18 Facts About Clarence Muse

Clarence Muse was an American actor, screenwriter, director, singer, and composer.

Clarence Muse was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a major studio film, 1929's Hearts in Dixie.

Clarence Muse acted for 50 years, and appeared in more than 150 films.

Clarence Muse was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1973.

Clarence Muse left because he believed he could not make a living in law as an African American.

Clarence Muse later received an honorary doctorate of laws from Dickinson School of Law in 1978.

Clarence Muse moved to Chicago for a while, and then moved to Hollywood.

Clarence Muse performed in Hearts in Dixie, the first all-black movie.

Clarence Muse appeared as an opera singer, minstrel show performer, vaudeville and Broadway actor; he wrote songs, plays, and sketches.

In 1931, with Leon Rene and Otis Rene, Clarence Muse wrote "When It's Sleepy Time Down South", known as "Sleepy Time Down South".

Clarence Muse was the major star in The Broken Earth, which related the story of a black sharecropper whose son miraculously recovers from fever through the father's fervent prayer.

In 1938, Clarence Muse co-starred with boxer Joe Louis in Spirit of Youth, the fictional story of a champion boxer, which featured an all-black cast.

Clarence Muse performed in Broken Strings, as a concert violinist who opposes the desire of his son to play "swing".

From 1955 to 1956, Clarence Muse was a regular on the weekly TV version of Casablanca, playing Sam the pianist.

Clarence Muse's last acting role was in The Black Stallion.

Clarence Muse received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, in 1972.

Clarence Muse was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Clarence Muse died in Perris, California, on October 13,1979, one day before his 90th birthday and on the same day that his final film was released.