Christina Maria Ruiz is a Guatemalan who served as American actor, filmmaker, and activist Marlon Brando’s maid and housekeeper for a significant amount of time, as well as his romantic partner. Known for having a turbulent personal life, Brando was the father of at least 11 children and was married three times. He also had multiple partnerships. He started dating Ruiz in 1988, and the two of them had three kids together. After fourteen years, they split up. Even after Brando bought her a Mercedes and a $400,000 house, Ruiz proceeded to sue him for $100 million in palimony in 2002. The lawsuit was resolved a year later. After Brando’s death in 2004, Ruiz has stepped back from the limelight.
Early Years of Christina Maria Ruiz
There is very little to no information on Ruiz’s early years or family. She moved to the United States of America at some point in her life after being born in Guatemala.
Connection to Marlon Brando
Born and raised in Nebraska, Brando was an adept mimic in his early years, frequently copying the behaviors of his playmates. Actress by trade, his mother had worked as a theater administrator. He had so been exposed to acting from a very early age. Later on, he moved to New York City to pursue theater studies. He debuted on films in 1950 in the film “The Men,” directed by Fred Zinnemann. Over the next few years, he would create a body of work that included theater, cinema, and television performances. Throughout the course of his six-decade career, he became one of the most recognizable and significant actors of all time. Among the many honors bestowed upon him were two Academy Awards for Best Actor, one each for “On the Waterfront” (1954) and “The Godfather” (1972).
In addition to his illustrious acting career, Brando’s complex and remarkable personal life garnered significant media and public attention. In his autobiography, “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” Brando talked about his romance with Marilyn Monroe, claiming that the actress told him, “I don’t know if I do it right,” following their passionate exchange. He dated Japanese-American dancer and actress Reiko Sato in the 1950s. Even though they finally parted ways, their friendship would last until Sato’s passing. Additionally, he had an approximately eight-year relationship that was intermittent with Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno.
Christian Devi Brando was the only child of Brando’s first marriage to actress Anna Kashfi, a Welsh-Indian. In 1959, the marriage came to an end with a divorce. Pier Angeli, Shelley Winters, Nancy Qwan, and Katy Jurado were among the actresses with whom Brando had an affair. In 1960, he wed Mexican-American actress Movita Castaneda for the second time, and the two of them had two children: Miko Castaneda Brando and Rebecca Brando. The divorce from this marriage was likewise finalized in 1962. His third wife was the actress Tarita Teriipaia from Tahiti. In 1962, they tied the knot. Teriipaia, who was eighteen years Brando’s junior, spoke French fluently, which inspired Brando to pick up the language. Together, Simon Teihotu Brando and Tarita Cheyenne Brando would have two children. In addition, he took in Teriipaia’s cousin Raiatua Brando and her daughter Maimiti Brando. Subsequently, he also adopted Petra Brando-Corval, Caroline Barrett’s assistant’s daughter. Teriipaia and Brando were married for five years until being divorced in 1972.
He was associated with six women during the 1970s, including Yachio Tsubaki, a Japanese Zen master’s daughter. “Like a large number of men, I too have had homosexual experiences and am not ashamed,” he even openly admitted to his biographer Gary Carey.
Ruiz began working as a maid and cleaner for Brando after they first met in the 1980s. After the two eventually grew close in 1988, they became parents to three children: two sons, Timothy Gahan Brando (born January 6, 1994) and Myles Jonathan Brando (born January 16, 1992). The daughter, Ninna Priscilla Brando, was born on May 13, 1989. They broke up in December 2001 because he wouldn’t keep covering her living costs.
Ruiz filed a lawsuit against Brando in 2002, claiming that he had promised to assist her and their kids financially even after they separated. Ruiz claims that Brando additionally pledged that in the event of their breakup, his estate would be split equally between them. Even though they never had a formal ceremony, her lawyer said that their connection was similar to a marriage and that she had even gotten a wedding ring from Brando. She requested $100 million in damages and a court order compelling Brando to give her a “reasonable sum” each month so she could support the children and herself, according to the lawsuit, which was filed at the Law Angeles Supreme Court. In 2003, the matter was finally resolved. The settlement’s specifics were never made public.
Later Years of Christina Maria Ruiz
On July 1, 2004, Marlon Brando departed from this life. Ruiz was not a star, even when she was dating Brando. She has made the decision to live her life out of the spotlight ever since their settlement.
Net worth of Christina Maria Ruiz
The estimated net worth of Christina Maria Ruiz is about $1 million.