Actor Graham Brown Passes Away at 87

Graham Brown, a New York City born actor, died on Tuesday, 13 December. He was 87 and succumbed to Pulmonary Failure at the Lillian Booth Actors' Fund Nursing Home in Englewood, New Jersey where he'd been a resident since 2009.

Born Robert E. Brown and a one-time boxer, he acted with such prestigious companies as the Guthrie Theatre (where he was a founding member), The New York Shakespeare Festival, London'a newly-reconstructed Globe Theatre and most notably The Negro Ensemble Company. On television he had recurring roles on Law & Order, Days of Our Lives and Sanford & Son. Among his screen credits were Malcolm X, Clockers and The Muppets Take Manhattan in which he played Mr. Wrightson, the irritable department store manager. His distinctive voice can be heard in many voiceovers and commercials.

On stage his range was laudable. One of his best roles was as Jared Philibert, a 50-year old patriarch of a Caribbean family, encased entirely in an iron lung with only his head visible in the play Nevis Mountain Dew. He originated the role at the NEC and reprised it in the West Coast premiere for which he received a Los Angeles Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor.

He is survived by his daughter, Sara Raphael; grandson, Luca Raphael of Majorca, Spain; and his sister, Lillian Brown of Manhattan. A memorial celebration will take place on a date to be announced.

Photo: Douglas Campbell, Sandy McCallum, Katherine Emery and Graham Brown in Volpone; © Guthrie Theater Company