Charles Brown

Charles Brown (January 15, 1946 – January 8, 2004) was an American actor and a member of New York City, New York, theater troupe the Negro Ensemble Company. He was best known for his performances in Off-Broadway and Broadway plays by Samm-Art Williams and August Wilson.

Biography Charles Brown was born in Talladega, Alabama, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Mack Brown Sr. His siblings included brothers Mack Jr. and Ramon and sister Shirley. Home moved to Broadway in 1980, earning Brown a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play. In 2001 he received his second, for Best Featured Actor in a Play, for his role as the gambler and con man Elmore in August Wilson's King Hedley II. That part won him a 2001 Drama Desk Award.

Other stage work includes roles in Neil Simon's Rumors (1988); John Guare's A Few Stout Individuals (2002); Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen's The Exonerated; Don Evans' Showdown; Leslie Lee's First Breeze of Summer (1975); Richard Wesley's The Mighty Gents (1978); Steve Carter's Nevis Mountain Dew; and Wilson's Fences (1987), in which he portrayed the older son of a character played by James Earl Jones. Television credits included the New York City-shot series Kojak, The Cosby Show, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and The Equalizer. In the 1983 TV series Kennedy, he portrayed the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Brown was married to Renee Lescook. He died of prostate cancer in Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived.

Filmography

+ Charles Brown film and television credits Year Title Role Notes 1976 Kojak Dan Garrett 1 episode 1980 Headin' for Broadway Pimp Film 1983 Without a Trace Sachs Film 1983 Trading Places Officer Reynolds Film 1985 The Equalizer Sgt. Oliver Gant Episode: "Bump and Run" 1986 Legal Eagles Real Cavanaugh Film 1989 The Cosby Show Capt. Turvey 1 episode 1993 Law & Order Riggs Episode: "Animal Instinct" 1994 Drop Squad Uncle Otha Film 1999 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. Krim Episode: "Stalked" 2001 Law & Order Stephen Morehouse Episode: "Armed Forces"