Clarence Muse

I love this actor, who was born October 7, 1889, was 9 years older than my grandmother. I'd never heard about him until a film maker who did a documentary on Clarence Muse. He was in silent films and was "old" when he got into talkies, 1929.

I was so surprised when I saw him in the 1979 film, "The Black Stallion". Mickey Rooney was in it and I don't know any of the other actors, except for Clarence Muse. Its a wonderful picture and I'm sure some of the students saw it when they were little. I just saw the picture this past week.

Here's a quick bio, he was born in Baltimore, MD. The African-American actor Clarence Muse held a law degree from Pennsylvania's Dickerson University. Opting for a show business career, Muse appeared as an opera singer, minstrel show performer, and vaudeville and Broadway actor; he also composed songs and wrote plays and sketches. An actor since the 1920s, Muse was a member of the Lincoln Players. Unfortunately, Clarence Muse, passed away 10/13/1979 the same year that "The Black Stallion" was released.

I can't believe he was still acting at age 90. In all the photographs I've seen of him , he always looked old. He's one of those great actors you never really hear about. I'm so glad I finally got to see him in a movie. "The Black Stallion" will always be one of my favorite films and not because its a great story and not just because I love horses (which I do) but because it has Clarence Muse in a small bit part.

The funny thing he's been in movies that I love, but I didn't know who he was and missed him. Maybe I'll go back and try to catch a glimse of his performance : >