05/20/2023
Jim Brown (February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023) was an NFL star turned actor who profoundly impacted opportunities for black actors in the 60s and 70s. He began acting in the 1964 Western film "Rio Conchos." He quickly rose to stardom with solid leads in "Dark of the Sun" and "The Split" in 1968. In 1969 he starred in "100 Rifles" with Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch.
Jim Brown's influence as a black actor extended further into the 1970s. His stature and physique were groundbreaking to the representation of black men in entertainment. He also took on roles with controversial topics, especially considering he was an activist during the Civil Rights movement. For example, in 1970, he played the first black sheriff in a southern town in the movie "tick...tick...tick..." Yet, his stardom grew significantly during the explosion of blaxploitation movies.
In 1972, Brown starred in "Slaughter" and "Black Gunn" and "Slaughter's Big Rip-Off" in 1973. In 1974, he teamed up with his good friends Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly to star in the classic action movie "Three the Hardway." He continued acting throughout the 70s, appearing in films such as "Take a Hard Ride," "Fingers," and "Pacific Inferno."
In 1982, he starred in the movie "One Down, Two to go," with Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly, and Richard Roundtree. Afterward, he appeared on several T.V. shows such as "CHiPs," "Knight Rider," and "The A-Team." In 1988, he starred in the classic blaxploitation parody "I'm Gonna Git Yo Sucka, " a spoof of some of the films from the 70s. Brown continued to act into the 1990s, but in 1996 he starred in "Original Gangstas," which paid homage to blaxploitation stars, including Pam Grier and Ron O'Neal.
Jim Brown was an excellent actor with an incredible screen presence. He was a role model for many youths growing up and iconic in considerable ways. He is historic in Black Film History, and we will never forget his work.
R.I.P Jim Brown (February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023)
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