Clarence Muse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clarence Muse
Muse in 1978
Born	(1889-10-14)October 14, 1889 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	October 13, 1979(1979-10-13) (aged 89) Perris, California, U.S.
Education	Dickinson College
Occupation	Actor screenwriter director singer composer
Years active	1921–1979
Spouse(s)	Willabelie (m. 19??; div. 19??) Irene Ena ​ (m. 1952)​
Children	3

Clarence Muse (born October 14, 1889 – died October 13, 1979) was an amazing American actor, writer, director, singer, and composer. He was a true pioneer. He became the first African American actor to star in a movie, which was Hearts in Dixie in 1929.

Clarence Muse acted for 50 years and appeared in over 150 films! His talent and hard work were recognized when he was added to the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973.

Clarence Muse's Life and Career

Polly Ann Young, Bela Lugosi, and Clarence Muse in Invisible Ghost (1941)

Early Life and Education

Clarence Muse was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were Alexander and Mary Muse. He went to Dickinson School of Law in Pennsylvania for a year in 1908.

However, he decided to leave law school. He felt it would be too hard for an African American to make a good living as a lawyer back then. Years later, in 1978, the same law school gave him an honorary doctorate degree. This showed how much they respected his achievements.

Starting in Theater

By the 1920s, Muse was acting in New York City. This was during a special time called the Harlem Renaissance. This period was a huge growth in Black art and culture. He performed with two important Harlem theaters: Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players.

While working with the Lafayette Players, Muse was managed by a producer named Robert Levy. Their shows helped Black actors become well-known and respected. Muse once said that a play they did, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, was important for Black actors. He felt it showed how Black men often felt like "split creatures" in society.

Moving to Hollywood and Film Success

After his time in Chicago, Muse moved to Hollywood. He starred in Hearts in Dixie (1929). This was a very important film because it was the first movie with an all-Black cast.

For the next 50 years, Muse worked constantly. He took on many different roles, both small and large. He performed as a singer, and acted in various stage performances. He also wrote songs, plays, and short scenes. In 1943, he made history again. He became the first African American to direct a Broadway play, called Run Little Chillun.

Music and Writing

Clarence Muse also helped write several famous songs. In 1931, he worked with Leon René and Otis René. Together, they wrote "When It's Sleepy Time Down South". This song became very popular. It was sung by Nina Mae McKinney in the movie Safe in Hell (1931). Later, it became the signature song for the legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong.

Notable Film Roles

Muse was the main star in The Broken Earth (1936). This movie told the story of a Black farmer whose son gets better from a fever through his father's strong prayers. The film was shot on a farm in the South. It used real farmers as actors, except for Muse. The early parts of the movie showed the hard work of farming in a very realistic way.

In 1938, Muse acted alongside the famous boxer Joe Louis in Spirit of Youth. This was a made-up story about a champion boxer. It also featured an all-Black cast. Muse also worked with the famous writer Langston Hughes. They wrote the script for the movie Way Down South (1939).

Muse continued to act in many films. In Broken Strings (1940), he played a concert violinist. His character did not want his son to play "swing" music. During World War II, Muse performed for the USO. The USO provides entertainment for U.S. troops. He even performed for a Black USO group in Riverside, California.

From 1955 to 1956, Muse was a regular on the TV show version of Casablanca. He played Sam, the piano player. He had actually been considered for this role in the original movie. In 1959, he played Peter, the Honey Man, in the musical film Porgy and Bess.

Muse also appeared on Disney's TV show The Swamp Fox. Some of his other movie roles include Buck and the Preacher (1972) and The World's Greatest Athlete (1973). He played Gazenga's assistant, "Snapper", in Car Wash (1976). His very last acting role was in The Black Stallion (1979).

Other Achievements and Legacy

Clarence Muse received another special honor in 1972. He was given an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. He was also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Omega chapter.

Clarence Muse passed away in Perris, California, on October 13, 1979. This was just one day before his 90th birthday. It was also the same day that his final film, The Black Stallion, was released. His long career left a lasting mark on film and theater.

Partial Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Clarence Muse para niños