Friday, May 10, 2024

Little Known Spaghetti Western Actors ~ Walter Brown

[These daily posts will cover little known actors or people that have appeared in more recent films and TV series. Various degrees of information that I was able to find will be given and anything that you can add would be appreciated.]

Ian Walter Brown was born in Auckland, New Zealand on February 9, 1927. He studied Arts at Auckland University and was a member of the Drama Society. But he left the academic atmosphere to join the Wildlife Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs and lived the outdoor life for two and a half years-deer culling, taking in supplies and working in trout hatcheries in the winter. He then moved to Australia in 1948 and began his acting career as a theater actor. He turned professional in 1953, taking part in a ‘Treasure Island’ TV series for an American company-26 half-hour episodes in color, made in Sydney. The following year I joined J.C. Williamson's, and toured with “My Three Angels” and then, “Teahouse of the August Moon” which we took over to New Zealand (he was Sgt Gregorovitch the drunken US sergeant).

When Brown’s amateur acting career stymied, he decided to pursue a professional acting career in England and travelled there in the late 1950s. Brown recounted his arrival in London, “This was at the end of 1958. I was dumped at Paddington Station after travelling from my ship up to London by train. I had a vast wooden case of books among my luggage, and I gave my last half-crown to the porter who helped me with it to a taxi. I optimistically drove to a friend's place in Chelsea, found he wasn't in, and had to go off to his Art School to get some money off him to play the taxi.?

Walter appeared in good TV plays like the BBC's ‘Shadow of Heroes’’, and ‘Adventure Story’ by Terence Rattigan (with Sean Connery and Keith Michell). He also appeared in episodes of the thriller serial ‘The Saint’. Brown went on to appear in over 50 films and TV series from 1955 to 2000.

Brown returned to Australia in the 1980s and resumed his theater career with the Nimrod Company.

Walter Brown died of cancer on October 31, 2013, in Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia at the age of 86.

Brown’s only Euro-western appearance was as Peter ‘Pete’ Wells in 1968’s Shalako starring Sean Connery ad Brigitte Bardot.

BROWN, Walter (aka Walt Brown) (Ian Walter Brown) [2/9/1927, Auckland, New Zealand – 10/31/2013, Deloraine, Tasmania, Australia (cancer)] – writer, film, TV actor, married to Patricia Grace Morley (1953-19??) father of four daughters.

Shalako – 1968 (Peter Wells)

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