Johnny Brown (actor)

John Brown (born June 11, 1937) is an American actor and singer. Brown is 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 The 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, "Write On, Brothers, Write On", led by Brown as a schoolteacher who encourages his chorus line of students to use this pen for their school assignments.
In 1997, Brown contributed his voice to the introduction of the compilation album Comedy Stew: The Best of Redd Foxx. In the introduction, Brown tells of how Norman Lear had considered Brown to play the role of Lamont in Sanford and Son, but was unavailable to do so because of his prior commitment to Laugh-In, leading Lear to give the role to Demond Wilson instead.
== Records ==
Johnny Brown began recording as a singer as late as 1961, after having toured with Sam "The Man" Taylor since 1958. His first release was on Columbia Records, "Walkin', Talkin', Kissin' Doll" b/w "Sundown". He was only about 24 at the time. The promotional release was accompanied with a special insert describing his background (see picture). His next record happened in early 1968 on Atlantic Records, "You're Too Much In Love With Yourself" b/w "Don't Dilly Dally, Dolly", the latter showing off his impression skills as Louis Armstrong. That release had initially been available on Crest Records.
== Personal life ==
Brown is married to his wife June, and has two children, Sharon and John Allen Brown Jr.
== Filmography ==
2013 In Da Cut 
Granddad
2012 In Da Cut the Movie 
Granddad
2008 Man in the Mirror 
Wallace Jones
2008 Everybody Hates Chris (TV Series) 
Preacher
- Everybody Hates Easter (2008) ... Preacher
2007 I'm Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks) 
Sam Moore
2007 Lord Help Us (Video) 
Cephas Thomas
2004 The Old Negro Space Program (Short) 
Wallace 'Suitcase' Jefferson
2003 Baby Bob (TV Series) 
Eddie
- Boys Will Be Girls (2003) ... Eddie
2003 The Parkers (TV Series) 
Man
- Dead Clown Walking (2003) ... Man
2001 Town & Country 
Chauffeur
1999 Kenan & Kel (TV Series) 
Uncle Louie
- The Graduates (1999) ... Uncle Louie
- Present Tense (1999) ... Uncle Louie
1999 The Parent 'Hood (TV Series) 
Mr. Jordan
- Wedding Bells Blues (1999) ... Mr. Jordan
- 'Hood Sweet' Hood: Part 2 (1999) ... Mr. Jordan
1999 Jackie's Back! (TV Movie) 
Reverend Eustace Barnett (Pastor, Kinloch Baptist Temple)
1999/I Life 
Blind Reverend Clay
1999 Cousin Skeeter (TV Series) 
Reverend Daniels
- Choir Boyz (1999) ... Reverend Daniels
1998 Touched by an Angel (TV Series) 
Johnny Brown
- Cry and You Cry Alone (1998) ... Johnny Brown
1996-1997 The Wayans Bros. (TV Series) 
Bookman / Maurice
- Unspoken Token (1997) ... Bookman
- Hearts and Flowers (1996) ... Maurice
1996 The Jamie Foxx Show (TV Series) 
Mr. Hartnabrig
- And Bubba Makes Three (1996) ... Mr. Hartnabrig
1995 Sister, Sister (TV Series) 
Smitty
- Thanksgiving in Hawaii: Part 2 (1995) ... Smitty
- Thanksgiving in Hawaii: Part 1 (1995) ... Smitty
1995 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series) 
Mr. Martz
- R.O.T.C. (1995) ... Mr. Martz
1995 On Our Own (TV Series) 
Mr. Terwilliger
- Little Rascals (1995) ... Mr. Terwilliger
1995 Family Matters (TV Series) 
Pastor Fuller
- Ain't Nothin' But an Urkel (1995) ... Pastor Fuller
1994 Martin (TV Series) 
Chubby
- Love is in Your Face: Part 2 (1994) ... Chubby
1989 227 (TV Series) 
Cab Driver / Fiat
- Play It Again, Stan (1989) ... Cab Driver / Fiat
1988 Moonlighting (TV Series) 
Sam the Piano Player
- Here's Living with You, Kid (1988) ... Sam the Piano Player
1987 Punky Brewster (TV Series) 
Chuck McKinley
- The Matchmaker (1987) ... Chuck McKinley
1983 Alvin & the Chipmunks (TV Series) 
- Baseball Heroes/May the Best Chipmunk Win (1983) ... (voice)
- A Dog's Best Friend Is His Chipmunk/The Curse of Lontiki (1983) ... (voice)
- Swiss Family Chipmunks/Santa Harry (1983) ... (voice)
- The Bully Ballet/Alvin... and the Chipmunk (1983) ... (voice)
- Angelic Alvin/The Trouble with Nanny (1983) ... (voice)
Show all 13 episodes
1983 Fantasy Island (TV Series) 
Fingers
- Return to the Cotton Club/No Friends Like Old Friends (1983) ... Fingers
1982 The Jeffersons (TV Series) 
Johnny Moore
- Heeeere's Johnny (1982) ... Johnny Moore
1982 Hanky Panky 
Bus Driver
1982 Archie Bunker's Place (TV Series) 
Mr. Johnson
- Death of a Lodger (1982) ... Mr. Johnson
1982 Gimme a Break! (TV Series) 
Rev. Digby
- Nell Goes Home (1982) ... Rev. Digby
1981 Body and Soul 
Sports Announcer #2
1975-1979 Good Times (TV Series) 
Nathan Bookman
- The Evans' Dilemma (1979) ... Nathan Bookman
- Cousin Raymond (1979) ... Nathan Bookman
- The End of the Rainbow (1979) ... Nathan Bookman
- A Matter of Mothers (1979) ... Nathan Bookman
- The Physical (1979) ... Nathan Bookman
Show all 58 episodes
1979 The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (TV Series) 
Splashdown (1979) (voice)
1978 The Wiz 
Aunt Em's Party
1976 Monster Squad (TV Series) 
Dandy Andy
- Ultra Witch (1976) ... Dandy Andy
1976 Chico and the Man (TV Series) 
Big Bernie
- Second Coming of Della (1976) ... Big Bernie
1975 The Lost Saucer (TV Series) 
Leading Citizen
- The Tiny Years (1975) ... Leading Citizen
1975 The Ghost Busters (TV Series) 
Fat Man
- The Maltese Monkey (1975) ... Fat Man
1975 The Fireman's Ball (TV Movie) 
Roscoe
1975 Get Christie Love! (TV Series) 
Lab Expert
- Murder on High C (1975) ... Lab Expert
1974 The Fireman's Ball (TV Movie) 
1974 Lotsa Luck (TV Series) 
Ronnie
- The Talent Show (1974) ... Ronnie
1973 The Rookies (TV Series) 
Huggy Bear
- Prayers Unanswered, Prayers Unheard (1973) ... Huggy Bear
1973 Maude (TV Series) 
Salesman
- Walter's Holiday (1973) ... Salesman
1973 Night Gallery (TV Series) 
Man with Stake (segment "How to Cure the Common Vampire")
- Hatred Unto Death/How to Cure the Common Vampire (1973) ... Man with Stake (segment "How to Cure the Common Vampire")
1970-1972 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series) 
Regular Performer
- Episode #5.24 (1972) ... Regular Performer
- Episode #5.23 (1972) ... Regular Performer
- Episode #5.22 (1972) ... Regular Performer
- Episode #5.20 (1972) ... Regular Performer
- Episode #5.19 (1972) ... Regular Performer
Show all 52 episodes
1970-1971 Love, American Style (TV Series) 
Gordon (segment "Love and the Baby") / Omar (segment "Love and Double Trouble")
- Love and the Baby/Love and the Big Mother/Love and the Free Weekend/Love and the Jealous Husband/Love and the Old Cowboy (1971) ... Gordon (segment "Love and the Baby")
- Love and the Fly/Love and the Millionaires/Love and Double Trouble (1970) ... Omar (segment "Love and Double Trouble")
1970 The Out of Towners 
Waiter - Train
1969 Julia (TV Series) 
Eubie
- Tank's for the Memory (1969) ... Eubie
1969 The Leslie Uggams Show (TV Series) 
1966 A Man Called Adam 
Blind Les