Roscoe Lee Browne (May 2, 1925 - April 11, 2007)

Roscoe Lee Browne is being remembered on this blog for a couple of reasons. For starters he was a wonderful performer. Also he had quite a resume of television guest appearances under his belt at the time of his passing. And finally he is the only African American performer who had a prominent role on "Falcon Crest." It's true that Raymond St. Jacques appeared as Dr. Arthur Hooks for a handful of episodes during the third season in 1983 but it was Browne's performance as the sinister and mysterious "Rosemont" during season seven in 1988 that left a lasting impression with audiences. Browne began in films in 1962 and appeared in 40 different productions before his death. Some of his more notable film appearances were in 1969's "Topaz" directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock and in 1992's "The Mambo Kings." On television he guest starred in just about all of the top shows of the day including "The Flip Wilson Show", "Mannix", "Bonanza", "Sanford and Son", "All in the Family", "Good Times", "Barney Miller", "Starsky and Hutch", "Maude", "Benson", "Hart to Hart", "Magnum, P.I.", "Head of the Class", "227", "The Cosby Show", "A Different World", "New York Undercover", "The John Larroquette Show", "Cosby", "ER", The Shield", "Law & Order" and "Will & Grace." In 1980 he joined the cast of the ABC sitcom "Soap" as Saunders the Butler who replaced Benson DuBois after the character spun off into his own successful sitcom. Browne remained with the show until it ended in 1981. His appearance on "Falcon Crest" as Rosemont was one of the show's most popular and suspenseful storylines. Rosement was the head of a group of organized white collar criminals known as "The Thirteen." At first he accepts Richard Channing as a member but then when Richard has a change of heart Rosemont approaches Richard's mother, Angela about joining the group. In the end Angela and Richard work together (for once) and put an end to the organization's plan. Browne's scenes with Jane Wyman were incredibly powerful. He made everyone he encountered uneasy accept for the great Angela Channing who actually threatened him on at least two different occasions. One memorable scene finds Angela alone in the winery reflecting on a past argument with Richard when Rosemont enters suddenly. Angela sets down the bottle of wine she is holding and says "I certainly admire your nerve" without even missing a beat. Another priceless scene features Rosemont and Angela discussing Richard and Angela says "This battle is between my son and myself and if you help him you will make yourself my enemy." After many threats, murders and set ups Rosemont is last seen being captured by Richard's men in Bangkok. In the 1990's and beyond Browne lent his voice to the world of animation on popular children's shows such as "Batman" and "Static Shock." From 1994 to 1998 he had a recurring role as Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin on "Spider-Man." Always a worker right up until the end he appeared as the character Clarence in the pilot episode of the series "Side Order of Life" which aired three months after his death. Roscoe Lee Browne had a wonderful voice and if he had been born twenty-five years earlier he would have been perfect for radio. It would have been a great honor to meet this gentlemen...a true class act.