| Graham Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Brown October 24, 1924 New York, New York, United States |
| Died | December 13, 2011 (aged 87) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
Graham Brown (October 24, 1924 – December 13, 2011) was an American actor best known for his work in the theatre.[1]
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Born Robert Brown in New York, New York, he is best known for his work on the stage. He attended Howard University where he earned a BA in theater. He also studied method acting at the Actor's Studio in New York. He began his career as a Shakespearean actor at Guthrie Theater where he appeared in productions like Hamlet and Richard III.[2] Brown was an original member of Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) and played in many NEC productions like: Malcochon by Derek Walcott, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men by Lonnie Elder III, District Line and The River Niger both by Joseph A Walker. He was part of the original cast of controversial play Song of the Lusitanian Bogey by Peter Weiss which toured Europe and was subject to a riot in a London theatre in August 1968. Graham Brown was often cast as professional and/or highly educated people such as doctors and clergymen.
One of his best remembered roles was as "Jared Philibert", the 50-year-old patriarch of a Caribbean-American family in Steve Carter's critically acclaimed play, Nevis Mountain Dew. He originated the role in NEC's Off-Broadway production and reprised the role in the West Coast premiere of the play. For the latter he received a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance.[3]
| Year | Production | Role | Theatre(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Hamlet[4] | Horatio | Minnesota Theater Company | |
| 1968 | Weekend[5] | Dr. Hampton | Broadhurst Theatre | |
| The Man in the Glass Booth[6] | Sam | Royale Theatre | ||
| 1971 | Behold! Cometh the Vanderkellans[7][8] | Dr. Vanderkellans | Theatre de Lys | |
| 1972 | The River Niger[9][10][11] | Dr. Dudley Stanton | St. Mark's Playhouse[9] Brooks Atkinson Theatre[10][11] |
Originally an Off-Broadway production that was transferred to Broadway.[9][10][11] |
| 1975 | Black Picture Show[12] | Norman | Vivian Beaumont Theatre | |
| 1976 | Eden[13] | Joseph Barton | St. Mark's Playhouse Theatre de Lys |
Transferred to Theatre de Lys on May 14, 1976. |
| Kings[14] | Tiresias in "Oedipus" | Alvin Theatre | ||
| 1978 | Nevis Mountain Dew[15] | Jared Philibert | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1980 | Lagrima del Diablo[16] | Archbishop Stephen Emmanuel Pontiflax | St. Mark's Playhouse | |
| 1981 | Nevis Mountain Dew[3] | Jared Philibert | Los Angeles Actors Theatre | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Lead Performance[3] |
| 1985 | Ceremonies in Dark Old Men[17] | William Jenkins | Theatre Four | |
| 1989 | The Talented Tenth[18] | Father/ Sam Griggs |
Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Muppets Take Manhattan | Mr. Wrightson | |
| 1989 | Bloodhounds of Broadway | Dr. Frischer | |
| 1992 | Malcolm X | Dr. Payson | |
| 1994 | Blues in C | Bucky Webb | |
| 1995 | Clockers | Mr. Herman Brown |