Brando spent much of the 1980s on Tetiaroa.