"Charlie" was born in Alabama and raised in Cleveland. He came to New York in the 1970s and joined the Negro Ensemble Company and was a member for 17 years.
Mr. Brown created roles in two Pulitzer Prize winning plays, A Soldier's Play and Fences, and in Neil Simon's Rumors on Broadway, as well as Broadway productions of The Mighty Gents, The Poison Tree and The First Breeze of Summer.
Off-Broadway, he appeared as an original cast member in John Guare's A Few Stout Individuals and Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen's The Exonerated.
His television credits include "Kojak," The Cosby Show," "Law and Order," "Law and Order SVU," "The Equalizer" and "Here and Now."
According to his King Hedley II bio, he received his theatrical preparation at Howard University, Cleveland's Karamu House and Robert Hooks' Black Repertory Company in Washington, DC.
He is survived by his wife Renee Lescook Brown, his stepdaughter Dominique Stewart, three granddaughters and his long time friend and companion Lynda Gravatt.
A celebration of the life of Charles Brown will be held 1-3 PM at The Signature Theater, 555 W. 42nd St. on Feb. 9.
