Charles Brown (actor) facts for kids
Charles Brown (born January 15, 1946 – died January 8, 2004) was an American actor. He was a talented member of the Negro Ensemble Company, a famous theater group in New York City. Charles Brown was especially known for his amazing performances in plays shown Off-Broadway and on Broadway. He often acted in plays written by famous writers like Samm-Art Williams and August Wilson.
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About Charles Brown
Early Life and Training
Charles Brown was born in Talladega, Alabama. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. After serving in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, he decided to study acting. He went to Howard University in Washington, D.C. While there, he learned a lot about theater. He also performed with the D.C. Black Repertory Company in Washington, D.C., and other groups.
A Star on Stage
Charles Brown became a regular actor with the Negro Ensemble Company. He played many different characters. One of his most famous roles was Cephus Miles, a farmer from the South, in Samm-Art Williams' play Home (1979). He also played Captain Richard Davenport, a military investigator, in Charles Fuller's play A Soldier's Story (1981). This play was set in Louisiana in 1944.
The play Home moved to Broadway in 1980. Charles Brown's performance was so good that he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor. The Tony Awards are like the Oscars for theater! In 2001, he received another Tony Award nomination. This time it was for Best Featured Actor for his role as Elmore, a clever gambler, in August Wilson's play King Hedley II. He also won a Drama Desk Award for this part in 2001.
Charles Brown acted in many other plays too. These included Neil Simon's Rumors (1988) and John Guare's A Few Stout Individuals (2002). He also appeared in The Exonerated and August Wilson's Fences (1987). In Fences, he played the older son of a character played by the legendary actor James Earl Jones.
Acting on TV and in Movies
Besides his theater work, Charles Brown also acted on Television. He appeared in several popular TV shows filmed in New York City. Some of these shows include Kojak, The Cosby Show, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and The Equalizer. A very special role for him was playing the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1983 TV series Kennedy.
Charles Brown was married to Renee Lescook. He passed away in 2004 in Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived.
Movies He Was In
- Without a Trace (1983) - Sachs
- Trading Places (1983) - Officer Reynolds
- Legal Eagles (1986) - Real Cavanaugh
- Drop Squad (1994) - Uncle Otha
