Peter Brown (actor)

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Peter Brown

Born	October 5, 1935 (1935-10-05) (age 72) New York City, New York

Peter Brown (born October 5, 1935) is an American television actor known for his role as Deputy Johnny McKay opposite John Russell (who played Marshal Dan Troop) in the 1958 Warner Bros. western series Lawman.

[edit] Background

Brown was born in New York City as Pierre Lind de Lappe. His mother, Mina Reaume, was a stage and radio actress, playing the "Dragon Lady" on the Terry and the Pirates radio serial. He has an older brother, Phillip, and two younger half brothers, Paul and Michael. Peter took the name Brown from his step father Albert Brown.

During his US Army service in Alaska with the 2nd Infantry Division (United States), Brown became involved in writing, directing and acting in plays to entertain the other troops. Upon his discharge, Brown studied Drama at UCLA and soon was appearing in plays and on NBC Matinee Theatre. Brown also supported himself by working in a gas station on the Sunset Strip. One night a man paid for his purchase with a credit card reading "Jack L. Warner". Brown asked the customer whether he was one of the Warner Brothers, the man replied "I'm the last one left"^[1]. The next day Brown was offered a screen test at the studio.

Brown was signed as a contract player for Warner Brothers appearing in Red Nightmare and Darby's Rangers . Though his role in Onionhead was cut from the completed film, the producer Julius Schermer hired him for Deputy Johnny McKay opposite John Russell in Lawman that lasted from 1958 to 1962. Brown also appeared in Merrill's Marauders (1962).

Brown appeared on dozens of other television shows and did several crossovers with other western series as Johnny McKay, including Maverick, in the 1961 episode "Hadley's Hunters," featuring Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick, along with a host of characters from other Warner Bros. westerns, including Cheyenne (Clint Walker), Bronco (Ty Hardin), and Sugarfoot (Will Hutchins).

With his Warner Brothers contract finished, Brown made two films for Walt Disney Studios, then was contracted to Universal Pictures for the 1965 western TV series Laredo.

Brown finished out the 60's and started the 70's in exploitation films such as Foxy Brown, Chrome and Hot Leather, and Rape Squad and soap operas such as Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful. He continues to perform in various American television guest star roles.