Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2001)
Feature _____________ L TI he CI ac I camas P rint WEdNEsdAy, J anuary 17, 2001 Former actor takes us behind the scenes of Hollywood MAGGIE JIRASEK hair and no brain, so they hired me,” stated Brown. He played in several movies including: The Spirit of St. Acting in major motion pic Lewis, Blazing Saddles, High tures and meeting celebrities Noon, Battle Ground, Sands of such -as John Wayne, Robert Iwo Jima, Wake of the Red Redford, Elizabeth Taylor and Witch and Black Board Jungle. Burt Reynolds, were daily oc He has worked with actors such currences in the life of 69 year- as John Wayne, Robert old Robert Brown, former actor Redford, Jack Elam, Elisabeth and student at Clackamas since Taylor, Kirk Douglas, Burt 1985. Reynolds, James Cagney, Brown was born in Oregon in Walter Matheau, Jerry Lewis, 1931 during the Great Depres James Dean and Bob Hope. sion. His family moved to the Acting and working with fa California coast as his stepfa mous actors and actresses was ther, who was a commercial an inspiring experience for fisherman, looked for work. Brown and soon he figured out “We were travelling around how to approach a career in the for awhile with my mom and my movie business. stepfather and finally ended up “You get to talk to all the fa in a small town called St. Pedro mous actors on the set: you go in California out for lunch, where I also hang out with went to high them, have a Some of the de school,” said beer with them mands they made Brown. and go to their After gradu parties,” said to get a part were ating from high Brown. “If you a little more than school, Brown want to go any- attended a com where in the I could Robert munity college movie busi Brown handle close to his ness, you have student hometown and to find some then went on to body you can California State University, tie your coat strings to in or studied biological sciences, der to get into the movies. and graduated in 1960. That’s how you do it. You hang In 1947, as a tall, good-look around, you go to castings and ing young man with broad your whole day is tied up go shoulders, Brown started act ing to castings until all of the ing. sudden you stumble on some “Acting was not really what one like John Wayne and you I wanted to do, but it was an make friends with him.” opportunity,” said Brown. “You Brown describes Wayne as a can make some pretty big bucks down-to-earth person who had in a short period of time with his own beliefs and stood up out being tied to anything.” for them. After attending some of the “He wasn’t near as tough as castings, Brown was soon he was portrayed in most of his hired as a part-time actor. movies,” explained Brown. “He “At first they told me to go was a strong character and away, but I didn’t let them probably more willing to give scare me. I just showed up at somebody a break than any some of the castings and even body else down there.” tually they needed a tall fellow Although acting gave Brown with broad shoulders, lots of the opportunity to explore him- Feature Co-Editor Photo contributed by Robert Brown Clackamas student Robert Brown, who is now 69, played in the movie "Wake of the Red Witch," above, at the age of 18. He has worked with actors such as John Wayne, Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds. Now he works as a broker, owns his own real estate company and takes classes here. self and assume someone else’s posts and currently works as a and if I can give a little some identity for a short period of broker. thing to someone else, I will do time, he decided to quit due to “ I do real estate consulting. that,” said Brown. demands he couldn’t fulfill. I own my own real estate com There is just one more advice Brown “Some of the demands they pany,” informed Brown. has to give to all young adults who made to get a part were a little Regarding his future, Brown want to make something out of their more than I could handle. I’m wants to enjoy his life, help life talking about sexual demands,” others as much as he can and “When I went to school, I had a Brown explained. “People are visit his daughter Michelle, wife and three kids. 1 had to work two the same now as they have al who lives in Germany. or three jobs at a time. If I can do it, ways been and one of the big “My future is probably 30 anybody else can do it,” Brown said. motivators in life today is sex.” years, and that being the case, “If you want to go to college and you After quitting his acting job, I’m going to live every one of don ’ t have the money, then get off your Brown started a new career in them suckers right to the hilt, dead butt. Goto work. You can do it” the medical laboratory field, operating medical laboratories. He has also owned taverns and restaurants, driven trucks, worked in wastewater manage ment, dug holes for telephone MARYLHURST UNIVERSITY WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP? FINISH YOUR DEGREE AT MARYLHURST UNIVERSITY. • Liberal transfer credit policy • Small classes Wed. Breakfast Special: Turkey Scramble with Thurs. Breakfast Special: potato pancakes Mushroom/onion omelet Grill Special: Chicken Club Sandwich Grill Special: Beef Philly Sub Sandwich Entree: Chicken Bento Entree: Braised Beef Tips Fri, Breakfast Special: Belgian Waff el with fruit Grill Special: Cordon Bleu Burger Entree: . 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