Wikipedia

Reb Brown

Reb Brown(bornRobert Edward Brown;April 29, 1948) is an American former football player and actor. Born in theLos Angelesarea, Brown played football in high school and college. He first appeared on film and television in the early 1970s, playing minor or supporting roles up until 1979, where he playedCaptain Americain two made-for-tv films.

Reb Brown
Brown in 2018
Born
Robert Edward Brown

(1948-04-29)April 29, 1948(age 76)
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1973–present
Spouse
​
(m.1979)​
Websiterebbrownofficialwebsite

Following this, Brown played supporting roles in major Hollywood productions his most notable beingTed Kotcheff'sUncommon Valorwhich was a box-office success. Also during this time Brown played many lead roles in genre films including:Yor, the Hunter from the Future(1983),Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf(1985),Strike Commando(1987),Space Mutiny(1988),Robowar(1988), among others. Brown's most significant role of that ra was inPhilippe Mora's Australian filmDeath of a Soldier.Based on a true story, he playsPrivateEdward Leonski.His performance was critically acclaimed, and was nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Role by theAustralian Film Institute.

In the 1990s, Brown went on a hiatus and started to act again in 2012.

Early years

edit

Brown's father was a policeman who had also been a singer. He grew up in theLos Angeles areaand played football atTemple City High School.After graduating in 1966, he received a scholarship to playfullbackat theUniversity of Southern Californiaduring the 1967 season.[1]He ended up losing the starting running back position to another student,O. J. Simpson,and Brown decided to transfer to another college in the Los Angeles area.[2]

Acting career

edit

When he began acting, there was already aRobert Brownin theScreen Actor's Guild,so he took his initials, Reb, as his first name for acting.[3]

In 1973, Brown acted inBernard L. Kowalski's filmSssssss.[4]

Also that year, he acted in the made for television filmThe Girl Most Likely to...

He later appeared in guest starring roles in severalUniversal Studios-produced television series, includingEmergency!,Marcus Welby, M.D.,Kojak,The Eddie Capra Mysteries,andThe Rockford Files.He also appeared as Rebel, a southern boy who has a fight withRalph MalphinHappy Days,and playedJim Bridgerin the all-star miniseriesCentennial.He also appeared in Three's Company as Elmo, a date forChrissy Snow.

In 1978, inJohn Milius'sBig Wednesday,Brown played the role of "Enforcer."[5]

In 1979, he also playedCaptain Americain two made-for-TV films,Captain AmericaandCaptain America II: Death Too Soon.It was part of the same development deal that yielded theLou Ferrignovehicle,The Incredible Hulk.

Also that year, he had a supporting role as an intimidating football player who joins a basketball team inJack Smight's sport comedyFast Break.[6]Furthermore he played a role inPaul Schrader's filmHardcore.[7]

In 1982, Brown acted inAlbert Pyun'sThe Sword and the Sorcerer.[8]

In 1983, Brown played the lead role inAntonio Margheriti's Science fiction film,Yor, the Hunter from the Future.The film was poorly reviewed.[9][10][11][12]However, the film was a financial success. The director stated that Columbia distributed 1400 prints of the film and that it was "one of the most successful pictures of my life."[13]The film grossed $2,810,199 at the US box office and ranked 121 as one of the top earners of that year.[14]

Also that year he was in the supporting cast ofTed Kotcheff'sUncommon Valor.He played Blaster, a Viet Nam veteran character who trains with other vets in a P.O.W. rescue operation.[15]The film was a box-office hit, one of the top-earning films of 1983. This was considered a surprise at the time because of the film's lack of stars and the fact it had a lot of competition.[16]The film grossed $30,503,151 at the US box office and ranked 69 as one of the top earners of that year.[14]

In 1985, Brown starred inPhilippe Mora'sHowling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf.

In 1986, Brown re-united with director Mora for the Australian filmDeath of a Soldier.Based on a true story, it tells the story of serial killer,PrivateEdward Leonski,who committed his crimes and went to court inMelbourne,duringWorld War II.The film received many good reviews, and Brown's performance was acclaimed.[17][18][19]Kevin ThomasofThe Los Angeles Timessaid his performance had "an impressive complexity and range of emotions."[20]Brown received a nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Dramatic Role by theAustralian Film Institute.

In 1987, Brown co-lead withChristopher ConnellyinBruno Mattei'saction filmStrike Commando.

In 1988, Brown starred inDavid Winters'sspace operascience fiction filmSpace Mutiny.Winters said he hired Brown for the lead was due to the positive reviews he received for a previous Australian film and that he hired his wifeCisse Cameronbecause Brown asked if he had a part for her.[21]The film has the reputation of being an amusing, unintentionally funny, and campy B-movie.[22][23][24]

Also that year, he acted inRick Rosenthal'sDistant Thunder,[25]and reunited with director Mattei for to play the lead inRobowar.

In 1989, Brown co-lead withLou Ferrignoin the action filmCageplayingVietnam Warveterans buddies.[26]They would later reunite forCage II(1994).

In 1990, Brown acted inStreet Hunter.[27]

In 1991, he acted inJohn Milius'sFlight of the Intruder.[28]

He appeared in the third-seasonMiami Viceepisode, "Viking Bikers from Hell," in which he played a sociopathic biker, avenging his buddy's recent death.

After not appearing on screen in eighteen years, Brown co-starred in the 2012 film,Night Claws.

Personal life

edit

Brown married actressCisse Cameronin 1979.[29]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit

Series

edit

References

edit
  1. ^Kleiner, Dick (March 16, 1979). "Reb Brown Wants To Be Hero To American Kids".Daily Press(Newport News, Virginia). p. 42.
  2. ^"Rob Brown Feels Real Heroes Deserve Comeback".Indiana Gazette(Indiana, Pennsylvania). May 10, 1998. p. 6.
  3. ^Kleiner, Dick (April 1, 1979). "Reb Brown brings back".Austin American-Statesman(108): Show World: 30.
  4. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
  5. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 14,2023.
  6. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
  7. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
  8. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
  9. ^Carroll, Kathleen (August 20, 1983). "It could blow 'Yor' mind".Daily News(New York, New York). p. 11.
  10. ^Maslin, Janet(August 21, 1983)."'Yor, The Hunter' with a Cave Man Hero ".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 29,2016.
  11. ^Arnold, Gary (August 23, 1983)."The Daze of 'Yor'; Boring 'Metalstorm'".The Washington Post.p. B11.RetrievedDecember 1,2020.
  12. ^Maltin, Leonard(1992).Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 1993.Plume. p. 1418.ISBN978-0-452-26857-9.RetrievedMarch 15,2019.
  13. ^Curti, Roberto (2016).Diabolika: Supercriminals, Superheroes and the Comic Book Universe in Italian Cinema.Midnight Marquee Press. p. 179.ISBN978-1-936168-60-6.
  14. ^ab"Domestic Box Office For 1983".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
  15. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 14,2023.
  16. ^"'Uncommon Valor' An Uncommon Hit ".Sarasota Herald-Tribune:8-C. February 15, 1984.
  17. ^Briers, Richard (July 24, 1987). "Multiples Murders".The Guardian:9.
  18. ^Wolf, William (May 16, 1986). "Coury-martial drama engrossing".The Reporter Dispatch:Section G: 12.
  19. ^Blank, Ed (October 17, 1986). "Strong performances, engrossing story lift 'Death of a Soldier'".The Pittsburgh Press.103:B3–B4.
  20. ^Thomas, Kevin (August 29, 1986). "'Death of Soldier' focuses on justice ".The Los Angeles Times:Part VI: 19.
  21. ^Winters, David (2018).Tough guys do dance.Pensacola, Florida: Indigo River Publishing. pp. 4348–4411.ISBN978-1-948080-27-9.
  22. ^Reagan, Danny (March 31, 1989). "Two from AIP, and a very weird one from Vestron".Abilene Reporter-News:2C.
  23. ^Mayo, Mike (April 26, 1989). "A foursome of farces from the far side".The Roanoke Times:Extra: 1.
  24. ^Lounges, Tom (May 5, 1989). "Aliens, lasers stir excitement in science fiction release".The Times:C-6.
  25. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
  26. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 14,2023.
  27. ^"Street Hunter".TVGuide.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
  28. ^"AFI|Catalog".catalog.afi.RetrievedJuly 16,2023.
  29. ^"Cisse Cameron Marriages and Divorces".strictlyweddings.RetrievedJuly 14,2023.

Works cited

edit
  • Curti, Roberto (2016).Diabolika: Supercriminals, Superheroes and the Comic Book Universe in Italian Cinema.Midnight Marquee Press.ISBN978-1-936168-60-6.
  • Winters, David (2018).Tough guys do dance.Pensacola, Florida: Indigo River Publishing.ISBN978-1-948080-27-9.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reb_Brown&oldid=1259734147"