Johnny Mack Brown
An All-American halfback while attending the University of Alabama, Johnny Mack Brown chose the silver screen over the green grass of the football field when he graduated. Signed to a contract with MGM in 1926, Brown debuted in Slide, Kelly, Slide (1927) with William Haines in a film about - baseball. This was followed by The Bugle Call (1927), which starred the fading Jackie Coogan. In 1928 he appeared in the last Norma Shearer silent film, A Lady of Chance (1928). After that, he worked with Greta Garbo, Marion Davies and Mary Pickford. His muscular good looks only carried him so far in films, however, and by 1930 he had yet to find his place. At MGM Clark Gable was taking the roles that Brown was up for, so he went into a western for director King Vidor, Billy the Kid (1930). While Vidor did not want him for the part to begin with, the picture was successful; however, Brown's career at MGM soon ended. By 1933 he was still making westerns, but they were for low-rung studios like Mascot. More westerns at even lower-rung Supreme Pictures followed, as well as serials like Wild West Days (1937) at Universal. In 1943 Brown took his boots over to Monogram Pictures, where he made over 60 westerns. He started off as "Nevada Jack McKenzie" in the Rough Riders series, but the name soon changed to Johnny. As with most of the early cowboy stars, he was a hero to millions of young children and consistently among the top ten money-makers in westerns from 1942-50. The bubble burst, though, just as it did for Allan Lane, in 1953, as the days of the "B" western came to an end.
Filmography
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her
as Self (archive footage)
Mae West and the Men Who Knew Her
as Self (archive footage)
Legends of the West
as Billy the Kid in 'Billy the Kid' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Legends of the West
as Billy the Kid in 'Billy the Kid' (archive footage) (uncredited)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
Apache Uprising
as Sheriff Ben Hall
Apache Uprising
as Sheriff Ben Hall
The Bounty Killer
as Sheriff Green
The Bounty Killer
as Sheriff Green
Requiem for a Gunfighter
as Enkoff
Requiem for a Gunfighter
as Enkoff
The Marshal's Daughter
as Johnny Mack Brown - Poker-Game Player
The Marshal's Daughter
as Johnny Mack Brown - Poker-Game Player
Canyon Ambush
as Johnny Mack Brown
Canyon Ambush
as Johnny Mack Brown
Dead Man's Trail
as Johnny Mack Brown
Dead Man's Trail
as Johnny Mack Brown
Man from the Black Hills
as Johnny Mack Brown
Man from the Black Hills
as Johnny Mack Brown
Texas Lawmen
as Marshal Johnny Mack Brown
Texas Lawmen
as Marshal Johnny Mack Brown
Whistling Hills
as Johnny Mack Brown
Whistling Hills
as Johnny Mack Brown
Oklahoma Justice
as Johnny Mack Brown
Oklahoma Justice
as Johnny Mack Brown
Montana Desperado
as Johnny Mack Brown
Montana Desperado
as Johnny Mack Brown
Blazing Bullets
as Johnny Mack Brown
Blazing Bullets
as Johnny Mack Brown
Man from Sonora
as Johnny Mack Brown
Man from Sonora
as Johnny Mack Brown
Colorado Ambush
as Johnny Mack Brown
Colorado Ambush
as Johnny Mack Brown
Short Grass
as Sheriff Ord Keown
Short Grass
as Sheriff Ord Keown
Outlaw Gold
as Johnny Mack Brown
Outlaw Gold
as Johnny Mack Brown
Law of the Panhandle
as U.S. Marshal Johnny Mack Brown
Law of the Panhandle
as U.S. Marshal Johnny Mack Brown
Six Gun Mesa
as Johnny Mack Brown
Six Gun Mesa
as Johnny Mack Brown
Over the Border
as Johnny Mack Brown
Over the Border
as Johnny Mack Brown
West of Wyoming
as Johnny Mack Brown
West of Wyoming
as Johnny Mack Brown
Western Renegades
as Johnny Mack Brown
Western Renegades
as Johnny Mack Brown
Range Justice
as Johnny Mack Brown
Range Justice
as Johnny Mack Brown
West of El Dorado
as Johnny Mack
West of El Dorado
as Johnny Mack
Stampede
as Sheriff Aaron Ball
Stampede
as Sheriff Aaron Ball
Trails End
as Johnny Mack
Trails End
as Johnny Mack
Law of the West
as Federal Agent Johnny Mack
Law of the West
as Federal Agent Johnny Mack
Hidden Danger
as Johnny Mack
Hidden Danger
as Johnny Mack
Gunning for Justice
as Johnny Mack
Gunning for Justice
as Johnny Mack
The Sheriff of Medicine Bow
as Johnny Mack Brown
The Sheriff of Medicine Bow
as Johnny Mack Brown
The Fighting Ranger
as Johnny Brown
The Fighting Ranger
as Johnny Brown
Back Trail
as Johnny Mack
Back Trail
as Johnny Mack
Triggerman
as Johnny Mack Brown
Triggerman
as Johnny Mack Brown
Frontier Agent
as Johnny Mack Brown
Frontier Agent
as Johnny Mack Brown
Crossed Trails
as Johnny Mack
Crossed Trails
as Johnny Mack
Overland Trails
as Johnny Murdock
Overland Trails
as Johnny Murdock
Gun Talk
as Johnny McVey
Gun Talk
as Johnny McVey
Prairie Express
as Johnny Hudson
Prairie Express
as Johnny Hudson
Valley of Fear
as Johnny Williams
Valley of Fear
as Johnny Williams
Flashing Guns
as Johnny Mack
Flashing Guns
as Johnny Mack
Code of the Saddle
as John Macklin
Code of the Saddle
as John Macklin
Trailing Danger
as Johnny
Trailing Danger
as Johnny
The Law Comes to Gunsight
as Johnny Mackey
The Law Comes to Gunsight
as Johnny Mackey
Land of the Lawless
as Johnny Mack
Land of the Lawless
as Johnny Mack
Raiders of the South
as Captain Brownell posing Johnny Langdon
Raiders of the South
as Captain Brownell posing Johnny Langdon
Silver Range
as Johnny Bronton
Silver Range
as Johnny Bronton
Shadows on the Range
as Steve Mason posing as Steve Saunders
Shadows on the Range
as Steve Mason posing as Steve Saunders
Trigger Fingers
as Sam Hurricane Benton
Trigger Fingers
as Sam Hurricane Benton
The Gentleman from Texas
as Johnny Macklin
The Gentleman from Texas
as Johnny Macklin
Under Arizona Skies
as Dusty Smith
Under Arizona Skies
as Dusty Smith
The Haunted Mine
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
The Haunted Mine
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
Drifting Along
as Steve Garner
Drifting Along
as Steve Garner
Border Bandits
as Marshal Nevada
Border Bandits
as Marshal Nevada
Frontier Feud
as Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Frontier Feud
as Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
The Lost Trail
as Marshal 'Nevada Jack' McKenzie
The Lost Trail
as Marshal 'Nevada Jack' McKenzie
Flame of the West
as Dr. John Poore
Flame of the West
as Dr. John Poore
Stranger from Santa Fe
as U.S. Marshal Nevada McKenzie, posing as Roy Ferris
Stranger from Santa Fe
as U.S. Marshal Nevada McKenzie, posing as Roy Ferris
Gun Smoke
as Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Gun Smoke
as Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
The Navajo Trail
as Marshal Nevada McKenzie
The Navajo Trail
as Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Law of the Valley
as Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Law of the Valley
as Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Land of the Outlaws
as Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Land of the Outlaws
as Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Range Law
as U. S. Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Range Law
as U. S. Marshal Nevada McKenzie
Law Men
as U.S. Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Law Men
as U.S. Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Raiders of the Border
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
Raiders of the Border
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
Outlaws of Stampede Pass
as Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Outlaws of Stampede Pass
as Marshal Nevada Jack McKenzie
Crazy House
as Johnny Mack Brown
Crazy House
as Johnny Mack Brown
The Lone Star Trail
as Blaze Barker
The Lone Star Trail
as Blaze Barker
Six Gun Gospel
as Marshal Jack McKenzie
Six Gun Gospel
as Marshal Jack McKenzie
The Stranger From Pecos
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
The Stranger From Pecos
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
Raiders of San Joaquin
as Rocky Morgan aka The Black Rider
Raiders of San Joaquin
as Rocky Morgan aka The Black Rider
Cheyenne Roundup
as Buck Brandon & Gils Brandon
Cheyenne Roundup
as Buck Brandon & Gils Brandon
The Ghost Rider
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
The Ghost Rider
as Nevada Jack McKenzie
The Old Chisholm Trail
as Dusty Gardner
The Old Chisholm Trail
as Dusty Gardner
Little Joe, the Wrangler
as Neal Wallace
Little Joe, the Wrangler
as Neal Wallace
Stagecoach Buckaroo
as Steve Hardin
Stagecoach Buckaroo
as Steve Hardin
Fighting Bill Fargo
as Bill Fargo
Fighting Bill Fargo
as Bill Fargo
Arizona Cyclone
as Tom Baxter
Arizona Cyclone
as Tom Baxter
The Masked Rider
as Larry Prescott
The Masked Rider
as Larry Prescott
Man from Montana
as Sheriff Bob Dawson
Man from Montana
as Sheriff Bob Dawson
Rawhide Rangers
as Brand Calhoun
Rawhide Rangers
as Brand Calhoun
Law of the Range
as Steve Howard
Law of the Range
as Steve Howard
Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
as Joe Henderson
Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
as Joe Henderson
Pony Post
as Cal Sheridan
Pony Post
as Cal Sheridan
Law and Order
as Bill Ralston
Law and Order
as Bill Ralston
Ragtime Cowboy Joe
as Steve Logan
Ragtime Cowboy Joe
as Steve Logan
Son of Roaring Dan
as Jim Reardon (Posing as Horace McPhail)
Son of Roaring Dan
as Jim Reardon (Posing as Horace McPhail)
Bad Man from Red Butte
as Gils Brady / Buck Halliday
Bad Man from Red Butte
as Gils Brady / Buck Halliday
Riders of Pasco Basin
as Lee Jamison
Riders of Pasco Basin
as Lee Jamison
Boss of Bullion City
as Tom Bryant
Boss of Bullion City
as Tom Bryant
West of Carson City
as Jim Bannister
West of Carson City
as Jim Bannister
Chip of the Flying U
as 'Chip' Bennett
Chip of the Flying U
as 'Chip' Bennett
Desperate Trails
as Steve Hayden
Desperate Trails
as Steve Hayden
The Oregon Trail
as Jeff Scott
The Oregon Trail
as Jeff Scott
Land of Liberty
as Billy the Kid (edited from 'Billy the Kid')
Land of Liberty
as Billy the Kid (edited from 'Billy the Kid')
Flaming Frontiers
as Tex Houston
Flaming Frontiers
as Tex Houston
Wells Fargo
as Talbot Carter
Wells Fargo
as Talbot Carter
Born to the West
as Tom Fillmore
Born to the West
as Tom Fillmore
Boothill Brigade
as Lon Cardigan
Boothill Brigade
as Lon Cardigan
Wild West Days
as Kentucky Wade
Wild West Days
as Kentucky Wade
Bar-Z Bad Men
as Jim Waters
Bar-Z Bad Men
as Jim Waters
Lawless Land
as Ranger Jeff Hayden
Lawless Land
as Ranger Jeff Hayden
Trail of Vengeance
as Dude Ramsay
Trail of Vengeance
as Dude Ramsay
The Gambling Terror
as Jeff Hayes
The Gambling Terror
as Jeff Hayes
Undercover Man
as Steve McLain
Undercover Man
as Steve McLain
The Crooked Trail
as Jim Blake
The Crooked Trail
as Jim Blake
Everyman's Law
as Johnny- aka The Dog Town Kid
Everyman's Law
as Johnny- aka The Dog Town Kid
Desert Phantom
as Billy Donovan
Desert Phantom
as Billy Donovan
Valley of the Lawless
as Bruce Reynolds
Valley of the Lawless
as Bruce Reynolds
The Courageous Avenger
as Kirk Baxter
The Courageous Avenger
as Kirk Baxter
Starlit Days at the Lido
as Self
Starlit Days at the Lido
as Self
Branded a Coward
as Johnny Hume
Branded a Coward
as Johnny Hume
Rustlers of Red Dog
as Jack Wood
Rustlers of Red Dog
as Jack Wood
Belle of the Nineties
as Brooks Clayburn
Belle of the Nineties
as Brooks Clayburn
Cross Streets
as Adam Blythe
Cross Streets
as Adam Blythe
St. Louis Woman
as Jim Warren
St. Louis Woman
as Jim Warren
Three on a Honeymoon
as Chuck Wells
Three on a Honeymoon
as Chuck Wells
Female
as George P. Cooper
Female
as George P. Cooper
Saturday's Millions
as Alan Barry
Saturday's Millions
as Alan Barry
Fighting With Kit Carson
as Kit Carson
Fighting With Kit Carson
as Kit Carson
70,000 Witnesses
as Wally Clark
70,000 Witnesses
as Wally Clark
Hollywood Halfbacks
Hollywood Halfbacks
The Last Flight
as Bill Talbot
The Last Flight
as Bill Talbot
The Secret Six
as Hank Rogers
The Secret Six
as Hank Rogers
Montana Moon
as Larry
Montana Moon
as Larry
Jazz Heaven
as Barry Holmes
Jazz Heaven
as Barry Holmes
Hurricane
as Dan
Hurricane
as Dan
The Single Standard
as Tommy Hewlett
The Single Standard
as Tommy Hewlett
The Valiant
as Robert Ward
The Valiant
as Robert Ward
Coquette
as Michael Jeffery
Coquette
as Michael Jeffery
A Woman of Affairs
as David Furness
A Woman of Affairs
as David Furness
Annapolis
as Bill
Annapolis
as Bill
Our Dancing Daughters
as Ben Blaine
Our Dancing Daughters
as Ben Blaine
The Play Girl
as Bradley Lane
The Play Girl
as Bradley Lane
Square Crooks
as Larry Scott
Square Crooks
as Larry Scott
Soft Living
as Stockney Webb
Soft Living
as Stockney Webb
Mockery
as Russian Officer (uncredited)
Mockery
as Russian Officer (uncredited)
The Bugle Call
as Bit (uncredited)
The Bugle Call
as Bit (uncredited)