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James Brown
James Brown fan postcard 1955.jpg
Brown (left) with Rin Tin Tin in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, 1955
Born
James Edward Brown

(1920-03-22)March 22, 1920
Desdemona, Texas, U.S.
Died April 11, 1992(1992-04-11) (aged 72)
Alma mater Baylor University
Occupation Film and television actor
Years active 1941–1992
Spouse(s) Betty Brown
Children 2

James Edward Brown (March 22, 1920 – April 11, 1992) was an American film and television actor who played Lt. Ripley Masters in the American western television series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.

Life and career

Brown was born in Desdemona, Texas. He attended Baylor University, representing the university at Tennis. Brown began his acting career in 1941 with an uncredited role as a medic in the film Ride, Kelly, Ride. His first credited role was in the 1942 film The Forest Rangers. Brown starred, co-starred and appeared on films including The Good Fellows, Objective, Burma!, Gun Street, The Big Fix, When the Clock Strikes, Air Force, Irma la Douce, The Fabulous Texan, Young and Willing, The Gallant Legion, The Younger Brothers, Corvette K-225, Sands of Iwo Jima, Yes Sir, That's My Baby, Our Hearts Were Young Gay (and its sequel Our Hearts Were Growing Up), Chain Lightning, Missing Women, Inside the Mafia, The Groom Wore Spurs, Space Probe Taurus, and Going My Way.

Rin Tin Tin main cast 1956
Brown (center) with Lee Aaker, Rin Tin Tin and Rand Brooks in The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, 1956

In 1954, Brown joined the cast of the new ABC western television series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, in which he played Lt. Ripley Masters. After the series ended in 1959 Brown guest-starred in television programs including Gunsmoke, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Lassie (3 episodes), The Virginian, Laramie, Route 66, Barbary Coast, Daniel Boone, Bronco, Honey West and Murder, She Wrote. From 1979 to 1986 Brown played the recurring role of Detective Harry McSween in 39 episodes of the soap opera television series Dallas.

For about a decade from the mid-1960s Brown left acting to found a company making weight belts, eventually selling the company to Faberge. He returned to acting in television in the 1970s.

Reward-Unlimited-17
Brown (left) with Dorothy McGuire in Reward Unlimited, 1944

Death

Brown died in April 1992 of lung cancer at his home in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 72. He was cremated.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1941 Ride, Kelly, Ride Medic Uncredited
1942 Wake Island Wounded Marine First Lieutenant Uncredited
1942 The Forest Rangers George Tracy
1943 Air Force Lieut. Tex Rader - Pursuit Pilot - Passenger
1943 Young and Willing Tony Dennison
1943 The Good Fellows Tom Drayton
1943 Corvette K-225 Lt. Paul Cartwright
1944 Going My Way Ted Haines Jr.
1944 Our Hearts Were Young Gay Avery Moore
1945 Objective, Burma! SSgt. Treacy
1945 Duffy's Tavern Himself
1946 Our Hearts Were Growing Up Avery Moore
1947 The Big Fix Ken Williams
1947 The Fabulous Texan Shep Clayton
1948 The Gallant Legion Tom Banner
1949 The Younger Brothers Bob Younger
1949 Anna Lucasta Buster
1949 Yes Sir, That's My Baby Tony Cresnovitch
1949 Brimstone Bud Courteen
1949 Sands of Iwo Jima Pfc. Charlie Bass
1950 Montana Tex Coyne
1950 Chain Lightning Maj. Hinkle
1950 Between Midnight and Dawn Officer Haynes Uncredited
1950 The Fireball Allen
1951 Missing Women Sgt. Mike Pernell
1951 The Groom Wore Spurs Steve Hall
1951 Father Takes the Air Bob
1951 The Sea Hornet Pete Hunter
1951 The Wild Blue Yonder Sgt. Pop Davis
1951 Starlift Non-Com Uncredited
1952 The Pride of St. Louis Moose
1952 Springfield Rifle Pvt. Ferguson Uncredited
1953 The Man Behind the Gun Lt. Catliff Uncredited
1953 The Charge at Feather River Pvt. Connors
1953 Sea of Lost Ships Ice Patrol Boat Executive Officer
1953 Thunder Over the Plains Conrad
1953 Flight Nurse Flight Engineer
1953 Crazylegs Bill
1954 A Star Is Born Glenn Williams
1957 Jet Pilot Sergeant Uncredited
1959 Inside the Mafia Capt. Doug Blair
1960 Five Guns to Tombstone Billy Wade
1961 Police Dog Story Norman 'Norm' Edwards
1961 Wings of Chance Steve Kirby
1961 Gun Fight Wayne Santley
1961 When the Clock Strikes Sam Morgan
1961 20,000 Eyes Jerry Manning
1961 Gun Street Sheriff Chuck Morton
1963 Irma la Douce Customer from Texas
1965 Black Spurs Sheriff
1965 Town Tamer Davis
1965 Space Probe Taurus Col. Hank Stevens
1968 Targets Robert Thompson Sr.
1975 Whiffs State Trooper
1975 Mean Johnny Barrows Police Sergeant
1975 Adios Amigo Sheriff
1976 I Will, I Will... for Now Reservations Clerk
1976 Gus Mammoth Coach
1979 The Swap Lt. Benson
Television
1954-1959 The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Lt. Rip Masters 164 episodes
1979-1986 Dallas Detective Harry McSween 39 episodes
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