Born in Texas, Brown appeared in about 40 Hollywood films between 1927 and 1953. His roles were small most of the time and most of his film appearances were uncredited. He often portrayed natives or slaves, including the "Big Sam", the kind-hearted slavefield foreman of Tara, in Gone with the Wind. He also played a supporting role in Congo Maisie with Ann Sothern and the Native in an Ape costume in King Kong. Brown retired from film business in 1940, only to return in 1949 to make four films before he died in 1953. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles.