Clarence Muse
Biography
Clarence Muse was an American actor, director, and screenwriter who sang and composed, working for fifty years and appearing in more than 150 films. Born in Baltimore, he began performing in New York during the Harlem Renaissance with the Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players. After moving to Hollywood, he took a starring role in Hearts in Dixie (1929), becoming the first African American to star in a major studio film. He later played Peter, the Honey Man, in Porgy and Bess (1959), and from 1955 to 1956 he played Sam the pianist on a weekly TV version of Casablanca. His final acting role was in The Black Stallion (1979). Muse wrote songs, including When It's Sleepy Time Down South, and in 1943 he directed Run Little Chillun on Broadway, becoming the first African American to do so. In 1973, the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame inducted him.
89years old at death
- Born Baltimore
- Died Perris
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 30
- Career span
- 50 years1929 to 1979
Genres
First and latest
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Beyond film
Muse wrote the song "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" with Leon and Otis Rene in 1931, and it later became a signature song for Louis Armstrong.
A first
Muse reached a milestone in 1943 when he directed Run Little Chillun, making him the first African-American to direct a Broadway production.
A role that slipped away
Muse was considered for the part of Sam the pianist in the original Warner Brothers film Casablanca, a role he later played on the 1955 to 1956 TV version.
A change of course
Muse attended Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for a single year, 1908. He quit, thinking that as an African American he could not earn a living in the profession.
Behind the camera
The script for Way Down South, a 1939 film, was written by Muse together with Langston Hughes. Its title came from a memoir Muse had published in 1932, which he coauthored with David Arlen.
Clarence Muse movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Roy William Neill directed two of these films, William A. Wellman two and Frank Capra two. Irving Bacon appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Irving Bacon's page
Margaret Hamilton's page
Charles Middleton's page
Raymond Walburn's page
Donald Cook's page
Marjorie Lord's page
Roy William NeillDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1943
All films by Roy William Neill
All films by William A. Wellman
All films by Frank Capra
Box office
What Clarence Muse's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$54.9 million
6 of the 30 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 30 films: 6 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 23 figure not found.
- 6Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 23Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$38M68.9% of the total
- 2$8.0M14.6% of the total
- 3$3.5M6.4% of the total
- 4$2.2M4.0% of the total
- 5$2.0M3.6% of the total
- 6$1.4M2.6% of the total
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 1973 | Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.