RTw  04/09 1722  Brando expresses remorse over televised CNN remarks

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(New throughout with Brando phone call to Jewish group)

LOS ANGELES, April 9 (Reuter) - Actor Marlon Brando, whose live televised
remarks on Jews and Hollywood sparked an uproar, telephoned the head of the
Simon Wiesenthal Centre to express his remorse over the incident, it was
disclosed on Tuesday.

Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the centre, which was named after
the famous Nazi hunter, said Brando "expressed his remorse" during their
telephone conversation on Monday but said his comments were not meant to be
anti-Semitic.

He said Brando also agreed to visit the center's Museum of Tolerance on
Friday.

In an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live" last Friday, Brando said he was angry at some Jewish filmmakers for not showing more sensitivity to portraying
minority groups in a negative fashion while not portraying Jews in the same
way.

"Hollywood is run by Jews. It's owned by Jews, and they should have a greater sensitivity about the issue of people who are suffering," he said on the programme.

Hier said that during Monday's telephone conversation with the Academy Award-winning actor, "I told Mr. Brando that the remarks he made on the 'Larry King Live' interview about alleged Jewish control of Hollywood were music to the ears of racists and bigots all over the world who use similar terminology to promote the big lie of a Jewish conspiracy."

Hier said that during Brando's visit to the Museum of Tolerance he
expected the actor "to make a public statement regarding this matter."

Brando's spokesman was not available to confirm the phone conversation or
the proposed visit.

The Jewish Defence League and the Anti-Defamation League condemned Brando's comments and the JDL demanded that his star be removed from the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.

     The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said the star would not be removed, but
on Monday it was defaced with a black swastika, which was later removed.

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