Clarence Muse
Clarence Muse was an American actor, screenwriter, director, singer, and composer. He was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a major studio film, 1929's Hearts in Dixie. He acted for 50 years, and appeared in more than 150 films. He was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973.
Life and career
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Alexander and Mary Muse, he studied at Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for one year in 1908. He left because he believed he could not make a living in law as an African American. He later received an honorary doctorate of laws from Dickinson School of Law in 1978.
By the 1920s Muse was acting in New York during the Harlem Renaissance with two Harlem theatres, Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players. 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 moved to Chicago for a while, and then moved to Hollywood. He performed in Hearts in Dixie, the first all-black movie. For the next fifty years, he worked regularly in minor and major roles. 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. Later it became a signature song of Louis Armstrong.
He was the major star in The Broken Earth, 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, the film's early scenes focused in a highly realistic manner on the physical labor of plowing scenes with black farmers. 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 whose title was taken from Muse's 1932 memoir, coauthored with David Arlen.
Muse performed in Broken Strings, as a concert violinist who opposes the desire of his son to play "swing". During World War II, Muse performed for the USO, including a Negro USO in Riverside, California. From 1955 to 1956, Muse was a regular on the weekly TV version of Casablanca, playing Sam the pianist. In 1959, he played Peter, the Honey Man, in the film musical Porgy and Bess.
Muse appeared on Disney's TV miniseries The Swamp Fox. Other film credits include Buck and the Preacher, The World's Greatest Athlete, Car Wash, and Passing Through. His last acting role was in The Black Stallion.
Other
Muse received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, in 1972. He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. Muse died in Perris, California, on October 13, 1979, one day before his 90th birthday and on the same day that his final film was released.
Partial filmography
Election Day as Farina's fatherHearts in Dixie as NappusHallelujah as Church Member Guilty? as JeffersonA Royal Romance as RustyHoney as Black Revivalist Swing High as Singer Rain or Shine as NeroThe Thoroughbred as Stablehand Outside the Law as Party Guest Derelict as Driver Deep South The Last Parade as Alabam' / Singing Voice of Condemned Man Dirigible as ClarenceThe Fighting Sheriff as CurfewHuckleberry Finn as JimSecret Service as Jonas PolkSafe in Hell as Newcastle – the PorterThe Secret Witness as Jeff – Building JanitorX Marks the Spot as Eustace BrownThe Woman from Monte Carlo as TombeauPrestige as NhamThe Wet Parade as Taylor TibbsLena Rivers as CurfewNight World as Tim Washington, the DoormanAttorney for the Defense as JeffIs My Face Red? as HoratioWinner Take All as Rosebud, the TrainerWhite Zombie as Coach Driver Big City Blues as Nightclub Singer Blonde Venus as Charlie, the BartenderHell's Highway as RascalThe Cabin in the Cotton as A Blind NegroWashington Merry-Go-Round as ClarenceMan Against Woman as Smoke JohnsonIf I Had a Million as Death Row Singing Prisoner The Death Kiss as Shoeshine Man Frisco Jenny as Singer Laughter in Hell as Abraham JacksonFrom Hell to Heaven as Sam – BellhopThe Mind Reader as SamThe Life of Jimmy Dolan as Masseur Melody Cruise as Dock Worker The Wrecker as ChauffeurFury of the Jungle as SunriseFlying Down to Rio as Caddy in Haiti Massacre as SamA Very Honorable Guy as Black Man The Personality Kid as ShamrockOperator 13 as Slave at Medicine Show Black Moon as 'Lunch' McClarenThe Count of Monte Cristo as AliKid Millions as Native Broadway Bill as WhiteyRed Hot Tires as Bud's Truck PartnerAlias Mary Dow as 'Rufe'So Red the Rose as CatoAfter the Dance as Cook Harmony Lane as Old JoeThe Public Menace as Janitor O'Shaughnessy's Boy as JeffEast of Java as First Mate JohnsonMuss 'em Up as WilliamLaughing Irish Eyes as DeaconShow Boat as JanitorThe Green Pastures as Angel Spendthrift as Restaurant Table Captain Follow Your Heart as Choir Leader Daniel Boone as PompeyThe Broken Earth, a short, extantMysterious Crossing as LincolnHigh Hat as Congo MacRosenbloomJungle Menace as Lightning – Street SingerDeep South Spirit of Youth as Frankie WalburnThe Toy Wife as BrutusPrison Train as Train Steward / SamSecrets of a Nurse as TigerWay Down South as Uncle CatonZanzibar as BinoSporting Blood as JeffMaryland as Rev. Bitters That Gang of Mine as BenMurder Over New York as ButlerChad Hanna as Henry Prince Adam Had Four Sons as SamThe Flame of New Orleans as SamuelInvisible Ghost as EvansLove Crazy as RobertKisses for Breakfast as Old JeffGentleman from Dixie as JupeBelle Starr as Bootblack in Saloon Among the Living as Riverbottom Cafe Waiter Twin Beds as George Tough As They Come as EddieTales of Manhattan as Grandpa The Talk of the Town as Supreme Court Doorkeeper Sin Town as Train Porter Broken Strings as Arthur WilliamsStrictly in the Groove as Durham's Valet The Black Swan as Margaret's Servant Shadow of a Doubt as Pullman PorterSherlock Holmes in Washington as George – Porter The Sky's the Limit as Colonial Club Doorman Honeymoon Lodge as Porter Heaven Can Wait as Jasper, Strabel's Butler Watch on the Rhine as HoraceJohnny Come Lately as ButlerFlesh and Fantasy as Jeff The Racket Man as George Jam Session as HenryFollow the Boys as Singer Stars on Parade as Carter Double Indemnity as Man The Soul of a Monster as Entertainer In the Meantime, Darling as Henry – Hotel Porter San Diego, I Love You as Porter Jungle Queen as KybaGod Is My Co-Pilot as Frank Without Love as Porter Boston Blackie's Rendezvous as Hotel Porter She Wouldn't Say Yes as Porter Scarlet Street as Ben – Bank Janitor The Thin Man Goes Home as Porter on Train Two Smart People as PorterNight and Day as Porter Affairs of Geraldine as Porter My Favorite Brunette as Second Man on Death Row A Likely Story as Porter Welcome Stranger as Clarence, Train Waiter Joe Palooka in the Knockout – SmokyUnconquered – JasonThe Peanut Man as Dr. George Washington CarverKing of the Gamblers as Tom the Porter Silver River as Servant An Act of Murder as Mr. PopeThe Great Dan Patch as VoodooRiding High as WhiteyCounty Fair as Romulus Apache Drums as JehuMy Forbidden Past as PompeyShe Couldn't Say No as Diaper Delivery Man The Las Vegas Story as Pullman Porter Caribbean Gold as QuashyThe Sun Shines Bright as Uncle ZackJamaica Run as MosePorgy and Bess as PeterBuck and the Preacher as CudjoThe World's Greatest Athlete as Gazenga's AssistantCar Wash as SnapperPassing Through as Poppa HarrisThe Black Stallion as Snoe