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Charles P. Brandt

Charles Brandt –- prominent attorney and best-selling author whose true crime classic, I Heard You Paint Houses, was the basis for Martin Scorsese’s 2019 film, The Irishman –- died of natural causes on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at Delaware Hospice in Wilmington. A longtime resident of Wilmington and Lewes, Delaware, as well as Sun Valley, Idaho, Charlie was 82.

Born and raised in New York City, Charlie attended Stuyvesant High School. An avid reader and devotee of hard-boiled fiction, as a teenager he steeped himself in the novels of Dashiell Hamett, Raymond Chandler, and James M. Cain. Inspired by their tough, terse, unsentimental style, Charlie began writing his own short stories, featuring heroes he referred to as “Sons of Sam Spade.”

After graduating from The University of Delaware, Charlie became a New York City junior high school English teacher. But his fascination with the art of investigation got the best of him, and he landed a job working as an investigator for the welfare department in East Harlem while attending Brooklyn Law School.

Law degree in hand, he moved back to Delaware, where he built a reputation as a homicide investigator and prosecutor for the Attorney General’s office, eventually becoming Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware. In 1976, he entered the private sector as a defense attorney before establishing one of Delaware’s preeminent medical malpractice firms.

A high success rate and continual accolades marked Charlie Brandt’s legal career. Named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by his peers, he also served as president of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association.

He began writing professionally while still practicing law in the 1980s. His first book, The Right to Remain Silent, a novel based on cases he worked as a homicide investigator, was optioned by Bruce Willis’s production company. Though never produced as a film, Steerforth Press recently re-released the book with a new forward by the writer.

He co-authored Joe Pistone’s Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business and Lin DeVecchio’s We’re Going to Win This Thing: The Shocking Frame-Up of a Mafia Crime Buster.

A few years after working on a case involving Frank Sheeran, the hit man who eventually confessed to the murder of Jimmy Hoffa, Charlie began work on what would become one of the most talked about true crime books of the last 25 years, I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran and Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa. The book so impressed Robert DeNiro that he brought it to Mr. Scorsese, who brought it to the screen as The Irishman. The film, starring DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and a supporting cast of Hollywood heavyweights, was chosen to open The New York Film Festival and garnered rave reviews, often described as a masterpiece.

In his final book, Suppressing the Truth in Dallas: Conspiracy, Cover-Up, and International Complications in the JFK Assassination Case, published in 2022, Charlie presented a preponderance of evidence supporting the conclusion that the mafia played a significant role in the assassination of President Kennedy.

Even though his writing dug deep into the mob-infested underside of American society, Charles Brandt was regarded by all who knew him as a highly upbeat and charismatic character with a wild sense of humor and as loyal a friend as you could ever have. A jazz aficionado with an encyclopedic knowledge of the genre and a vinyl record collection that covered miles of wall, he counted jazz great Benny Golson among his lifelong friends. Charlie’s wit, wisdom, and warmth, along with his story-telling prowess, made him a joy to spend time with and a highly sought-after public speaker.

While well-known for his generosity, Charlie took pride in pointing out that he always sported a Timex watch and drove the same beat-up old white Caddy, with carpets covering holes in the floorboards for 20 years.

More than anything, Charlie Brandt was dedicated to his friends and family. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Brandt; his children, Tripp Wier, Mimi (John) Royer, and Jenny Rose Brandt; grandchildren Maggie Royer, Jackson Royer, Libby Wier, and Alexander McCausland; his sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Gary Goldsmith; niece Laura (Daniel) Marcktell; nephew Denis Penna; great nephews Pacal Marcktell and Lucas Marcktell; and great niece, Rose Marcktell.

Ultimately, looking back on all he achieved in life, it’s safe to say that nothing he accomplished meant more to Charlie Brandt than the unconditional love he felt and received from his family.

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2024 beginning at 12:00 PM at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803.

Funeral Services

A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held on Sunday, November 3, 2024 beginning at 12:00 PM at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803.

Condolences

    Robert Snyder writes,
    My deepest sympathy
    10/26/2024 07:32 pm
    Dinny writes,
    I worked for Brandt and Benson in the early 80’s and remember Charlie for his sense of humor and for being a down-to-earth, nice guy. He treated everyone with respect, whether you were senior counsel or the cleaning lady. He was one of a kind.
    10/26/2024 08:12 pm
    Amy & Raymond White writes,
    We are so very sorry for your loss!! Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy, and all his family! You will be remembered well!! RIP, Charlie!❤️
    10/27/2024 10:05 am
    Amy & Raymond White lit a candle
    10/27/2024 10:08 am
    Stephen Powers writes,
    I had the honor of being introduced to Charlie by Keith Perry of Perry's Restaurant in Ketchum, Idaho, several years ago. When I stood up to shake Charlie's hand, he said "Holy Cow, you are even bigger than Frank Sheeran". Charlie chatted with me for a while, and I remember him as a true gentleman. God Bless the Brandt Family, Respectfully, Steve Powers (6'6" Tall)
    10/27/2024 10:09 am
    Anita Braker writes,
    It was a privilege to know Charlie during his time in Sun Valley. A warm bright light, generous and good humored. Modest about his intellect and accomplishments. Even a passing conversation with Charlie brightened my day. He will be missed.
    10/27/2024 10:43 am
    John Marsh writes,
    Rest in Peace, Charlie.
    10/27/2024 10:54 am
    Ralph A Razze lit a candle and writes,
    Charlie was always the best of friends. From the early 70's, he was a part of the Razze family after meeting our brother Lou Razze at Univ. of Delaware. He grew up with us. He was loved and will be missed by all who met him. He shared our dinners and our good and sad times. Bless the Brandt family as we share their loss.
    10/27/2024 01:22 pm
    Patty Puz writes,
    Charlie made everyone he met a better person. Thank you Charlie. You are loved probably more than you can imagine. I am grateful for all you brought to so many of us. Blessings to Nancy and the family.
    10/27/2024 05:30 pm
    Jeannine Gregoire writes,
    My deepest sympathy on your loss of the inimitable, brilliant, kind, Charles Brandt. I am so fortunate to have had him in my life, and to have had his involvement in "The Sun Valley Film Noir Series." I will miss him.
    10/27/2024 11:43 pm
    Ed Pankowski lit a candle and writes,
    RIP my friend… enjoyed working with you as Deputy Attorney General in the 70’s! We helped put lots of bad guys in jail! Miss you 👍❤️
    10/28/2024 08:05 am
    Chuck Mulholland writes,
    Had two interactions with Charlie in the 1970's, with his taking exactly proper steps to uphold the law each time. He did not abuse his office and took action where other might have looked the other way. He was a man of integrity and his passing is a loss to society. RIP.
    10/28/2024 09:14 am
    Jim Corrigan writes,
    As a Delaware State trooper I worked closely with Charlie for 9 months on the Whitman murder ((5/5/1975) case. I was inspired by his work ethic and leadership while working to achieve a conviction. RIP Charlie.
    10/28/2024 10:22 am
    Gregg Wilson writes,
    My sympathy to Charlie's family. I worked with Charlie at the Department of Justice in the mid 1970’s. Charlie was an excellent prosecutor and supervisor, and I learned a lot from Charlie.
    10/28/2024 12:40 pm
    Kemp Vye writes,
    Charlie was a great guy to work with at the Department of Justice. He swore me in as a State Detective and gave me some interesting assignments. When Charlie went to private practice, we had a chance to be on opposite sides a couple of times and it was still fun. Thanks for the memories Charlie.
    10/28/2024 01:33 pm
    Tom Whittington writes,
    Damn Charlie, I am sad to see you go so young! I write this to Charlie just in case it’s possible that he will be reviewing what we write and in my case – given my age - waiting to share his critique. Long ago, Charlie and I shared a dorm with the most famous University of Delaware student. We then took different routes, but were both admitted to the Delaware State Bar Association in 1971 – he would tease me that his teaching was more demanding than my service in the Marine Corps. After being admitted to the Bar, we both took jobs with the Delaware Department of Justice – where on occasion Charlie was heard to comment, “Do you think I would have taken this job if I didn’t think there was a bar”. Given that this was during the formative years of the Department as it evolved from an office of the Attorney General to the largest law firm in the State, it was interesting place to learn about the Law. During our time as DAGs we did everything from prosecute persons accused of Murder to represent Divisions and Committees of the State Government plus jokingly critique each other’s dress for appearing in Court. Once we moved on to other family and career issues we would see each other randomly, until he started dealing with a member of the Teamsters local named Frank Sheeran. I assume that the confidentiality is gone now, but during our first call on the Teamsters, he wouldn’t tell me what it was about until I pledged secrecy so I did and asked what is this about. He explained that I was the only lawyer he knew who had been a Teamster in the local of a person he was helping who was telling him some interesting stories. We concluded that my dates of membership and term were not specific to his client, but every once in a while I got a “What about…” question. We even teased about the possibility that Hoffa was buried in one of my construction sites until he learned the location of the actual burial. My sympathy to Charlie’s family, the world will be a less interesting place without him and he will be missed.
    10/28/2024 02:10 pm
    Beverly Marschlowitz writes,
    Dear Nancy, Trip, Mimi and Jenny Rose, so sorry to hear about Charlie. It's been quite awhile since I have seen you all but, I remember Charlie's big smile. Your family was a favorite of mine in Dr. Mac's office. Thinking of you all. ❤️ Nurse Beverly.
    10/28/2024 06:40 pm
    M. Regan writes,
    A different life time ago, I was a "runner" for TKKP on the floor below his office. I would often visit his secretary and he would come out of his office and talk baseball with me. I was a young kid fresh out of college and he had no business giving me the time of day, yet he made me feel valued........ I remember him talking about the Mets and D. Strawberry.. One day, he said to me - I know who killed Jimmy Hoffa. "You just wait and see"...... Thank you Mr. Brandt. I appreciate the time with you... R.I.P.
    10/28/2024 07:37 pm
    Diane J. Miller lit a candle and writes,
    I'm sorry for your loss. Mr. Brandt represented me in a serious criminal matter 42 years ago. He was then, an attorney in the state of Delaware. I will never forget him for changing my life for the better. He was ß kind, compassionate, and intelligent man. Bless you all.
    10/28/2024 09:13 pm
    Marcia and Rick Rausch writes,
    Dear Nancy and family, We are so very sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing. He was such a treasure to his family, friends and anyone who worked for him. His smile lit up any room he entered. We pray for all of you as you proceed through this new path. With our deepest sympathy, Rick and Marcia
    10/29/2024 12:01 am
    Gerald & Kathleen Chamales writes,
    Gerald and Kathleen Chamales express our deepest condolences on the passing of Charles Brandt. Our journey with Charlie began with my wife Kathleen hearing Charlie speak at the Sun Valley Writer’s Conference whereupon she gave me a copy of I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES….what a book! Then a few months later magically at the Chapter One bookstore in Ketchum, Idaho, in 2006 where the owner, Cheryl Thomas, connected us with Charlie on the telephone. She had Charlie on spied dial…After I praised his book, I HEARD YOU PAINT HOUSES, and Charlie asked “are you at Chapter One?” And I replied, Yes…” and he said, “Don’t move I’m coming over….” Whereupon he immediately came over, and we spent three unforgettable hours together discussing the book, and the fact that Charlie solved the Jimmy Hoffa mystery….wow! I asked who has the movie rights? And he said, “we still have the rights,” and it was in that moment that I made a decision to do everything in my power to option the book….it was like having “lightening in a bottle” and my gut told me that it deserved “the best of the best” in cinema to translate his extraordinary book into a great film…. When I shared my vision, Charlie entrusted me with the option, igniting a partnership that would lead to the epic true crime Scorsese film, THE IRISHMAN. How does a first time producer end up working with all those heavy weights? Well, it was all Charlie Brandt and his remarkable investigative talent who solved the Hoffa case and wrote a brilliant book about Frank Sheeran who did over 26 Mob “hit’s” for the Quiet Don, Russel Buffalino…and the most famous of all hits, the assassination of Jimmy Hoffa…..incredible but true! Through a series of serendipitous events, including a pivotal phone conversation between Jake Bloom and Robert De Niro, we turned that vision into reality and the Academy Award nominated film THE IRISHMAN was born. And it all started in Sun Valley, Idaho….a truly magical place. Charlie, your unwavering support and belief in me made all the difference. Your legacy transcends the page, having profoundly impacted the lives of many. Thank you for being a mentor, a friend, and for always being in my corner. You will be dearly missed, but your spirit will live on in the stories you told. You were such a great person….Rest in peace, dear friend for you were “the best of the best!” Much love, Gerald Chamales
    10/30/2024 02:25 am
    william casey writes,
    Only just now learned of my friend's passing. I will never forget Charles Brandt; his kindness, encouragement, and writing skill. I needed his help so long ago, and he was there for me every step of the way, as was his usual manner. So someday we will meet and talk as always. Bill Casey
    10/30/2024 08:38 am
    Paul Miller writes,
    Smartest man I ever had the pleasure to talk with. Rest in Peace.
    10/30/2024 08:01 pm
    Loretta Rose Razze lit a candle and writes,
    Dear Nancy, Jenny Rose and Family, My heartfelt sympathy for your loss and all of us who loved Charlie. He was a beautiful person. I met him at a young age, because he was friends with my older brother Lou. As the years passed, we always stayed in contact. Charlie was like my fourth older brother, and he treated me like a little sister. Many fun times and lots of laughs, and beautiful memories! I especially recall a weekend he took me and my daughter to NYC, stayed with his Mom in her apartment, while my daughter Mia Rose and I experienced the City. Charlie pulled up to my father's house on Elm Street in his white convertible cadillac, and off we went to NYC. We laughed that whole weekend!! He will be terribly missed and never forgotten. Love to you All, Loretta & Mia Rose
    10/31/2024 01:05 pm
    Linda Kenney Pettyjohn lit a candle and writes,
    I started to work for Charlie Brandt on August 15, 1983 without any real legal experience (just secretarial) so he gave me the opportunity to learn at Brandt University until he moved to Idaho. I worked for 2 other law firms until 2024 when I retired at the age of 74 and he’ll always be my “favorite”boss. Thank you CB for being one of the most important people in my life not only for what you taught me but always being there for me through the ups and downs in life. You were always so kind, so giving and so supportive to me, Danny & Jamie, who also thought the world of you. Our hearts are broken. Our deepest sympathies and love to Nancy, Jenny Rose, Tripp, Mimi and all the grandkids. RIP CB you will always be in my heart 💔
    11/02/2024 07:01 pm
    Jamie Pettyjohn lit a candle and writes,
    My mother worked for Charlie for many years and I grew up with the fondest memories of him. Whenever I would go to the office as a child- he always made me feel comfortable to be a kid in a very 'grown-up' legal environment. No matter what important meeting or phone call he had- he always took a few mins to talk to me. He was always super polite, playful and it was so easy to love him. I remember even making him 'office art' out of paper clips, staples or whatever else I could find at the time and he would always appreciate it. I never had a negative view or opinion about him. My deepest condolences to his family and dear friends. May he RIP.
    11/03/2024 01:17 pm

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