From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clarence Muse (October 14, 1889 – October 13, 1979) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, composer, and lawyer. He was inducted in the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973. Muse was the first Negro to "star" in a film. He acted for more than sixty years appearing in more than 150 movies.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Alexander and Mary Muse, he studied at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and received an international law degree in 1911. He was acting in New York by the 1920s, during the Harlem Renaissance with two Harlem theatres, Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players.
Muse moved to Chicago for a while, and then moved to Hollywood and performed in Hearts in Dixie (1929), the first all-black movie. For the next fifty years, he worked regularly in minor and major roles. While with the Lafayette Players, Muse worked under the management of producer Robert Levy on productions that helped black actors to gain prominence and respect. In regards to the Lafayette Theatre's staging of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Muse said the play was relevant to black actors and audiences "because, in a way, it was every black man's story. Black men too have been split creatures inhabiting one body.". Muse appeared as an opera singer, minstrel show performer, vaudeville and Broadway actor; he also wrote songs, plays, and sketches. In 1943, he became the first African American Broadway director with Run Little Chillun.
Muse was also the co-writer of several notable songs. In 1931, with Leon René and Otis René, Muse wrote "When It's Sleepy Time Down South", also known as "Sleepy Time Down South". The song was sung by Nina Mae McKinney in the movie Safe in Hell (1931), and later became a signature song of Louis Armstrong.
He was the major star in Broken Earth (1936), which related the story of a black sharecropper whose son miraculously recovers from fever through the father's fervent prayer. Shot on a farm in the South with nonprofessional actors (except for Muse), the film's early scenes focused in a highly realistic manner on the incredible hardship of black farmers, with plowing scenes. In 1938, Muse co-starred with boxer Joe Louis in Spirit of Youth, the fictional story of a champion boxer which featured an all black cast. Muse and Langston Hughes wrote the script for Way Down South (1939).
Muse performed in Broken Strings (1940), as a concert violinist who opposes the desire of his son to play "swing". From 1955-56, Muse was a regular on the weekly TV version of Casablanca, playing Sam the pianist (a part he was under consideration for in the original Warner Brothers film), and in 1959, he played Peter, the Honey Man, in Porgy and Bess.
He appeared on Disney's TV miniseries The Swamp Fox. Other film credits include Buck and the Preacher (1972), The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) and as Gazenga's Assistant, "Snapper" in Car Wash (1976). His last acting role was in The Black Stallion (1979).
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0615617
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2975569
Facebook: No data
Instagram: No data
X: No data
Filmography (Movies)
The Black Stallion
Character:Snoe
Release Date:13/10/1979
Passing Through
Character:Papa Harris
Release Date:06/08/1977
Car Wash
Character:Snapper
Release Date:22/10/1976
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:19/04/1975
A Dream for Christmas
Character:Donald Freeland
Release Date:24/12/1973
The World's Greatest Athlete
Character:Gazenga's Assistant
Release Date:14/02/1973
Buck and the Preacher
Character:Cudjo
Release Date:17/03/1972
Porgy and Bess
Character:Peter
Release Date:24/06/1959
Jungle Safari
Character:Kyba
Release Date:01/01/1956
She Couldn't Say No
Character:Diaper Delivery Man
Release Date:15/02/1954
The Sun Shines Bright
Character:Uncle Zack
Release Date:02/05/1953
Jamaica Run
Character:Mose
Release Date:21/04/1953
Caribbean
Character:Quashy
Release Date:01/09/1952
The Las Vegas Story
Character:Train Porter (uncredited)
Release Date:30/01/1952
My Forbidden Past
Character:Pompey
Release Date:25/04/1951
Apache Drums
Character:Jehu
Release Date:01/04/1951
Katie Did It
Character:Mose
Release Date:26/11/1950
Riding High
Character:Whitey
Release Date:12/04/1950
The Great Dan Patch
Character:Voodoo
Release Date:22/07/1949
An Act of Murder
Character:Mr. Pope
Release Date:05/12/1948
Silver River
Character:Servant (uncredited)
Release Date:20/05/1948
Unconquered
Character:Jason
Release Date:10/10/1947
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
Character:Smoky
Release Date:20/09/1947
Welcome Stranger
Character:Clarence, Train Waiter (uncredited)
Release Date:13/06/1947
The Peanut Man
Character:Dr. George Washington Carver
Release Date:01/06/1947
A Likely Story
Character:Porter (uncredited)
Release Date:18/04/1947
My Favorite Brunette
Character:Second Man on Death Row (uncredited)
Release Date:19/03/1947
Two Smart People
Character:Train Porter
Release Date:04/06/1946
Jungle Terror
Character:Lightin'
Release Date:01/06/1946
Scarlet Street
Character:Ben - Bank Janitor (uncredited)
Release Date:25/12/1945
She Wouldn't Say Yes
Character:Porter (uncredited)
Release Date:29/11/1945
God Is My Co-Pilot
Character:Frank (uncredited)
Release Date:07/04/1945
Without Love
Character:Train Porter
Release Date:22/03/1945
Jungle Queen
Character:Kyba
Release Date:22/01/1945
The Thin Man Goes Home
Character:Porter on Train (uncredited)
Release Date:24/12/1944
San Diego I Love You
Character:Porter (uncredited)
Release Date:29/09/1944
In the Meantime, Darling
Character:Henry
Release Date:22/09/1944
The Soul of a Monster
Character:Entertainer (uncredited)
Release Date:17/08/1944
Double Indemnity
Character:Man (uncredited)
Release Date:06/07/1944
Stars on Parade
Character:Carter (uncredited)
Release Date:25/05/1944
Follow the Boys
Character:Singer (uncredited)
Release Date:05/05/1944
Jam Session
Character:Henry
Release Date:13/04/1944
The Racket Man
Character:George the Butler
Release Date:18/01/1944
Over the Wall
Character:Sam
Release Date:25/12/1943
Flesh and Fantasy
Character:Jeff (uncredited)
Release Date:29/10/1943
Johnny Come Lately
Character:Butler
Release Date:03/09/1943
Watch on the Rhine
Character:Horace
Release Date:27/08/1943
Heaven Can Wait
Character:Jasper (uncredited)
Release Date:05/08/1943
Honeymoon Lodge
Character:Porter
Release Date:23/07/1943
The Sky's the Limit
Character:Colonial Club Doorman (uncredited)
Release Date:13/07/1943
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
Character:George
Release Date:24/03/1943
Shadow of a Doubt
Character:Pullman Porter
Release Date:12/01/1943
The Black Swan
Character:Margaret's Servant (uncredited)
Release Date:04/12/1942
Strictly in the Groove
Character:Durham's Valet (uncredited)
Release Date:20/11/1942
The Talk of the Town
Character:Supreme Court Doorkeeper (uncredited)
Release Date:20/08/1942
Tales of Manhattan
Character:Grandpa
Release Date:05/08/1942
Tough as They Come
Character:Eddie
Release Date:05/06/1942
Twin Beds
Character:George
Release Date:30/04/1942
Among the Living
Character:
Release Date:12/12/1941
Belle Starr
Character:Bootblack in Saloon (uncredited)
Release Date:12/09/1941
Gentleman from Dixie
Character:Jupe
Release Date:02/09/1941
The Flame of New Orleans
Character:Samuel, Carriage Driver
Release Date:07/07/1941
Kisses for Breakfast
Character:Old Jeff
Release Date:05/07/1941
Love Crazy
Character:Robert - Hat Check Man at Party
Release Date:23/05/1941
Invisible Ghost
Character:Evans the Butler
Release Date:25/04/1941
Adam Had Four Sons
Character:Sam (uncredited)
Release Date:27/03/1941
Chad Hanna
Character:Henry Prince
Release Date:25/12/1940
Murder Over New York
Character:Party Server
Release Date:13/12/1940
That Gang of Mine
Character:Ben
Release Date:23/09/1940
Maryland
Character:Reverend Bitters
Release Date:19/07/1940
Sporting Blood
Character:Jeff
Release Date:11/07/1940
Zanzibar
Character:Bino
Release Date:08/03/1940
Alice in Movieland
Character:Train Porter
Release Date:03/03/1940
Broken Strings
Character:Arthur Williams
Release Date:01/01/1940
Way Down South
Character:Uncle Caton
Release Date:21/07/1939
Secrets of a Nurse
Character:'Tiger', Lee's Handler
Release Date:02/12/1938
Prison Train
Character:Train Steward / Sam
Release Date:17/10/1938
The Toy Wife
Character:Brutus
Release Date:10/06/1938
Spirit of Youth
Character:Frankie Walburn
Release Date:01/04/1938
Jungle Menace
Character:Lightning
Release Date:01/09/1937
High Hat
Character:Congo MacRosenbloom
Release Date:01/01/1937
Deep South
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1937
Mysterious Crossing
Character:Lincoln
Release Date:27/12/1936
Daniel Boone
Character:Pompey
Release Date:16/10/1936
The Green Pastures
Character:Angel (uncredited)
Release Date:01/08/1936
Spendthrift
Character:Restaurant Table Captain
Release Date:22/07/1936
Show Boat
Character:Sam
Release Date:17/05/1936
The Broken Earth
Character:The Farmer
Release Date:16/04/1936
Laughing Irish Eyes
Character:Deacon
Release Date:04/03/1936
Muss 'em Up
Character:William
Release Date:13/02/1936
So Red the Rose
Character:Cato
Release Date:20/12/1935
Beautiful Dreamer
Character:
Release Date:12/12/1935
East of Java
Character:First Mate Johnson
Release Date:01/12/1935
Harmony Lane
Character:Old Joe
Release Date:22/10/1935
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
Character:Jeff
Release Date:27/09/1935
After the Dance
Character:Cook
Release Date:25/06/1935
Alias Mary Dow
Character:'Rufe'
Release Date:01/05/1935
Red Hot Tires
Character:Bud's Truck Partner
Release Date:02/02/1935
Broadway Bill
Character:Whitey
Release Date:30/11/1934
Kid Millions
Character:Native (uncredited)
Release Date:10/11/1934
Black Moon
Character:'Lunch' McClaren
Release Date:15/06/1934
The Personality Kid
Character:Shamrock
Release Date:06/06/1934
A Very Honorable Guy
Character:Black Man
Release Date:18/04/1934
Massacre
Character:Sam
Release Date:20/01/1934
Flying Down to Rio
Character:Caddy in Haiti (uncredited)
Release Date:22/12/1933
Fury of the Jungle
Character:Sunrise
Release Date:23/10/1933
The Wrecker
Character:Chauffeur
Release Date:10/07/1933
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12
Character:Self
Release Date:29/06/1933
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
Character:Masseur
Release Date:03/06/1933
The Mind Reader
Character:Sam
Release Date:01/04/1933
From Hell to Heaven
Character:Sam
Release Date:24/02/1933
Frisco Jenny
Character:Voice of Singer (uncredited)
Release Date:14/01/1933
Laughter in Hell
Character:Abraham Jackson
Release Date:12/01/1933
The Death Kiss
Character:Shoeshine Man
Release Date:05/12/1932
If I Had a Million
Character:Death Row Singing Prisoner (uncredited)
Release Date:18/11/1932
Man Against Woman
Character:Smoke Johnson
Release Date:15/11/1932
Washington Merry-Go-Round
Character:Clarence
Release Date:15/10/1932
The Cabin in the Cotton
Character:A Blind Negro
Release Date:26/09/1932
Hell's Highway
Character:Rascal
Release Date:23/09/1932
Big City Blues
Character:Nightclub Singer (uncredited)
Release Date:18/09/1932
White Zombie
Character:Coach Driver
Release Date:28/07/1932
Winner Take All
Character:Rosebud, the Trainer
Release Date:16/07/1932
Is My Face Red?
Character:Horatio
Release Date:17/06/1932
Attorney for the Defense
Character:Jefferson Q. Leffingwell
Release Date:21/05/1932
Night World
Character:Tim Washington, the Doorman
Release Date:04/05/1932
Lena Rivers
Character:Curfew
Release Date:27/03/1932
The Wet Parade
Character:Taylor Tibbs
Release Date:26/03/1932
Prestige
Character:Nham
Release Date:22/01/1932
The Woman from Monte Carlo
Character:Tombeau
Release Date:09/01/1932
X Marks the Spot
Character:Eustace Brown
Release Date:13/12/1931
Safe in Hell
Character:Newcastle
Release Date:12/12/1931
The Secret Witness
Character:Jeff - Building Janitor
Release Date:12/12/1931
Secret Service
Character:Jonas Polk
Release Date:14/11/1931
Huckleberry Finn
Character:Jim
Release Date:07/08/1931
The Fighting Sheriff
Character:Curfew
Release Date:15/05/1931
Dirigible
Character:Clarence
Release Date:01/02/1931
The Last Parade
Character:Alabam' / Singing Voice of Condemned Man (uncredited)
Release Date:31/01/1931
Derelict
Character:Driver (uncredited)
Release Date:22/11/1930
Outside the Law
Character:Party Guest (uncredited)
Release Date:18/09/1930
Rain or Shine
Character:Nero
Release Date:15/08/1930
The Thoroughbred
Character:Stablehand
Release Date:09/08/1930
Swing High
Character:Singer
Release Date:18/05/1930
Honey
Character:Black Revivalist
Release Date:29/03/1930
A Royal Romance
Character:Rusty
Release Date:17/03/1930
Guilty?
Character:Jefferson
Release Date:03/03/1930
New York Nights
Character:Cabaret Singer (uncredited)
Release Date:28/12/1929
Hallelujah
Character:Church Member (uncredited)
Release Date:20/08/1929
Election Day
Character:Farina's father
Release Date:12/01/1929
Hearts in Dixie
Character:Nappus
Release Date:02/01/1929
The Custard Nine
Character:
Release Date:06/11/1921
Television Appearances
Images
