Clarence Muse
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).
Filmography
The Black Stallion
as Snoe
The Black Stallion
as Snoe
Passing Through
as Papa Harris
Passing Through
as Papa Harris
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
as Self (archive footage)
Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
as Self (archive footage)
A Dream for Christmas
as Donald Freeland
A Dream for Christmas
as Donald Freeland
The World's Greatest Athlete
as Gazenga's Assistant
The World's Greatest Athlete
as Gazenga's Assistant
Buck and the Preacher
as Cudjo
Buck and the Preacher
as Cudjo
Porgy and Bess
as Peter
Porgy and Bess
as Peter
Jungle Safari
as Kyba
Jungle Safari
as Kyba
She Couldn't Say No
as Diaper Delivery Man
She Couldn't Say No
as Diaper Delivery Man
The Sun Shines Bright
as Uncle Zack
The Sun Shines Bright
as Uncle Zack
Jamaica Run
as Mose
Jamaica Run
as Mose
The Las Vegas Story
as Train Porter (uncredited)
The Las Vegas Story
as Train Porter (uncredited)
My Forbidden Past
as Pompey
My Forbidden Past
as Pompey
Apache Drums
as Jehu
Apache Drums
as Jehu
Katie Did It
as Mose
Katie Did It
as Mose
County Fair
as Romulus (uncredited)
County Fair
as Romulus (uncredited)
Riding High
as Whitey
Riding High
as Whitey
The Great Dan Patch
as Voodoo
The Great Dan Patch
as Voodoo
An Act of Murder
as Mr. Pope
An Act of Murder
as Mr. Pope
Silver River
as Servant (uncredited)
Silver River
as Servant (uncredited)
Unconquered
as Jason
Unconquered
as Jason
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
as Smoky
Joe Palooka in the Knockout
as Smoky
Welcome Stranger
as Clarence, Train Waiter (uncredited)
Welcome Stranger
as Clarence, Train Waiter (uncredited)
The Peanut Man
as Dr. George Washington Carver
The Peanut Man
as Dr. George Washington Carver
A Likely Story
as Porter (uncredited)
A Likely Story
as Porter (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
as Second Man on Death Row (uncredited)
My Favorite Brunette
as Second Man on Death Row (uncredited)
Two Smart People
as Train Porter
Two Smart People
as Train Porter
Scarlet Street
as Ben - Bank Janitor (uncredited)
Scarlet Street
as Ben - Bank Janitor (uncredited)
She Wouldn't Say Yes
as Porter (uncredited)
She Wouldn't Say Yes
as Porter (uncredited)
God Is My Co-Pilot
as Frank (uncredited)
God Is My Co-Pilot
as Frank (uncredited)
Jungle Queen
as Kyba
Jungle Queen
as Kyba
The Thin Man Goes Home
as Porter on Train (uncredited)
The Thin Man Goes Home
as Porter on Train (uncredited)
San Diego I Love You
as Porter (uncredited)
San Diego I Love You
as Porter (uncredited)
In the Meantime, Darling
as Henry
In the Meantime, Darling
as Henry
The Soul of a Monster
as Entertainer (uncredited)
The Soul of a Monster
as Entertainer (uncredited)
Double Indemnity
as Man (uncredited)
Double Indemnity
as Man (uncredited)
Stars on Parade
as Carter (uncredited)
Stars on Parade
as Carter (uncredited)
Follow the Boys
as Singer (uncredited)
Follow the Boys
as Singer (uncredited)
Jam Session
as Henry
Jam Session
as Henry
The Racket Man
as George the Butler
The Racket Man
as George the Butler
Over the Wall
as Sam
Over the Wall
as Sam
Flesh and Fantasy
as Jeff (uncredited)
Flesh and Fantasy
as Jeff (uncredited)
Watch on the Rhine
as Horace
Watch on the Rhine
as Horace
Heaven Can Wait
as Jasper (uncredited)
Heaven Can Wait
as Jasper (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge
as Porter
Honeymoon Lodge
as Porter
The Sky's the Limit
as Colonial Club Doorman (uncredited)
The Sky's the Limit
as Colonial Club Doorman (uncredited)
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
as George
Sherlock Holmes in Washington
as George
Shadow of a Doubt
as Pullman Porter
Shadow of a Doubt
as Pullman Porter
The Black Swan
as Margaret's Servant (uncredited)
The Black Swan
as Margaret's Servant (uncredited)
The Talk of the Town
as Supreme Court Doorkeeper (uncredited)
The Talk of the Town
as Supreme Court Doorkeeper (uncredited)
Tales of Manhattan
as Grandpa
Tales of Manhattan
as Grandpa
Tough as They Come
as Eddie
Tough as They Come
as Eddie
Twin Beds
as George
Twin Beds
as George
Among the Living
Among the Living
Belle Starr
as Bootblack in Saloon (uncredited)
Belle Starr
as Bootblack in Saloon (uncredited)
Gentleman from Dixie
as Jupe
Gentleman from Dixie
as Jupe
The Flame of New Orleans
as Samuel, Carriage Driver
The Flame of New Orleans
as Samuel, Carriage Driver
Kisses for Breakfast
as Old Jeff
Kisses for Breakfast
as Old Jeff
Love Crazy
as Robert - Hat Check Man at Party
Love Crazy
as Robert - Hat Check Man at Party
Invisible Ghost
as Evans the Butler
Invisible Ghost
as Evans the Butler
Adam Had Four Sons
as Sam (uncredited)
Adam Had Four Sons
as Sam (uncredited)
Chad Hanna
as Henry Prince
Chad Hanna
as Henry Prince
Murder Over New York
as Party Server
Murder Over New York
as Party Server
That Gang of Mine
as Ben
That Gang of Mine
as Ben
Maryland
as Reverend Bitters
Maryland
as Reverend Bitters
Sporting Blood
as Jeff
Sporting Blood
as Jeff
Zanzibar
as Bino
Zanzibar
as Bino
Alice in Movieland
as Train Porter
Alice in Movieland
as Train Porter
Way Down South
as Uncle Caton
Way Down South
as Uncle Caton
Secrets of a Nurse
as 'Tiger', Lee's Handler
Secrets of a Nurse
as 'Tiger', Lee's Handler
The Toy Wife
as Brutus
The Toy Wife
as Brutus
Spirit of Youth
as Frankie Walburn
Spirit of Youth
as Frankie Walburn
Jungle Menace
as Lightning
Jungle Menace
as Lightning
Mysterious Crossing
as Lincoln
Mysterious Crossing
as Lincoln
Daniel Boone
as Pompey
Daniel Boone
as Pompey
The Green Pastures
as Angel (uncredited)
The Green Pastures
as Angel (uncredited)
Spendthrift
as Restaurant Table Captain
Spendthrift
as Restaurant Table Captain
Show Boat
as Sam
Show Boat
as Sam
Laughing Irish Eyes
as Deacon
Laughing Irish Eyes
as Deacon
So Red the Rose
as Cato
So Red the Rose
as Cato
Beautiful Dreamer
Beautiful Dreamer
East of Java
as First Mate Johnson
East of Java
as First Mate Johnson
Harmony Lane
as Old Joe
Harmony Lane
as Old Joe
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
as Jeff
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
as Jeff
After the Dance
as Cook
After the Dance
as Cook
Alias Mary Dow
as 'Rufe'
Alias Mary Dow
as 'Rufe'
Kid Millions
as Native (uncredited)
Kid Millions
as Native (uncredited)
Black Moon
as 'Lunch' McClaren
Black Moon
as 'Lunch' McClaren
The Personality Kid
as Shamrock
The Personality Kid
as Shamrock
A Very Honorable Guy
as Black Man
A Very Honorable Guy
as Black Man
Massacre
as Sam
Massacre
as Sam
Flying Down to Rio
as Caddy in Haiti (uncredited)
Flying Down to Rio
as Caddy in Haiti (uncredited)
Fury of the Jungle
as Sunrise
Fury of the Jungle
as Sunrise
The Wrecker
as Chauffeur
The Wrecker
as Chauffeur
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Masseur
The Life of Jimmy Dolan
as Masseur
The Mind Reader
as Sam
The Mind Reader
as Sam
From Hell to Heaven
as Sam
From Hell to Heaven
as Sam
Frisco Jenny
as Voice of Singer (uncredited)
Frisco Jenny
as Voice of Singer (uncredited)
Laughter in Hell
as Abraham Jackson
Laughter in Hell
as Abraham Jackson
The Death Kiss
as Shoeshine Man
The Death Kiss
as Shoeshine Man
If I Had a Million
as Death Row Singing Prisoner (uncredited)
If I Had a Million
as Death Row Singing Prisoner (uncredited)
Man Against Woman
as Smoke Johnson
Man Against Woman
as Smoke Johnson
Washington Merry-Go-Round
as Clarence
Washington Merry-Go-Round
as Clarence
The Cabin in the Cotton
as A Blind Negro
The Cabin in the Cotton
as A Blind Negro
Hell's Highway
as Rascal
Hell's Highway
as Rascal
Big City Blues
as Nightclub Singer (uncredited)
Big City Blues
as Nightclub Singer (uncredited)
White Zombie
as Coach Driver
White Zombie
as Coach Driver
Is My Face Red?
as Horatio
Is My Face Red?
as Horatio
Attorney for the Defense
as Jefferson Q. Leffingwell
Attorney for the Defense
as Jefferson Q. Leffingwell
Night World
as Tim Washington, the Doorman
Night World
as Tim Washington, the Doorman
Lena Rivers
as Curfew
Lena Rivers
as Curfew
The Wet Parade
as Taylor Tibbs
The Wet Parade
as Taylor Tibbs
Safe in Hell
as Newcastle
Safe in Hell
as Newcastle
Huckleberry Finn
as Jim
Huckleberry Finn
as Jim
The Fighting Sheriff
as Curfew
The Fighting Sheriff
as Curfew
Dirigible
as Clarence
Dirigible
as Clarence
The Last Parade
as Alabam' / Singing Voice of Condemned Man (uncredited)
The Last Parade
as Alabam' / Singing Voice of Condemned Man (uncredited)
Outside the Law
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Outside the Law
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Swing High
as Singer
Swing High
as Singer
Guilty?
as Jefferson
Guilty?
as Jefferson
New York Nights
as Cabaret Singer (uncredited)
New York Nights
as Cabaret Singer (uncredited)
Hearts in Dixie
as Nappus
Hearts in Dixie
as Nappus