Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show” is legendary for its parade of Hollywood’s brightest stars and the unforgettable moments that unfolded on its stage. But among the show’s many iconic episodes, few have sparked as much fascination—or controversy—as the notorious 1963 clash between Marlon Brando and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Now, more than six decades later, a new book titled Love Johnny Carson by Mark Malkoff dives deep into this unforgettable encounter, shedding fresh light on the personalities and tensions that made live television so electric.
It was May 1963, and “The Tonight Show” was being broadcast live from Burbank, California. The atmosphere was already charged as the cameras rolled, but no one could have predicted the fireworks that would ensue. According to Malkoff, Brando—already an international sensation and widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his era—walked onto the set visibly intoxicated. He took his seat next to Zsa Zsa Gabor, the glamorous socialite and actress who, that evening, was promoting her latest beauty product: a face cream she claimed had “incomparable benefits.”
At first, the interaction between Brando and Gabor was cordial. Brando, in a display of old Hollywood charm, referred to Gabor as “fascinating and charming.” But beneath the surface, tensions simmered. Gabor, ever the self-promoter, repeatedly steered the conversation back to her face cream, much to the chagrin of both Carson and Brando. The dynamic quickly shifted from playful banter to something far more combustible.
The moment that set things off was almost comically mundane: Brando delivered a weak knock-knock joke. The studio audience responded with polite applause, prompting Gabor to quip, “Only for Marlon Brando would they applaud for that.” The jab, though delivered with a smile, was enough to rattle Brando, who was already on edge. What followed was a classic example of live television unpredictability.
As Gabor continued to tout her face cream, Brando’s patience snapped. “Are we going to have to sit here all night and listen to your crappy plugs?” he asked, his frustration barely concealed. The air grew thick with tension as the two began trading increasingly pointed insults. Gabor, never one to back down, fired back with her own barbs. The heated exchange escalated until, in a dramatic flourish, Gabor stood up and stormed off the set. Brando, still under the influence, could only offer a sly, almost triumphant smile as she exited.
According to Malkoff, the incident was more than just a spat between two celebrities—it was a microcosm of the larger-than-life personalities that defined “The Tonight Show” under Carson’s stewardship. The book, published in late December 2025, explores how moments like these helped cement the show’s status as a cultural touchstone. “Brando walked out drunk and sat down next to Johnny’s previous guest, socialite and actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, who had been promoting her new face cream,” Malkoff writes, setting the stage for the confrontation that would become television lore.
Brando’s career, of course, was already the stuff of legend by the time he appeared on Carson’s show. Spanning more than five decades, his work included over 40 acting credits and eight Academy Award nominations. He took home the Oscar twice: first in 1955 for On the Waterfront, and again in 1973 for his iconic role in The Godfather. His influence on the craft of acting is difficult to overstate; Brando’s raw, naturalistic style changed the face of Hollywood, inspiring generations of performers who followed in his footsteps.
But the 1980s saw Brando’s career slow, and his final on-screen appearance came in the 2001 film The Score. He passed away in July 2004 at the age of 80, succumbing to respiratory failure related to pulmonary fibrosis and congestive heart failure. Yet, as actor Jack Nicholson told Rolling Stone in August 2004, Brando’s legacy endures. “Marlon Brando is one of the great men of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and we lesser mortals are obligated to cut through the s--- and proclaim it,” Nicholson said. “This man has been my idol all of my professional life, and I don’t think I’m alone in that. The impact of movies is enormous, and his impact in the movies was bigger than anybody else’s—ever. Mr. Brando will be there forever—that’s all there is to it. He might not like that, but he’ll be there forever anyway.”
For many, the infamous “Tonight Show” clash is emblematic of the era’s unique blend of glamour, unpredictability, and star power. Gabor, with her unapologetic self-promotion and quick wit, was the perfect foil for Brando’s brooding intensity. Their exchange, though uncomfortable at times, was also riveting—proof that live television, at its best, is unscripted and unfiltered. The images from that night—Gabor storming off, Brando’s sly grin—have become part of the show’s enduring mythology.
“Love Johnny Carson” doesn’t just revisit the Brando-Gabor incident; it situates it within the broader tapestry of Carson’s remarkable run as host. Carson, known for his impeccable timing and ability to steer even the most chaotic conversations back on track, presided over countless moments that have since entered the annals of pop culture. But as Malkoff’s book makes clear, it was the unpredictability—the sense that anything could happen—that kept audiences coming back night after night.
In the end, the 1963 showdown between Marlon Brando and Zsa Zsa Gabor is more than a footnote in television history. It’s a reminder of the combustible chemistry that can arise when titans of stage and screen share the spotlight. The new book invites readers to relive that night, to experience the tension and drama as if they were sitting in the studio audience, watching two icons collide in real time.
As the legacy of “The Tonight Show” endures, and as new generations discover the brilliance of Johnny Carson, Marlon Brando, and Zsa Zsa Gabor, moments like these serve as a testament to the enduring power of live television—and the unforgettable personalities who made it must-see viewing.
