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Phil Brown

Phil Brown

Actor · Died February 9, 2006, aged 89 · Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Philip Mortimer Brown was an American actor and director. After majoring in dramatics at Stanford University where he was a Brother of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, Brown played some of his earliest stage roles as part of New York's Group Theater. When it folded, he and other Group Theatre veterans headed to Hollywood, where Brown worked in motion pictures and helped found the fabled Actors' Laboratory. In 1946, he played Ernest Hemingway's famous protagonist Nick Adams in Robert Siodmak's version of The Killers, alongside William Conrad and Charles McGraw as the titular "killers". His association with the Lab came back to haunt him later in the decade, when its members fell under the scrutiny of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Although he was not a communist, Brown was blacklisted in 1952, and was eventually compelled to relocate with his family to England between 1953 and 1993. Overseas he was able to resume acting on stage, TV and films; he also directed for the stage and TV. He was best known for his role as Luke Skywalker's uncle, Owen Lars, in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). He returned to the United States in the 1990s and in later years made the rounds of autograph shows. Phil Brown died of pneumonia on February 9, 2006 at the age of 89.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 30, 1916
Died
February 9, 2006 (aged 89)
From
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
29 on Motif · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 33% in 30 days

What are Phil Brown's films like?

Across their 14 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
30%
Self
27%
Bonds
13%
Society
13%
Survival
10%
Power
8%
Purpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 8 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Warm
6
Joyful
3
Dread
3
Melancholic
4
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Phil Brown's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 29 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Phil Brown's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

60 credits, 29 with a Motif page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    as Council Elder

  • Chaplin(1992)

    as Projectionist

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Bomber Harris (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lord Beaverbrook

  • The Fortunate Pilgrim (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as O

  • American Playhouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Frank Karelsen · as Lewis Strauss

  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Oppenheimer (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 7 episodes · as Lewis Strauss

  • The Martian Chronicles (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as F. Milton Willis

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Superman(1978)

    as State Senator

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Maneaters Are Loose! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    as Kevin Pennington

  • Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jeremiah Cobb

  • The Professionals (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Callahan

  • Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope(1977)

    as Uncle Owen

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Twilight's Last Gleaming(1977)

    as Rev. Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Pink Panther Strikes Again(1976)

    as Virginia Senator

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Romantic Englishwoman(1975)

    as Mr. Wilson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Scalawag (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    as Sandy

  • Get Charlie Tully(1972)

    as American Man

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Gangster Show: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    as Clark

  • The Protectors(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Markos

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • The Curse of a Faithful Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1972)

    Actor

  • Valdez Is Coming(1971)

    as Malson

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Togetherness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1970)

    as Everett

  • Tropic of Cancer(1970)

    as Van Norden

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Adding Machine (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Don

  • Land Raiders(1969)

    as Sheriff John Mayfield

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Journey to the Unknown (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Charles Wilson

  • Operation Cross Eagles(1968)

    as Sgt. Turley

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Bomb at 10:10 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Professor Pilich / Profesor Pilić

  • The Bedford Incident(1965)

    as Chief Hospitalman Mckinley - Sick Bay

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Counterfeit Traitor(1962)

    as Harold Murray (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Squad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Theatre '70 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Interpol Calling (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Brownley

  • John Paul Jones(1959)

    as Sentry

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dial 999 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Camp on Blood Island(1958)

    as Lt. Peter Bellamy

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • White Hunter (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A King in New York(1957)

    as Headmaster

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Theatre Night (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Grassman

  • Colonel March of Scotland Yard (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Dr. Bryan Hayes · as Gordon

  • The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Rawlinson

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Obsession (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    Dialogue Coach · as Bill Kronin

  • Moonrise(1948)

    as Elmer - Soda Jerk

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Luck of the Irish(1948)

    as Tom Higginbotham

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • If You Knew Susie(1948)

    as Joe Collins

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Johnny O'Clock (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Phil, Hotel Clerk

  • The Killers(1946)

    as Nick Adams (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • State Fair(1945)

    as Harry Ware

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Over 21(1945)

    as Frank MacDougal

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Jungle Captive (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    Dialogue Coach · as Don Young

  • The Impatient Years (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1944)

    as Henry Fairchild

  • Weird Woman(1944)

    as David Jennings

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Calling Dr. Gillespie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    as Roy Todwell

  • Pierre of the Plains(1942)

    as Val Denton

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Hello, Annapolis(1942)

    as Kansas City

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • H.M. Pulham, Esq.(1941)

    as Joe Bingham

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • I Wanted Wings(1941)

    as Jimmy Masters

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1941 to 1999; peak year 1977.

Biggest box office

A King in New York (1957)

$910 worldwide

Highest rated

The Bedford Incident (1965)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

A King in New York (1957)

Film career

19411999

Peak 1977 · their film career is on the way up. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 60: 54 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thDirecting4 of 60: 3 only directing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 60: 0 only other crew, 2 with another role

60 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1940s16 · 16 acting · 2 crew1950s10 · 9 acting · 2 crew1960s9 · 7 acting · 2 crew1970s17 · acting1980s6 · acting1990s2 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
4449

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Phil Brown's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Hello, Annapolis (1942)

55th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Phil Brown work with?

People who share at least 2 of Phil Brown's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sheldon Leonard shares the most, 2.

Actors

Composers