Joseph Brown (August 1, 1920[1] – April 3, 2009[1]), known professionally as Victor Millan, was an American actor, academic and former dean of the theatre arts department at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California.[1]

Victor Millan
Born
Joseph Brown

(1920-08-01)August 1, 1920
DiedApril 3, 2009(2009-04-03) (aged 88)
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Occupation(s)Theater professor, actor
Years active1952–1989

Early life

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Brown was born on August 1, 1920[1] in East Los Angeles to Mexican parents who had emigrated to the United States during the Mexican Revolution.[2] His mother was a seamstress from Durango.[2] Brown first developed an interest in acting during junior high school. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School.[2] He served as a sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.[1] During the war, Brown was stationed in China, India and Burma.[1]

He enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) following the end of World War II.[1] Brown earned both his bachelor's degree and his master's degree in theatre arts from UCLA.[1]

Career

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Brown, who adopted the stage name Victor Millan during his acting career, had over eighty separate television and film credits, in addition to his theater work. Some of his earliest roles included the 1952 film, The Ring, which was directed by Kurt Neumann, as well as Walk the Proud Land, Touch of Evil, and The FBI Story. He played schoolteacher Rafael Guerra in "Wanted, Dead or Alive" S3 E14 "Witch Woman", opposing Jeannette Nolan's superstitions as La Curandera (1960). In 1968 Millan appeared as Lazaro on The Big Valley in the episode titled "Miranda." [citation needed]

Millan's later film credits included Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze in 1975, and the 1983 film, Scarface starring Al Pacino, in which Millan played Ariel Bleyer. Millan was an active member of the Screen Actors Guild.[1]

Brown taught theatre arts at Santa Monica College for his entire academic teaching career.[1] He served as the Dean of the theatre arts department at the college for over 25 years.[1]

Victor Millan died at his home in Santa Monica, California, on April 3, 2009, at the age of 88.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1952 The Ring Pablo
1952 Horizons West Mexican Soldier Uncredited
1952 Thunderbirds Pvt. Joe Lastchance
1954 Elephant Walk Koru, Servant Uncredited
1954 Drum Beat Indian Uncredited
1955 Battle Cry Pvt. Pedro Uncredited
1955 Strange Lady in Town Young Priest Uncredited
1955 Apache Ambush Manuel Uncredited
1956 Walk the Proud Land Santos
1956 Giant Angel Obregón Sr.
1956 The Girl He Left Behind Sgt. Storm Cloud Uncredited
1957 The Ride Back Father Ignatius
1957 Escape from San Quentin Mendez Uncredited
1958 Touch of Evil Manelo Sanchez
1958 Terror in a Texas Town Jose Mirada
1959 The FBI Story Mario
1963 King Kong vs. Godzilla Rodrigo Infanta Uncredited
1968 The Pink Jungle Helicopter Pilot
1975 Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze Chief Chaac
1976 W.C. Fields and Me Spanish Translator Uncredited
1979 Boulevard Nights Mr. Landeros
1983 Scarface Ariel Bleyer

Television

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Year 1972 Title Colombo, Season 2, Ep. 6 Role Detective Flores Notes
1961 Wanted Dead or Alive Rafael Guerra season 3 episode 14 (Witch woman)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Joseph Brown August 1, 1920 - April 3, 2009". Los Angeles Times. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  2. ^ a b c "VICTOR MILLAN – IN HIS OWN WORDS". latinopia.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
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