Ruth Brown


About

Birth Place
Portsmouth, Virginia, USA
Born
January 12, 1928
Died
November 17, 2006
Cause of Death
Complications From A Stroke And Heart Attack

Biography

Actress-musician Ruth Brown made a splash in Hollywood both on and off-screen for more than three decades. Known for making audiences laugh, Brown began her acting career in comedies like "Hairspray" (1988) starring Sonny Bono and "True Identity" (1991) with Lenny Henry. She worked in series television while getting her start in acting, including a part on "Austin City Limits" (PBS, 1...

Biography

Actress-musician Ruth Brown made a splash in Hollywood both on and off-screen for more than three decades. Known for making audiences laugh, Brown began her acting career in comedies like "Hairspray" (1988) starring Sonny Bono and "True Identity" (1991) with Lenny Henry. She worked in series television while getting her start in acting, including a part on "Austin City Limits" (PBS, 1974-2015). Brown also contributed music to "Quicksilver" (1986) and the Jennifer Jason Leigh thriller "Heart of Midnight" (1989). Her work around this time also included a part on the TV movie "Hallelujah" (PBS, 1993-94). She also contributed to a variety of television specials, including "Black and Blue" (PBS, 1992-93) and "Abbey Lincoln, You Gotta Pay the Band" (PBS, 1992-93). Brown's music was also a part of the Norah Jones drama "My Blueberry Nights" (2008), the Richard Gere dramatic adaptation "Nights in Rodanthe" (2008) and "Seven Pounds" (2008). Brown was most recently credited in "Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2" (PBS, 2010-11). In addition to her music, Brown also appeared on-screen in the Aerosmith documentary "Lightning in a Bottle" (2004) and "Honeydripper" (2007) with Danny Glover. Brown passed away in November 2006 at the age of 78.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Honeydripper (2007)
Lightning in a Bottle (2004)
Herself
Shake, Rattle and Rock (1994)
True Identity (1991)
Hairspray (1988)
That Rhythm Those Blues (1988)

Music (Feature Film)

Hidden Figures (2016)
Song Performer
Brooklyn (2015)
Song Performer
Seven Pounds (2008)
Song Performer
Nights in Rodanthe (2008)
Song Performer
My Blueberry Nights (2008)
Song Performer
The Hurricane (1999)
Song Performer
True Identity (1991)
Song Performer
Heart of Midnight (1989)
Song Performer
Quicksilver (1986)
Song Performer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Lightning in a Bottle (2004)
Other

Cast (Special)

Hitmakers: The Teens Who Stole Pop Music (2001)
Interviewee
Words and Music By Leiber & Stoller (2001)
Interviewee
I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African-American Arts (1999)
The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Celebrating the Humor of Richard Pryor (1999)
Performer
Little Jimmy Scott (1999)
Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1997)
Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested (1995)
Let's Make Sure Everybody Eats '95 (1995)
B.B. King: The Blues Summit (1995)
Abbey Lincoln, You Gotta Pay the Band (1993)
Black and Blue (1993)
The Dancing Man -- Peg Leg Bates (1992)
The 43rd Annual Tony Awards (1989)
Performer

Music (Special)

Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1997)
Song Performer
Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested (1995)
Song Performer
Black and Blue (1993)
Song Performer
The 43rd Annual Tony Awards (1989)
Song Performer

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

Hallelujah (1993)

Life Events

Bibliography