Spotlight on Timmy Brown:  Running Back, Singer, Actor

2020 July -

Spotlight on Timmy Brown: Running Back, Singer, Actor

Topps football cards 1959, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1962, Fleer, Philadelphia Gum Cards,

As an actor, Timothy Brown is seldom recognized as a former star football player.  Over shadowed by other football players-turned actor like Jim Brown and Fred Williamson, “Timmy” Brown was one of the stars of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960s.

After graduating from Ball State in Indiana in 1959, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers.  With a glut of fine running backs already on the roster, it is hard to blame Vince Lombardi for letting Timmy Brown get away.  But I will blame him anyway.  Imagine a “speed back” running behind the famous Packer sweep.  No other Packer running back that followed or backed up Taylor and Hornung ever threatened becoming an All-Pro through the decade of the 60s.   Brown was signed by the Eagles where he played eight seasons racking up Eagle team records, Pro Bowl appearances, and All-Pro honors.  With the Eagles, Brown rushed for over 3,700 yards, caught 231 passes for 3,346 yards, and amassed nearly 5,000 return yards, while scoring 63 career touchdowns.  He flirted with a music recording career releasing one 45 in the Imperial label, but settled into acting full-time after a final season with the Baltimore Colts in 1968.

Now billed officially at "Timothy Brown," he is most notable for his role in the 1970 film M*A*S*H, which led to him being cast in the TV show of the same name as Dr. Oliver Harmon “Spearchucker” Jones (a role that was eliminated upon finding out there were no black surgeons serving in Korea).  While appearing regularly in various television shows, he found a niche in Blaxploitation films of the 70s as sort of a B-version of Fred Williamson. RetroCards recognizes the multi-talented Timothy Brown with a smattering of cards filling out his fine career.  Many of these cards will be available in future sets.  Check back frequently for updates!

Timothy Brown Films:
M*A*S*H
Sweet Sugar
Black Gunn
Bonnie’s Kids
Girls Are For Loving
East Meets Watts (The Dynamite Brothers)
Nashville
Zebra Force
Black Heat
Gus
Midnight Ride

Timothy Brown TV Appearances:
Wild, Wild West
M*A*S*H
Mission: Impossible
I’ve Got A Secret
Adam–12
Mary Tyler Moore Show
S.W.A.T.
Cannon
The Rookies
T.J. Hooker
Mobile One
Benson
Gimme A Break
Remington Steele
The Colbys