Jim Brown

Photo of Jim Brown

Biography

A fierce, unstoppable combatant on the football field, Brown's athleticism and confidence carried over to his movies, most notably the "blaxploitation" films like "Slaughter" and "Black Gunn" (1972), which minted him as an action hero for the African-American community. Brown served that demographic both on and off the screen through a variety of social programs of his own devising, including the Black Economic Union and the Amer-I-Can …
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Job Title

Actor, Producer

Born

February 17, 1936

Career Milestones

2004

Appeared in the comedy "She Hate Me" directed by Spike Lee

2002

Was subject of documentary "Jim Brown: All American", directed by Spike Lee; produced under auspices of HBO Sports; released theatrically in March

1999

Played a football coach in "Any Given Sunday"

1998

Provided character voice for one of the titular "Small Soldiers"

1998

Acted in "He Got Game", directed by Spike Lee

1996

Had featured role in "Original Gangstas"

1990

Played one of the three starring roles on the ABC action comedy pilot, "Hammer, Slammer and Slade"; series was not picked up by ABC

1986

First non-US feature credit, the Canadian-produced action film, "Abducted"

1985

TV-movie acting debut, "Lady Blue"

1983

Served as president of another Richard Pryor company, a film production unit entitled The Pryor Company; executive produced the in-concert comedy performance film, "Richard Pryor Here and Now"

First producing credit, executive producing "Pacific Inferno"

1982

Returned to films in "One Down Two to Go"

Served as president of Richard Pryor's company, Indigo Productions, in the early 1980s

1977

Last films for five years, "Fingers" and "Kid Vengeance"

1968

First received top billing in "The Riot" and "The Split"

1967

Began acting career in earnest with second film, "The Dirty Dozen"

1966

Retired from professional football

1964

Made film acting debut, "Rio Conchos"

1957

Played professional football with the Cleveland Browns

Awards

2003

Grammy Award for Best Country Song

1997

MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in Mars Attacks!