Johnny Brown

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia John "Johnny" Brown (born June 11, 1937) was an American actor and singer. Brown was a nightclub and stage performer as well as a comic actor, and a regular cast member of the television series Laugh-in. Brown is mostly remembered for his chubby physique, wide ingratiating smile, mobile facial expressions, and easy pleasant joking style. Brown is most famous, however, for his role as building superintendent Nathan Bookman on the 1970s CBS sitcom, Good Times. Bookman was often the brunt of fat jokes via the show's main character J. J. Evans (Jimmie Walker). Brown portrayed Bookman until the series was cancelled in 1979. Other television shows Brown has appeared on include Flip Wilson Show, The Jeffersons, Family Matters, Sister, Sister, The Jamie Foxx Show and Martin. Brown also used to go to school with Walter Dean Myers when he lived in Harlem as a boy. Brown is also the father of actress Sharon Brown,[citation needed] who was born in 1962, and also the father of John Brown Jr. or J.J Brown Jr. Brown had earlier established himself in the Broadway musical Golden Boy, starring Sammy Davis, Jr.; his supporting role was in the part of Ronnie and was featured as the lead voice on the show stopping rouser, "Don't Forget 127th Street". In the early 1970s, Brown starred in a television commercial for the Write Brothers pen, a short-lived product of the Papermate pen company. The commercial consisted of an elaborate musical number, ...

The Out-of-Towners (1970)

George & Gwen Kellerman make a trip to New York, where George is going to start a new job, it turns out to be a trip to hell.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Arthur Hiller
CAST:  Jack Lemmon  •  Sandy Dennis  •  Sandy Baron  •  Anne Meara

George & Gwen Kellerman make a trip to New York, where George is going to start a new job, it turns out to be a trip to hell.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Arthur Hiller
CAST:  Jack Lemmon  •  Sandy Dennis  •  Sandy Baron  •  Anne Meara

Town & Country (2001)

Porter Stoddard is a well-known New York architect who is at a crossroads... a nexus where twists and turns lead to myriad missteps, some with his wife Ellie, others with longtime friends Mona and her husband Griffin. Deciding which direction to take often leads to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Chelsom
CAST:  Warren Beatty  •  Diane Keaton  •  Goldie Hawn  •  Garry Shandling

Porter Stoddard is a well-known New York architect who is at a crossroads... a nexus where twists and turns lead to myriad missteps, some with his wife Ellie, others with longtime friends Mona and her husband Griffin. Deciding which direction to take often leads to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Chelsom
CAST:  Warren Beatty  •  Diane Keaton  •  Goldie Hawn  •  Garry Shandling

The Old Negro Space Program (2004)

The suppressed history of America's Black space program, in mockumentary form broadly satirizing Ken Burns and histories of the Negro Baseball Leagues.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andy Bobrow
CAST:  Johnny Brown  •  Rodney Saulsberry  •  Andy Bobrow  •  Jordan Black

The suppressed history of America's Black space program, in mockumentary form broadly satirizing Ken Burns and histories of the Negro Baseball Leagues.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andy Bobrow
CAST:  Johnny Brown  •  Rodney Saulsberry  •  Andy Bobrow  •  Jordan Black

A Man Called Adam (1966)

A famous jazz trumpeter finds himself unable to cope with the problems of everyday life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leo Penn
CAST:  Sammy Davis Jr.  •  Ossie Davis  •  Cicely Tyson  •  Louis Armstrong

A famous jazz trumpeter finds himself unable to cope with the problems of everyday life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leo Penn
CAST:  Sammy Davis Jr.  •  Ossie Davis  •  Cicely Tyson  •  Louis Armstrong

I'm Through with White Girls (2007)

Jay Brooks is that black guy who digs indie rock, graphic novels, and dates white chicks. After a slew of bad break-ups, Jay gives up white women, "cold turkey," and he goes on a mission: "Operation Brown Sugar". But because Jay doesn't fit the "brotha" stereotype, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jennifer Sharp
CAST:  Anthony Montgomery  •  Ryan Alosio  •  Lia Johnson  •  Lamman Rucker

Jay Brooks is that black guy who digs indie rock, graphic novels, and dates white chicks. After a slew of bad break-ups, Jay gives up white women, "cold turkey," and he goes on a mission: "Operation Brown Sugar". But because Jay doesn't fit the "brotha" stereotype, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jennifer Sharp
CAST:  Anthony Montgomery  •  Ryan Alosio  •  Lia Johnson  •  Lamman Rucker

Jackie's Back! (1999)

A British documentarian profiles washed-up diva Jackie Washington as she prepares for her comeback concert.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Townsend
CAST:  Jenifer Lewis  •  Tim Curry  •  Tangie Ambrose  •  Whoopi Goldberg

A British documentarian profiles washed-up diva Jackie Washington as she prepares for her comeback concert.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Townsend
CAST:  Jenifer Lewis  •  Tim Curry  •  Tangie Ambrose  •  Whoopi Goldberg

Lord Help Us (2007)

Comedy about faith and family directed by Shavar Ross. When a recently widowed Baptist preacher (Bill Toliver) loses the respect of his congregation over rumors of his impending marriage to a woman 45 years younger, best friends hatch a plan to help him regain his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shavar Ross
CAST:  Joe Clair  •  Nadia Turner  •  Bill Toliver  •  Margaret Avery

Comedy about faith and family directed by Shavar Ross. When a recently widowed Baptist preacher (Bill Toliver) loses the respect of his congregation over rumors of his impending marriage to a woman 45 years younger, best friends hatch a plan to help him regain his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shavar Ross
CAST:  Joe Clair  •  Nadia Turner  •  Bill Toliver  •  Margaret Avery

Hanky Panky (1982)

The complete innocent, Michael Jordon, is drawn into a web of secrecy and government secrets when a girl carrying a mysterious package gets into a taxi with him. When she is later murdered, Michael is the chief suspect and on the run.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Poitier
CAST:  Gene Wilder  •  Gilda Radner  •  Kathleen Quinlan  •  Richard Widmark

The complete innocent, Michael Jordon, is drawn into a web of secrecy and government secrets when a girl carrying a mysterious package gets into a taxi with him. When she is later murdered, Michael is the chief suspect and on the run.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sidney Poitier
CAST:  Gene Wilder  •  Gilda Radner  •  Kathleen Quinlan  •  Richard Widmark

In Da Cut (2013)

In Da Cut is a comically inspiring story of a young aspiring film maker, fresh out of school, who feels ready to take on the world - by chasing the illusion of beautiful women, big cash and quick recognition in the film circuit. On the path of fulfilling his life ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lamont A. Coleman
CAST:  Johnny Brown  •  Lamont A. Coleman  •  Everett Burnet II  •  Rosemarie Smith-Coleman

In Da Cut is a comically inspiring story of a young aspiring film maker, fresh out of school, who feels ready to take on the world - by chasing the illusion of beautiful women, big cash and quick recognition in the film circuit. On the path of fulfilling his life ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lamont A. Coleman
CAST:  Johnny Brown  •  Lamont A. Coleman  •  Everett Burnet II  •  Rosemarie Smith-Coleman

Man in the Mirror (2008)

A group of people living on the edge of society try to survive on the streets of New York City in the shadow of the World Trade Center in the early seventies. The film was shot between 1970-72 but went unreleased until 2008.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Weston
CAST:  Martin Sheen  •  Michael Dunn  •  Johnny Brown  •  Dan Priest

A group of people living on the edge of society try to survive on the streets of New York City in the shadow of the World Trade Center in the early seventies. The film was shot between 1970-72 but went unreleased until 2008.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frank Weston
CAST:  Martin Sheen  •  Michael Dunn  •  Johnny Brown  •  Dan Priest