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Clarence Muse

Clarence Muse

Acting October 13, 1889 (90 years old) October 13, 1979 Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Biography

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).

Movies 151

Double Indemnity 8.1

Double Indemnity

as Man (uncredited)

1944
Shadow of a Doubt 7.5

Shadow of a Doubt

as Pullman Porter

1943
White Zombie 6.0

White Zombie

as Coach Driver

1932
The Black Swan 6.5

The Black Swan

as Margaret's Servant (uncredited)

1942
The Black Stallion 7.1

The Black Stallion

as Snoe

1979
Car Wash 6.0

Car Wash

as Snapper

1976
Scarlet Street 7.6

Scarlet Street

as Ben - Bank Janitor (uncredited)

1945
Heaven Can Wait 6.9

Heaven Can Wait

as Jasper (uncredited)

1943
Unconquered 6.5

Unconquered

as Jason

1947
Sherlock Holmes in Washington 6.7

Sherlock Holmes in Washington

as George

1943
Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

Hollywood on Parade No. A-12

as Self

1933
The Talk of the Town 7.4

The Talk of the Town

as Supreme Court Doorkeeper (uncredited)

1942
Watch on the Rhine 6.9

Watch on the Rhine

as Horace

1943
Buck and the Preacher 6.3

Buck and the Preacher

as Cudjo

1972
Adam Had Four Sons 5.9

Adam Had Four Sons

as Sam (uncredited)

1941
The Sun Shines Bright 6.6

The Sun Shines Bright

as Uncle Zack

1953
Flying Down to Rio 6.3

Flying Down to Rio

as Caddy in Haiti (uncredited)

1933
Flesh and Fantasy 7.1

Flesh and Fantasy

as Jeff (uncredited)

1943
So Red the Rose 7.8

So Red the Rose

as Cato

1935
My Favorite Brunette 6.6

My Favorite Brunette

as Second Man on Death Row (uncredited)

1947
The Thin Man Goes Home 7.1

The Thin Man Goes Home

as Porter on Train (uncredited)

1944
Show Boat 6.7

Show Boat

as Sam

1936
The Life of Jimmy Dolan 6.2

The Life of Jimmy Dolan

as Masseur

1933
The World's Greatest Athlete 5.6

The World's Greatest Athlete

as Gazenga's Assistant

1973
Invisible Ghost 5.3

Invisible Ghost

as Evans the Butler

1941
Dirigible 5.5

Dirigible

as Clarence

1931
Porgy and Bess 6.3

Porgy and Bess

as Peter

1959
God Is My Co-Pilot 7.1

God Is My Co-Pilot

as Frank (uncredited)

1945
The Las Vegas Story 6.0

The Las Vegas Story

as Train Porter (uncredited)

1952
She Wouldn't Say Yes 6.2

She Wouldn't Say Yes

as Porter (uncredited)

1945
If I Had a Million 6.5

If I Had a Million

as Death Row Singing Prisoner (uncredited)

1932
Murder Over New York 6.3

Murder Over New York

as Party Server

1940
Follow the Boys 5.7

Follow the Boys

as Singer (uncredited)

1944
Tales of Manhattan 6.4

Tales of Manhattan

as Grandpa

1942
An Act of Murder 6.9

An Act of Murder

as Mr. Pope

1948
Silver River 6.1

Silver River

as Servant (uncredited)

1948
Belle Starr 5.9

Belle Starr

as Bootblack in Saloon (uncredited)

1941
Riding High 6.1

Riding High

as Whitey

1950
Jamaica Run 5.8

Jamaica Run

as Mose

1953
The Sky's the Limit 6.3

The Sky's the Limit

as Colonial Club Doorman (uncredited)

1943
The Flame of New Orleans 6.6

The Flame of New Orleans

as Samuel, Carriage Driver

1941
My Forbidden Past 5.5

My Forbidden Past

as Pompey

1951
Apache Drums 6.3

Apache Drums

as Jehu

1951
Rain or Shine 6.5

Rain or Shine

as Nero

1930
Hallelujah 6.6

Hallelujah

as Church Member (uncredited)

1929
Safe in Hell 6.7

Safe in Hell

as Newcastle

1931
In the Meantime, Darling 6.8

In the Meantime, Darling

as Henry

1944
Love Crazy 6.8

Love Crazy

as Robert - Hat Check Man at Party

1941
Without Love 7.0

Without Love

as Train Porter (uncredited)

1945
Big City Blues 5.9

Big City Blues

as Nightclub Singer (uncredited)

1932
From Hell to Heaven 7.8

From Hell to Heaven

as Sam

1933
The Death Kiss 5.2

The Death Kiss

as Shoeshine Man

1932
The Soul of a Monster 5.5

The Soul of a Monster

as Entertainer (uncredited)

1944
The Mind Reader 6.2

The Mind Reader

as Sam

1933
Secrets of a Nurse 5.5

Secrets of a Nurse

as 'Tiger', Lee's Handler

1938
Jungle Queen 5.5

Jungle Queen

as Kyba

1945
Kid Millions 6.9

Kid Millions

as Native (uncredited)

1934
The Cabin in the Cotton 6.3

The Cabin in the Cotton

as A Blind Negro

1932
Welcome Stranger 6.9

Welcome Stranger

as Clarence, Train Waiter (uncredited)

1947
A Dream for Christmas 7.3

A Dream for Christmas

as Donald Freeland

1973
Joe Palooka in the Knockout 7.0

Joe Palooka in the Knockout

as Smoky

1947
Winner Take All 5.4

Winner Take All

as Rosebud, the Trainer

1932
O'Shaughnessy's Boy 6.2

O'Shaughnessy's Boy

as Jeff

1935
Frisco Jenny 6.7

Frisco Jenny

as Voice of Singer (uncredited)

1933
Broadway Bill 6.0

Broadway Bill

as Whitey

1934
Two Smart People 6.6

Two Smart People

as Train Porter

1946
Huckleberry Finn 7.0

Huckleberry Finn

as Jim

1931
Johnny Come Lately 7.0

Johnny Come Lately

as Butler

1943
A Very Honorable Guy 6.0

A Very Honorable Guy

as Black Man

1934
The Toy Wife 5.0

The Toy Wife

as Brutus

1938
Massacre 5.5

Massacre

as Sam

1934
Black Moon 5.5

Black Moon

as 'Lunch' McClaren

1934
Attorney for the Defense 6.6

Attorney for the Defense

as Jefferson Q. Leffingwell

1932
The Woman from Monte Carlo 6.3

The Woman from Monte Carlo

as Tombeau

1932
The Wet Parade 6.2

The Wet Parade

as Taylor Tibbs

1932
Night World 6.8

Night World

as Tim Washington, the Doorman

1932
County Fair 8.0

County Fair

as Romulus (uncredited)

1950
She Couldn't Say No 5.7

She Couldn't Say No

as Diaper Delivery Man

1954
Tough as They Come 9.0

Tough as They Come

as Eddie

1942
Is My Face Red? 5.0

Is My Face Red?

as Horatio

1932
Among the Living 6.1

Among the Living

1941
San Diego I Love You 6.8

San Diego I Love You

as Porter (uncredited)

1944
That Gang of Mine 5.8

That Gang of Mine

as Ben

1940
Daniel Boone 4.9

Daniel Boone

as Pompey

1936
The Last Parade 9.0

The Last Parade

as Alabam' / Singing Voice of Condemned Man (uncredited)

1931
X Marks the Spot 6.5

X Marks the Spot

as Eustace Brown

1931
Caribbean 6.3

Caribbean

as Quashy

1952
Alice in Movieland 6.4

Alice in Movieland

as Train Porter

1940
Strictly in the Groove 9.0

Strictly in the Groove

as Durham's Valet (uncredited)

1942
Washington Merry-Go-Round 7.5

Washington Merry-Go-Round

as Clarence

1932
Twin Beds 3.8

Twin Beds

as George

1942
Mysterious Crossing 10.0

Mysterious Crossing

as Lincoln

1936
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen

Black Shadows on a Silver Screen

as Self (archive footage)

1975
Prison Train 7.3

Prison Train

as Train Steward / Sam

1938
The Great Dan Patch 5.5

The Great Dan Patch

as Voodoo

1949
Jam Session 7.0

Jam Session

as Henry

1944
Election Day 6.3

Election Day

as Farina's father

1929
Harmony Lane 4.5

Harmony Lane

as Old Joe

1935
The Green Pastures 6.3

The Green Pastures

as Angel (uncredited)

1936
Maryland 6.5

Maryland

as Reverend Bitters

1940
Swing High 7.7

Swing High

as Singer

1930
Kisses for Breakfast 6.3

Kisses for Breakfast

as Old Jeff

1941
Muss 'em Up 6.2

Muss 'em Up

as William

1936
Lena Rivers 7.0

Lena Rivers

as Curfew

1932
New York Nights 5.5

New York Nights

as Cabaret Singer (uncredited)

1929
Fury of the Jungle 7.0

Fury of the Jungle

as Sunrise

1933
The Fighting Sheriff 10.0

The Fighting Sheriff

as Curfew

1931
Way Down South 6.4

Way Down South

as Uncle Caton

1939
Chad Hanna 7.3

Chad Hanna

as Henry Prince

1940
Honey 5.7

Honey

as Black Revivalist

1930
Katie Did It 7.2

Katie Did It

as Mose

1950
The Personality Kid 4.4

The Personality Kid

as Shamrock

1934
Jungle Menace 7.0

Jungle Menace

as Lightning

1937
Alias Mary Dow 7.2

Alias Mary Dow

as 'Rufe'

1935
Prestige 7.0

Prestige

as Nham

1932
Sporting Blood 4.2

Sporting Blood

as Jeff

1940
A Royal Romance 7.0

A Royal Romance

as Rusty

1930
The Thoroughbred 5.4

The Thoroughbred

as Stablehand

1930
A Likely Story 4.8

A Likely Story

as Porter (uncredited)

1947
Deep South 7.3

Deep South

1937
Honeymoon Lodge 6.5

Honeymoon Lodge

as Porter

1943
Outside the Law 5.2

Outside the Law

as Party Guest (uncredited)

1930
East of Java 7.5

East of Java

as First Mate Johnson

1935
Zanzibar 9.0

Zanzibar

as Bino

1940
Guilty? 9.0

Guilty?

as Jefferson

1930
Laughing Irish Eyes 10.0

Laughing Irish Eyes

as Deacon

1936
Laughter in Hell 3.7

Laughter in Hell

as Abraham Jackson

1933
Passing Through 6.0

Passing Through

as Papa Harris

1977
Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful Dreamer

1935
After the Dance 6.5

After the Dance

as Cook

1935
Red Hot Tires 6.0

Red Hot Tires

as Bud's Truck Partner

1935
Broken Strings 4.8

Broken Strings

as Arthur Williams

1940
Jungle Terror 7.0

Jungle Terror

as Lightin'

1946
Hearts in Dixie 5.0

Hearts in Dixie

as Nappus

1929
Spirit of Youth 6.1

Spirit of Youth

as Frankie Walburn

1938
Hell's Highway 6.1

Hell's Highway

as Rascal

1932
The Wrecker 3.7

The Wrecker

as Chauffeur

1933
High Hat 5.8

High Hat

as Congo MacRosenbloom

1937
Secret Service 6.7

Secret Service

as Jonas Polk

1931
Spendthrift 6.0

Spendthrift

as Restaurant Table Captain

1936
The Racket Man 7.7

The Racket Man

as George the Butler

1944
Derelict 9.0

Derelict

as Driver (uncredited)

1930
Over the Wall 8.0

Over the Wall

as Sam

1943
Stars on Parade 8.0

Stars on Parade

as Carter (uncredited)

1944
Man Against Woman 5.0

Man Against Woman

as Smoke Johnson

1932
Jungle Safari 6.0

Jungle Safari

as Kyba

1956
The Peanut Man 7.0

The Peanut Man

as Dr. George Washington Carver

1947
The Secret Witness 4.3

The Secret Witness

as Jeff - Building Janitor

1931
The Broken Earth 4.5

The Broken Earth

as The Farmer

1936
The Custard Nine 8.0

The Custard Nine

1921
Gentleman from Dixie 8.0

Gentleman from Dixie

as Jupe

1941

TV Shows 4

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