The Strange Story of

Wally Cox turned all his physical characteristics into role- building assets….the short stature, the horn-rimmed glasses and the high-pitched voice became Mr. Peepers, Hiram Holliday, Professor P. Casper Biddle and even “Underdog”. But off the set, he was none of the milquetoast characters he played on screen. While he spoke four or five languages, had majored in botany and was conversant in other sciences, Wally was also an outdoorsman who loved to hike and motorcycle often with one of his best friends, Marlon Brando. In his book
"Songs For My Mother”, Brando talked about their childhood friendship and how it endured until Wally’s untimely death in 1973. “When he died, I felt mystified and could not accept it” Marlon wrote. “I took some things that belonged to him, including the pajamas in which he died..”. But what Marlon failed to mention in the book…. was that he also took Wally!

Young Marlon (without Wally)

Wallace Maynard Cox was born in Detroit , Michigan on December 6, 1924 while Marlon Brando, Jr. was born earlier that year on April 3, 1924 in Omaha , Nebraska . But, because both families moved frequently, the two boys met when they were 8 years old in Evanston , Illinois . And, even though they were light years apart in temperament and personality, Wally and “Bud” became as close as brothers and their friendship lasted a lifetime. “Marlon was a rough boy” Wally’s sister recalled. “He tied Wally to a tree one afternoon and left him. I’m surprised they remained friends but they did.” Those rough and tumble sessions continued until the families moved apart a few years later and, by the time the boys met up again, they were in their 20s.

Wally finished college in New York City and was making jewelry to support his sister and invalid mother. Marlon had been expelled from Shattuck Military academy before he finished high school and was in New York to study acting with Stella Adler. They decided to move in together but, as close as the two men were, Cox couldn’t abide Marlon’s pet raccoon. So the apartment-sharing didn’t last long. However he did take Marlon’s advice and begin acting lessons with Adler, too. He also continued to make his jewelry and often took his creations along in a pillowcase to show and sell at private parties. Then he began to add impromptu monologues to amuse the guests. They were so successful Wally was soon doing them at nightclubs around town.

Wally does Smirnoff!

By the early 1950s Wally had added Broadway musical reviews and early television comedy/variety shows to his repertoire. About that time producer Fred Coe was about to launch a new live situation comedy on television and asked him to play the lead role…a high school science teacher by the name of Robinson Peepers. “Mr. Peepers” ran 3 years and made Wally a household name. It also won him an Emmy!

"Mr. Peepers"

In the meantime, Marlon’s career was becoming absolutely meteoric. His role as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar named Desire” on Broadway made him a wanted man in Hollywood . When the play ended its 3-year run, he headed west to do “The Men” for Stanley Kramer. Brando actually spent 3 weeks in a wheelchair at the Birmingham Veterans Hospital just to get ready for the role! After that, he stayed to do the film version of “Street…” with Vivien Leigh and Kim Hunter.

Marlon in "The Men" with Ezra Stone.

Soon Wally was also in Hollywood but his forte had become the small screen where he had become immensely popular. “The Adventures of Hiram Holliday” a comedy/adventure series in 1956, was his last starring role, however, before he became the perennial guest star on every series of the period….”The Beverly Hillbillies”, “Here’s Lucy”, “Bonanza” and “Twilight Zone” to name a very few. In 1966 he became the “upper left cubicle” on “Hollywood Squares” and occupied that seat for 6 years.

Wally on Life's cover July, 1952

By the late 1960s both Marlon and Wally had married…three times. But throughout all the wedding and shedding, they remained close. Wally’s second wife Milagros Tirado Beck (Millie) revealed that things between them was not always rosy. When she first met Marlon, he had arrived at their home with an entire entourage but was in a sulky mood and rude to her. Wally found his friend’s demanding and aggressive behavior irritating but fumed in private. They still acted like children when they were together even to wrestling on the floor. Millie said “Wally beat him every time!”.

Brando as "The Godfather" 1972

Then suddenly on February 13, 1973 , Wally Cox died. The cause of death was ruled a massive heart attack. Brando was in Tahiti when he got the word and rushed back to Los Angeles . But unlike the other family friends, Marlon chose to crawl in a rear window and hide out in the room where Wally had died. Many at the wake never knew he was there. When asked why he didn’t join the others downstairs, Marlon replied “Wally was my friend, nobody else’s”

After Wally’s funeral and cremation, his widow Patricia asked Marlon to scatter his ashes along his favorite hiking paths. Brando agreed. But 3 years later, Pat happened to read an article in Time magazine that quoted the actor as saying” He was my brother. I can’t tell you how much I miss and love that man. I have Wally’s ashes in my house. I talk to him all the time”. Pat wanted to sue but, after choking back laughter and possibly a few chills, all her lawyers refused.

Wally in "The Twilight Zone" 1964

So it seems, like Mary and her little lamb, wherever Marlon went Wally was sure to go. …on his boat, in his car, on his trips around the country and beyond its borders. Wally probably traveled more when he was dead than when he was alive and apparently without need for fare or passport.

When Marlon died on July 1, 2004 he was also cremated and his family decided to spread his ashes in Death Valley . When they found Wally they decided he could go, too. But there was still another friend whose ashes had spent time with Marlon. He was actor Sam Gilman whose wife gave a portion of Sam’s ashes to Marlon as a token of the friendship between the men. The Brandos took Sam along.

I have only one question…....is Death Valley really where Wally wanted to go?