John Brown

The part of Al was played by John H. Brown, another native English actor, born at Hull, Great Britain, on April 4, 1904. Later, in America, while attempting to break into radio, he derived his principal livelihood as mortician’s clerk in New York City. It seems ironic, since one of the most unforgettable roles he would later play—in dual mediums—was as an undertaker. As a sideline, Brown turned up in a handful of pithy New York stage productions, including Peace on Earth (1933-34 and a reprise in the following spring). The Milky Way (1934) and The Pirate (1942-43). Meanwhile, when the call finally arrived for a radio audition, it didn’t take him long to reach the big time.

Brown’s dossier could have given rise to the backyard expression “Well I’ll be John Brown!” The industrious the plan packed a normal lifetime for most audio entertainers into an all-too-brief 52 years, ending with his demise on May 16, 1957, at West Hollywood, California. Brown might not have been stretching the truth when he guessed that he was part of 15,000 radio programs, including 10,000 airing live and half as many via transcriptions. He was active on more than two dozen network gigs.

He won continuing roles in all of the following: TheAdventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1944-54, where he was neighbor “Thorny” Thornberry). The Amazing Mr. Smith (1941). The Bickersons (1946-48, 1951). The Bury Mr. Bingle (1943, in the namesake role). The Charlotte Greenwood Show (1944-46). The Danos Ranyon Theater (1948-49, as “Broadway.” the narrator). The Daney Kaye Show (1945-46, as “Mr. Average Radio Listener”). A Date with Judy (1944-50, as Melvin Foster, Judy’s dad). A Day in the Life of Dennis Day (1946-5, as Mr. Willoughby. Day’s employer). December Bride (1952-53). The Gay Mrs. Featherstone (1945). The life of Riley (1944-51, in dual roles, as Gillis, Riley (1944-51, in dual roles, as Gillis, Riley’s chum and colleague, and Digby “Digger” O’Dell, “the friendly undertaker”). Lorenzo Jones (ca.1937-ca.1939, as Jim Barker, Jones’ employer). Maisie (1945-47, 1949-51, 1952). The Mel Torne Show (1948, as Torme’s college  dean). The Saint (1940s, as Inspector Fernak) and Tillie the Tixiler(1942, as Simpkins, Tillie’s employer).

In addition, Brown played in repertory companies that supplied actors for multiple series Bevlah (1947-54). Columbia Presents Curwin (1941). The Eddie Cantor Show (1935-39, 1940-49). The Edgar Bergen and CharlieMcCarthy Show (1940s, ca. carly 1950s). Lincoln Highway (1940-42). The MercuryTheater on the Air (1946). Mystery in the Air (1945). The Shadow (1940s), Twehe Players (1948) and The Whistler (1942-55).

Furthermore, he reprised one of his most memorable radio roles on television Brown was mortician Digby “Digger” O’Dell on NBC-TV’s TheLife of Riley in 1949-50 but did not return to show when it was renewed from 1953 to 1958. In the meantime, in 1951 he resurfaced for a few weeks as Harry Morton, next door of CBS-TV’s George Burns and Gracie Allen. He didn’t last long, however, discarded  after being black listed during the “red scare” of the early 1950s for being perceived as a communist sympathizer.”

127. BROWN, John (actor; b. April 4, 1904, Hull, England; d. May 16, 1957, West Hollywood, CA). Life of Riley (1945-51); Duffy’s Tavern (1946-48).

A sought-after straight man and stooge for nearly every top comic. As somber-voiced Digger O’Dell, the friendly undertaker, Brown was an eagerly anticipated character on Life of Riley. He had actually worked as a clerk in a mortuary in New York while trying to break into radio. At age 20 he auditioned for Cantor and picked up a one-shot broadcast role. Fred Allen soon added him to his Mighty Art Players. In the 1940s, he popped up on Maisie, Ozzie and Harriet (as neighbor Will Thornberry), A Date with Judy and Charlie McCarthy. In 1941 he worked seven weekly shows, beginning on The Shadow on Sunday to Lincoln Highway on Saturday. Brown calculated that he had been on 10,000 live broadcasts and 5,000 ETs.