Career Highlights
Clarence Muse was born on October 14, 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA as Clarence Edouard Muse.
In 1907, Clarence attended Dickinson School of Law in Pennsylvania, where he was the first African American to attend. However, after one year, he left because he believed he could not actually make a living in law being an African American.
In the 1920's Clarence was deep in the Harlem Renaissance, working in two Harlem theatres: Lincoln Players and Lafayette Players.
I
In 1929, Muse became the first African American to have in a starring role in Hearts in Dixie, the first all-black movie, where he commanded an astounding $1,250 a week salary.
In 1938, Muse co-starred with boxer Joe Louis in Spirit of Youth, the fictional story of a champion boxer, which featured an all-black cast.
In 1939, Clarence Muse and Langston Hughes wrote the story and screenplay for RKO Studios, Way Down South, being one of the first times black screen writers penned a studio film.
During World War II, 1941, Muse performed for the USO, including a Negro USO in Riverside, California.
In 1942 he starred in Broken Strings as a concert violinist, a movie that he also wrote and produced.
In 1943, he became the first African American Broadway director with Run Little Chillun.
From 1955 to 1956, Muse was a regular on the weekly TV version of Casablanca, playing Sam the pianist.
In 1964, he amongst others, founded the Perris Valley Historical & Museum Association.
In 1965, Clarence Muse created the annual Perris Art Festival, in cooperation with the City of Perris.
In 1972, Muse received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas.
In 1974, The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI), was founded and Clarence Muse was inducted as a member the first year of its foundation.
In 1978, Clarence received an Honorary Doctorate from Dickinson School of Law.
Muse appeared as an opera singer, minstrel show performer, vaudeville and Broadway actor; he also wrote songs, plays, and sketches. At the culmination of his career, Clarence had acted in over 225 stage productions and 219 movies!
To learn more, check out the 'History' tab.
