Charles Brown (actor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Brown (January 15, 1946,[1] Talladega, Alabama - January 8, 2004, Cleveland, Ohio)[2] was a Tony Award-nominated actor and a member of New York City, New York theater troupe the Negro Ensemble Company. He was best known for his performances in Off-Broadway and Broadway plays by Samm-Art Williams and August Wilson.
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[edit] Biography
Charles Brown was born in Alabama and raised in Cleveland, Ohio,[3] the son of Mack Brown Sr. His siblings included brothers Mack Jr. and Ramon and sister Shirley.[4] After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, Brown studied theater at Howard University, in Washington, D.C. He performed with that city's D.C. Black Repertory Company, and elsewhere.[4]
Brown became a regular member of the Negro Ensemble Company, where his roles included Southern farmer Cephus Miles in Samm-Art Williams' Home (1979) and military investigator Captain Richard Davenport in 1944 Louisiana in Charles Fuller's A Soldier's Story (1981).[5] Home moved to Broadway in 1980, earning Brown a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. In 2001 he received his second, for Best Featured Actor in a Play, for his role as the gambler and con man Elmore in August Wilson's King Hedley II. That part won him a 2001 Drama Desk Award.
Other stage work includes roles in Neil Simon's Rumors (1988); John Guare's A Few Stout Individuals (2002); Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen's The Exonerated; Don Evans' Showdown; Leslie Lee's First Breeze of Summer (1975); Richard Wesley's The Mighty Gents (1978); Steve Carter's Nevis Mountain Dew; and Wilson's Fences (1987), in which he portrayed the older son of a character played by James Earl Jones. Television credits included the New York City-shot series Kojak, The Cosby Show Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and The Equalizer.[6]
Brown was married to Renee Lescook.[4] He died of prostate cancer in Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived.[3]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Social Security Death Index for Charles Brown], SSN 285-42-0579
- ^ Birthplace and death date and place per The New York Times (Jan. 31, 2004): "Charles Brown, 57, Known For Versatility of Stage Roles", by Mel Gussow
- ^ a b Theatermania.com (Jan 26, 2004): "Tony Nominee Charles Brown Dies at 57", by Seth Christenfeld
- ^ a b c Gussow, The New York Times
- ^ The New York Times (Nov. 27, 1981): "Stage: Negro Ensemble Presents 'Soldier's Play'", review by Frank Rich
- ^ Playbill News (Jan. 27, 2004): "Charles Brown, Tony Nominee for King Hedley II, Dead at 57", by Kenneth Jones. Note: includes an incorrect image of Blair Brown captioned as "Charles Brown in 1980's Home".
