Clarence Brown
Director

Clarence Brown Net Worth

Clarence Brown was born in Clinton, Massachusetts in 1890 and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee at age 12. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.A. in mechanical and electrical engineering in 1912 and then moved to Alabama to operate a car dealership. He eventually left the car business to pursue a career in film, studying with French director Maurice Tourneur at Peerless Productions in Fort Lee. Brown went on to direct or produce over 50 acclaimed films, many with MGM, and worked with some of the industry's most renowned performers. He also maintained close ties with the University of Tennessee, donating money to construct the Clarence Brown Theatre and an additional $12 million after his death.
Clarence Brown is a member of Director

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Director, Producer, Editor
Birth Day May 10, 1890
Birth Place  Clinton, Massachusetts, United States
Age 129 YEARS OLD
Died On August 17, 1987(1987-08-17) (aged 97)\nSanta Monica, California, U.S.
Birth Sign Gemini
Cause of death Kidney failure
Years active 1915–1953
Spouse(s) Paul Herndon Pratt (m. 1913; div. 1920) Ona Wilson (m. 1922; div. 1927) Mona Maris (m. 1929; div. 1931) Alice Joyce (m. 1933; div. 1945) Marian Spies (m. 1946)
Children 1

💰 Net worth

Clarence Brown, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, has amassed considerable wealth throughout his career. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated to be within the impressive range of $100K to $1M. Revered as a multi-talented individual, Clarence Brown has made his mark as a director, producer, and editor in the United States. With his broad spectrum of skills and expertise, he has made significant contributions to the world of cinema, leaving a lasting impact on audiences both domestically and internationally.

Biography/Timeline

1866

Born in Clinton, Massachusetts, the son of Larkin Harry Brown (1866-1942) a cotton manufacturer and Katherine Ann Brown (née Gaw) (1865-1954), Brown moved to Tennessee when he was 11 years old. He attended Knoxville High School and the University of Tennessee, both in Knoxville, Tennessee, graduating from the university at the age of 19 with two degrees in engineering. An early fascination in automobiles led Brown to a job with the Stevens-Duryea Company, then to his own Brown Motor Car Company in Alabama. He later abandoned the car dealership after developing an interest in motion pictures around 1913. He was hired by the Peerless Studio at Fort Lee, New Jersey, and became an assistant to the French-born Director Maurice Tourneur.

1913

Clarence Brown was married five times. Firstly in 1913 to Paul Herndon Pratt (1894-1966) which lasted from 1913 until their divorce in 1920. The couple produced a daughter Adrienne Brown (1917-2013). Secondly, Brown married Ona Wilson (1884-1960) which lasted from 1922 until their divorce in 1927. Thirdly, Clarence Brown married Mona Maris (1903-1991) from 1929 until their divorce in 1931. Fourthly, Clarence Brown married Alice Joyce (1890-1955) from 1933 until their divorce in 1945. Lastly, Clarence Brown married his last ever wife Marian Spies (1910-2004) from 1946 which lasted until his death in 1987.

1920

After serving in World War I, Brown was given his first co-directing credit (with Tourneur) for The Great Redeemer (1920). Later that year, he directed a major portion of The Last of the Mohicans after Tourneur was injured in a fall.

1924

Brown moved to Universal in 1924, and then to MGM, where he stayed until the mid-1950s. At MGM he was one of the main Directors of their female stars; he directed Joan Crawford six times and Greta Garbo seven.

1929

NOTE: In 1929/1930, Brown received one Academy Award nomination for two films. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, "As allowed by the award rules for this year, a single nomination could honor work in one or more films."

1935

He was nominated five times (see below) for the Academy Award as a Director and once as a Producer, but he never received an Oscar. However, he won Best Foreign Film for Anna Karenina, starring Garbo at the 1935 Venice International Film Festival.

1949

Brown's films gained a total of 38 Academy Award nominations and earned nine Oscars. Brown himself received six Academy Award nominations and in 1949, he won the British Academy Award for the film version of william Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust.

1957

In 1957, Brown was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film. Brown retired a wealthy man due to his real estate Investments, but refused to watch new movies, as he feared they might cause him to restart his career.

1960

On February 8, 1960, Brown received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1752 Vine Street, for his contributions to the motion pictures industry

1987

Clarence died at the Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California from kidney failure on August 17, 1987, at the age of 97. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Some Clarence Brown images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.