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Johnny Mack Brown

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Birthdate

1904-09-01

Day of Death

1974-11-14

Place of Birth

Dothan, Alabama, USA

Johnny Mack Brown

Biography

An All-American halfback while attending the University of Alabama, Johnny Mack Brown chose the silver screen over the green grass of the football field when he graduated. Signed to a contract with MGM in 1926, Brown debuted in Slide, Kelly, Slide (1927) with William Haines in a film about - baseball. This was followed by The Bugle Call (1927), which starred the fading Jackie Coogan. In 1928 he appeared in the last Norma Shearer silent film, A Lady of Chance (1928). After that, he worked with Greta Garbo, Marion Davies and Mary Pickford. His muscular good looks only carried him so far in films, however, and by 1930 he had yet to find his place. At MGM Clark Gable was taking the roles that Brown was up for, so he went into a western for director King Vidor, Billy the Kid (1930). While Vidor did not want him for the part to begin with, the picture was successful; however, Brown's career at MGM soon ended. By 1933 he was still making westerns, but they were for low-rung studios like Mascot. More westerns at even lower-rung Supreme Pictures followed, as well as serials like Wild West Days (1937) at Universal. In 1943 Brown took his boots over to Monogram Pictures, where he made over 60 westerns. He started off as "Nevada Jack McKenzie" in the Rough Riders series, but the name soon changed to Johnny. As with most of the early cowboy stars, he was a hero to millions of young children and consistently among the top ten money-makers in westerns from 1942-50. The bubble burst, though, just as it did for Allan Lane, in 1953, as the days of the "B" western came to an end.

Filmography (174)

⭐ 10.0 Role: (archive footage)

Golden Saddles, Silver Spurs

2000
⭐ 0 Role: Self (archive footage)

Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her

1994
⭐ 0 Role: Billy the Kid in 'Billy the Kid' (archive footage) (uncredited)

Legends of the West

1992
⭐ 8.5 Role: (archive footage)

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

1976
⭐ 7.5 Role: Self (archive footage)

It's Showtime

1976
⭐ 6.4 Role: Sheriff Ben Hall

Apache Uprising

1965
⭐ 6.0 Role: Sheriff Green

The Bounty Killer

1965
⭐ 7.5 Role: Enkoff

Requiem for a Gunfighter

1965
⭐ 4.3 Role: Johnny Mack Brown - Poker-Game Player

The Marshal's Daughter

1953
⭐ 6.5 Role: Johnny Mack Brown

Canyon Ambush

1952
⭐ 7.0 Role: Johnny Mack Brown

Dead Man's Trail

1952
⭐ 9.0 Role: Johnny Mack Brown

Man from the Black Hills

1952
⭐ 6.5 Role: Johnny Mack Brown

Texas City

1952
⭐ 7.0 Role: Marshal Johnny Mack Brown

Texas Lawmen

1951
⭐ 7.0 Role: Johnny Mack Brown

Whistling Hills

1951