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Peter Brown (actor)

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Peter Brown
Brown as Deputy Johnny McKay in the television series Lawman (1959)
Born
Pierre Lynn de Lappe

(1935-10-05)October 5, 1935
New York City, NY, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 2016(2016-03-21) (aged 80)
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
OccupationActor
Years active1957–2005
Spouses
(m. 1958; div. 1960)
Sandy Edmundson
(m. 1964; div. 1969)
Liliane Alice Yvette Safargy
(m. 1971; div. 1974)
Mary Kathleen Gauba
(m. 1986; div. 1999)
Kerstin Kern
(m. 2008⁠–⁠2016)
Children3

Pierre Lynn de Lappe (October 5, 1935[1] – March 21, 2016[2]), also known as Peter Brown, was an American actor. He portrayed Deputy Johnny McKay opposite John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop in the 1958 to 1962 ABC-Warner Brothers western television series Lawman and Texas Ranger Chad Cooper on NBC's Laredo from 1965 to 1967.[3]

Early life

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Brown served in Alaska with the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division where he entertained his fellow troops by writing, directing, and acting in plays.[4]

Following discharge, he supported himself by working in a gasoline station on the Sunset Strip. One night a man paid for his purchase with a credit card reading "Jack L. Warner". Brown asked the customer whether he was one of the Warner Brothers, the man replied "I'm the last one left".[5]

Career

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As a contract player for Warner Bros., Brown appeared in the theatrical film Darby's Rangers (1958) with James Garner and Stuart Whitman. He also appeared in the 1962 films Merrill's Marauders, which was co-written and directed by Samuel Fuller starring Jeff Chandler, and Red Nightmare with Jack Kelly.

Lawman

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Brown portrayed deputy Johnny McKay in Lawman.

Maverick

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Brown appeared in dozens of other television shows and did several crossovers with other western series as Johnny McKay, including Maverick, in the 1961 episode "Hadley's Hunters". He also appeared on Maverick playing different characters in the 1957 episode "Point Blank" (as Clay Semple) and "Stage West", playing a villain named Rip Fallon.

Cheyenne

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In 1957 Brown appeared as Clay Conover in Cheyenne in the episode "Top Hand." In 1958 he appeared as Billy Younger in Cheyenne in the episode "Ghost of the Cimarron." In the Cheyenne episode "Renegades" (1958), Brown portrayed Jed Wayne.

Colt .45

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Brown twice guest-starred in another ABC/WB western, Colt .45, with Wayde Preston. He appeared as Dave in "The Peacemaker" or "Judgment Day", the series premiere in 1957. That same season, he was cast as Jimmy Benedict in the episode "Young Gun".

Post-Warner Bros.

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After his contract with Warner Bros. lapsed, Brown made two films for Walt Disney Studios; Summer Magic with Hayley Mills and Burl Ives and A Tiger Walks. He appeared in other television series too, such as Redigo, starring Richard Egan as a New Mexico rancher.

After appearing opposite Ann-Margret in Kitten with a Whip, he was contracted to Universal Pictures for the 1965 NBC Western television series Laredo, set on the Mexican border in and about Laredo, Texas.

Brown appeared in the pilot for Police Woman, starring Angie Dickinson. Brown appeared in several exploitation films such as Foxy Brown, Chrome and Hot Leather, and Act of Vengeance.

Soap operas

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Brown also appeared on several soap operas. On Days of Our Lives, he played Dr. Greg Peters from 1972-1979 who was involved in a romance with Amanda Howard (Mary Frann). He was Laurie Brooks' attorney, Robert Laurence, on The Young and the Restless (1981-1982) when she was on trial for the murder of her former mother-in-law, Vanessa Prentiss. He would return briefly to "Y&R" in between soap stints in the late 1980s.

Brown replaced John Shearin as Roger Forbes on Loving during its early days, but was written out after only a couple of months. From 1986-1987, he played Charles Sanders, former ambassador to Mendorra, on One Life to Live. The character had a heart attack and died on the evening of his wedding to Lee Halpern. He subsequently played Blake Hayes on The Bold and the Beautiful, the ex-husband of Dr. Taylor Hamilton Hayes.

Personal life

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Brown was married five times. His wives were:

  • Diane Jergens, an actress; they wed on September 6, 1958, in Las Vegas and divorced in June 1960.[1]
  • Sandy Edmundson, a model; they wed on May 26, 1964, in Palos Verdes and divorced in 1969. They had a son.[1]
  • Liliane Alice Yvette Safargy, a model; they wed on November 14, 1971, in Beverly Hills and divorced in September 1974.[1]
  • Mary Kathleen Gauba, they wed on November 29, 1986, in Santa Fe and divorced in 1999.[1]
  • Kerstin Kern; they wed on September 6, 2008, in Newbury Park, California.[1]

Brown had three children as follows:

  • Matthew, born 1965, by Sandy Edmundson[1]
  • Joshua, by Amber Karlson, with whom Brown lived from 1974 until 1979.[1]
  • Christi, by Merle Pertile.[1]

Filmography

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Film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1957 The Story of Esther Costello Boy Uncredited
1957 Sayonara 2nd Military Policeman Voice, Uncredited
1957 Freedom and You Bill Martin Edited to half an hour and rereleased in 1962 as Red Nightmare
1958 Darby's Rangers Private / Corporal Rollo Burns
1958 Too Much, Too Soon Young Nightclub Patron Uncredited
1958 Marjorie Morningstar Alec Uncredited
1958 Violent Road Marine Corporal Uncredited
1958 No Time for Sergeants Radio Disc Jockey Voice, Uncredited
1958 Onionhead Clark (scenes deleted)
1959 Westbound Army Sentry Outside Tent Voice, Uncredited
1959 The Young Philadelphians Airline Ticket Agent / Elevator Operator Voice, Uncredited
1959 The FBI Story FBI Agent at Hearting Voice, Uncredited
1962 Merrill's Marauders Bullseye
1963 Summer Magic Tom Hamilton
1964 A Tiger Walks Vern Goodman
1964 Ride the Wild Surf Chase Colton
1964 Kitten with a Whip Ron
1968 Three Guns for Texas Texas Ranger Chad Cooper Episodes of Laredo TV series made into a feature film
1969 Backtrack Texas Ranger Chad Cooper Episodes of Laredo TV series made into a feature film
1970 Eagles Attack at Dawn Abie Israeli film
1971 Chrome and Hot Leather Al
1971 Teenage Tease
1972 Piranha, Piranha Jim Pendrake
1973 Gentle Savage - Executive producer
1974 Foxy Brown Stevie Elias
1974 Memory of Us Winston
1974 Act of Vengeance Jack
1975 Slashed Dreams The Professor
1976 Sparkle - Executive producer
1982 The Concrete Jungle Danny
1986 The Aurora Encounter Sheriff
1986 The Messenger Harris
1990 Deathstone Admiral
1995 Karate Tiger 8: Fists of Iron Max
1997 Asylum Dr. Frank Meyers
1999 Wasteland Justice Wilkerson
2001 The Wedding Planner Justice
2004 Y.M.I. Glenn
2004 Land of the Free? Senator Jacobs
2004 Hollywood, It's a Dog's Life Hank O'Hara
2005 Three Bad Men Tom Noland
2005 Hell to Pay Johnny Behan (final film role)
Television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1957 Colt .45 Jimmy Benedict / Dave 2 episodes
1957–1960 Maverick Deputy Johnny McKay / Rip Fallon in the episode: "Stage West"/ Chris Semple 3 episodes
1957–1962 Cheyenne Ross Andrews-Pocketful Of Stars ... Billy Younger [Ep:"Ghost of the Cimarron"]

Jed Wayne [Ep: Renegades] Clay Conover - [Ep: Top Hand] (4 episodes)

1958–1959 Sugarfoot Deputy Johnny McKay / Davey Reeder 2 episodes
1958–1962 Lawman Deputy Johnny McKay 156 episodes
1962 Hawaiian Eye Teo Episode: "Lalama Lady"
1962 77 Sunset Strip Trace Morgan / Timmy Ellison 2 episodes
1963 The Gallant Men Lieutenant Hodges Episode: "The Bridge"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Ed Season 1 Episode 17: "Forecast: Low Clouds and Coastal Fog"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Detective Philip Reardon Season 1 Episode 32: "Death of a Cop"
1963 Redigo Johnny Porter Episode: "The Blooded Bull"
1963–1964 Wagon Train Ben Campbell / Aaron Balfour / Benedict O'Brien 3 episodes
1964 Kraft Suspense Theatre Chris Forrester / Lieutenant Ben Hollister 2 episodes
1964–1967 The Virginian Tom Conlan / Chad Cooper / Craig Ryan 3 episodes
1965–1967 Laredo Chad Cooper 56 episodes, three of which are a credit only. Credited as Chad Cooper/Prince Lazlo in "A Prince of a Ranger" (1966)
1967 The Danny Thomas Hour Eddie Kimble Episode: "The Enemy"
1969 The Best Years Dempster Made-for-television movie
1969 Mod Squad Lou Franklin Episode: "The Debt"
1970 Hunters Are for Killing Raymond Pera Made-for-television movie
1970 The Most Deadly Game Scott Norton Episode: "War Games"
1971 My Three Sons Mike Turley Episode: "The Love God"
1971 Dan August Fred Bowers Episode: "The Manufactured Man"
1971 Mission: Impossible Johnny Brown Episode: "Blind"
1971 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Special Agent Bart Herron Episode: "Operation: Spread"
1972 Medical Center Dr. Musante Episode: "Deadlock"
1972 The Bob Newhart Show Stan Conners Episode: "Tennis, Emily?"
1972–1978 Days of Our Lives Dr. Greg Peters 10 episodes
1973 The Magician Ray Weaver Episode: "The Vanishing Lady"
1974 Police Story Chuck / Lloyd 2 episodes
1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. Mike Ross Episode: "The Covenant"
1975 Matt Helm Episode: "Dead Men Talk", Episode: "Murder on Ice"
1975 Police Woman Paul Monarch Episode: "Above and Beyond"
1977 The Streets of San Francisco Officer Brady Episode: "One Last Trick"
1977 Quincy M.E. Bondine - College Football Coast Episode: "Main Man"
1978 Wonder Woman Inspector Tim Bolt Episode: "Hot Wheels"
1978 Charlie's Angels Mark Correll Episode: "Angels Ahoy"
1978 Vega$ Richie Episode: "The Pageant"
1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Episode: "Breakout to Murder"
1978 Flying High Richard Episode: "Brides and Grooms"
1979 Salvage 1 Bill Kelly Episode: "Salvage" (pilot)
1979 Project U.F.O. Steve Rollins Episode: "Sighting 4026: The Atlantic Queen Incident"
1979 California Fever Woods Episode: "Beach Wars"
1980 The Dukes of Hazzard Floyd Baker Episode: "Officer Daisy Duke"
1980 Top of the Hill McCain Made-for-television movie
1980 The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything Bodyguard Made-for-television movie
1981 Fantasy Island Patrick O'Herlihy Episode: "Elizabeth's Baby/The Artist and the Lady"
1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Hijacker Thompson Episode: "Airsick - 1981"
1982 Dallas Tom Flintoff Episode: "Denial"
1982 Magnum, P.I. Robert Brighton Episode: "Heal Thyself"
1983 Hart to Hart Ray Martin / Dr. Scott Episode: "As the Hart Turns"
1983 Loving Roger Forbes
1983 T.J. Hooker Lieutenant Drummer 2 episodes
1983 Manimal Carl McGhan Episode: "High Stakes"
1984 Whiz Kids Androv Episode: "Father's Day"
1984 Cover Up Mark Reynolds Pilot episode
1984 The Fall Guy Episode: "San Francisco Caper"
1984 Riptide Fred Cushing Episode: "Peter Pan Is Alive and Well"
1984–1986 Simon & Simon Manny Crobett / FBI Agent Frank Kenniman 2 episodes
1985 Crazy Like a Fox Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part"
1985 Knight Rider Episode: "Knight Behind Bars"
1986 Airwolf Herb Waldron Episode: "Little Wolf"
1986 The A-Team Ted Burke Episode: "The Theory of Revolution"
1986–1987 One Life to Live Charles Sanders, III Featured Role
1988 Ohara Austin Snyder Episode: "Last Year's Model"
1988 Aaron's Way Coach Grady Episode: "New Patterns"
1988 1st & Ten: The Championship Mal Hutchins Episode: "Caught in the Draft"
1989 Hunter Fuller Episode: "Partners"
1989 Generations Doctor 4 episodes
1989–1991 The Young and the Restless Robert Laurence 6 episodes
1990 Baywatch Bucky Episode: "Shark Derby"
1991–1992 The Bold and the Beautiful Blake Hayes 30 episodes
1992 Wings Dr. Lasker Episode: "Noses Off"
1994 One West Waikiki Mr. Dineheart Episode: "Along Came a Spider"
1997 Babylon 5 Minister Episode: "Intersections in Real Time"
2000 JAG Bill Layton Episode: "Real Deal SEAL"
2001 Disney's California Adventure TV Special Made-for-television movie

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland & Company. pp. 69–70. ISBN 978-1476662503.
  2. ^ Rosenberg, Eli (March 25, 2016). "Peter Brown, Star in TV Westerns and Soap Opera, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Thomas, Bob (February 8, 1959). "Peter Brown Major Reason 'Lawman' Show Popular". Ocala Star-Banner. p. 11. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  4. ^ "Peter Brown Obituary (1935 - 2016) - Newark, NJ - the Star-Ledger".
  5. ^ "Peter Brown Biography". Official Peter Brown Fan Site. Archived from the original on 2007-08-20.

References

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  • Brown, Peter; Stuart, Alexx (2014). The Fastest Gun in Hollywood: The Life Story of Peter Brown. Wild Horse Press. ASIN B00HRHANJ2.
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