'Impoverished' Brando hides statuettes

Marlon Brando owes $20m and has hidden his two Oscar statues from debt collectors, a new book claims.

'Brando in Twilight' by Patricia Ruiz claims the 80-year-old screen legend is living in a one-bedroom bungalow on US government benefits.

The book also claims Brando's former maid is threatening to reopen a $100m (€82.2m) lawsuit, claiming he has reneged on promises to pay $10,000 (€8,200) a month to support her three children, one of whom is his.

Patricia Ruiz also claims the problems started after Brando got $7m (€5,800) into debt trying to defend his son Christian, who was convicted of the manslaughter of his half-sister Cheyenne's boyfriend Dag Drollet in 1990.

Brando reportedly told friends he was ready for death last year, although word has it that he has agreed to do a voice-over for upcoming animated feature 'Big Bug Man'.