Biography

Jim Brown

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Overview

Born
February 17, 1936 · St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA
Died
May 18, 2023 · Los Angeles, California, USA (undisclosed)
Birth name
James Nathaniel Brown
Height
6′ 2″ (1.88 m)

Biography

Often mentioned as the greatest player in NFL history, this ruggedly handsome African American fullback for the Cleveland Browns first appeared on movie screens in the western Rio Conchos (1964), followed by a strong supporting role as convict commando "Jefferson" in the terrific WWII action film The Dirty Dozen (1967). He was kept busy with additional on screen appearances in other fast paced films including Ice Station Zebra (1968), 100 Rifles (1969) and El Condor (1970).

Brown's popularity grew during the boom of "blaxploitation" cinema in the early 1970s portraying tough "no nonsense" characters in Slaughter (1972), Black Gunn (1972) and Three the Hard Way (1974). His on-screen work in the latter part of the 1970s and 1980s was primarily centered around guest spots on popular TV shows such as CHiPs (1977) and Knight Rider (1982). However, Brown then resurfaced in better quality films beginning with his role as a fiery assassin in The Running Man (1987), he parodied the blaxploitation genre along with many other African-American actors in the comedy I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), played an ex-heavyweight boxer in the sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks! (1996) and ironically played an ex-football legend in the Oliver Stone directed sports film Any Given Sunday (1999).

Additionally, Jim Brown was a ringside commentator for the first six events of the Ultimate Fighting Championships from 1993 through to 1996. A bona fide legend in American sports and a successful actor, he continues to remain busy in front of the camera with recent appearances in various sports shows & TV productions.
- IMDb mini biography by: firehouse44@hotmail.com

Family

Spouses
Children
Parents

Trademarks

Prominent mustache
Number 32 jersey with the Cleveland Browns

Trivia

Never missed an NFL game in his career due to injury.
In 1984 both Walter Payton and Franco Harris stood to break his NFL record of career rushing yards. Brown vowed to come back and play after 19 years of retirement if Harris broke the record because he didn't like the fact that Harris often ran out of bounds instead of fighting for every yard he could get.
Considered by many to be the greatest ever to play in the history of the National Football League. One defensive lineman's response as to the best way to tackle Brown: "Grab a hold of him and wait for help."
He was a close friend of the late actor Lee Marvin.
Only man to be inducted during his lifetime into three sports Halls of Fame: Pro Football, College Football, and Lacrosse.

Quotes

[roles as a black actor] What I want to do is play roles as a black man, instead of playing black man's roles. You know? The guy in 'The Split,' for example, could be any color. And I don't make a big thing out of my race. If you try to preach, people give you a little sympathy and then they want to get out of the way. So you don't preach, you tell the story. I have a theory, an audience doesn't need to get wrapped up in blackness every time they see a Negro actor. And a movie doesn't have to be about race just because there's a Negro in it. If there's a bigot in the audience, he has to keep reminding himself, that's a black man, that's a Negro, because the story line has left him 'way behind, man. Way behind. "Just tell the story, and before you know it, that cat will be identifying with you, and he won't even know how it happened.