Hollywood

In 1928, Clarence was offered a role in “Hearts of Dixie” and moved to Pasadena with his then wife and step daughter. This move led to starring in more than 14 films and 50 additional film credits between 1932-1934.

Hollywood referred to him as an “Uncle Tom” due to the kinds of roles he played which included butlers, servants, and porters. These roles showed the white perspective of the white authors of the books these movies were adapted from. This meant, playing a dramatic stereotype of an African American man.

Differing opinions circulated about him ranging from an intelligent and informed man to being crude and loud.

Although he faced criticism, he and his wife attempted to educate and consult producers on giving more dignity to the film industry’s portrayal of African Americans, showing they should not be segregated and have increased dignity. After all, they too are Americans.

1973- Clarence was in the first group inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame with an annual award named after him.

Muse was also a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild.

His Unofficial Movie List:

• Election Day (1929, short) as Farina's father

• Hearts in Dixie (1929) as Nappus

• Hallelujah (1929) as Church Member (uncredited)

• Guilty? (1930) as Jefferson

• A Royal Romance (1930) as Rusty

• Honey (1930) as Black Revivalist (uncredited)

• Swing High (1930) as Singer (uncredited)

• Rain or Shine (1930) as Nero

• The Thoroughbred (1930) as Stablehand (uncredited)

• Outside the Law (1930) as Party Guest (uncredited)

• Derelict (1930) as Driver (uncredited)

• Deep South (1930)

• The Last Parade (1931) as Alabam' / Singing Voice of Condemned Man (uncredited)

• Dirigible (1931) as Clarence

• The Fighting Sheriff (1931) as Curfew

• Huckleberry Finn (1931) as Jim

• Secret Service (1931) as Jonas Polk

• Safe in Hell (1931) as Newcastle – the Porter

• The Secret Witness (1931) as Jeff – Building Janitor

• X Marks the Spot (1931) as Eustace Brown

• The Woman from Monte Carlo (1932) as Tombeau

• Prestige (1932) as Nham

• The Wet Parade (1932) as Taylor Tibbs

• Lena Rivers (1932) as Curfew

• Night World (1932) as Tim Washington, the Doorman

• Attorney for the Defense (1932) as Jeff

• Is My Face Red? (1932) as Horatio

• Winner Take All (1932) as Rosebud, the Trainer

• White Zombie (1932) as Coach Driver (uncredited)

• Big City Blues (1932) as Nightclub Singer (uncredited)

• Blonde Venus (1932) as Charlie, the Bartender

• Hell's Highway (1932) as Rascal

• The Cabin in the Cotton (1932) as A Blind Negro

• Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932) as Clarence

• Man Against Woman (1932) as Smoke Johnson

• If I Had a Million (1932) as Death Row Singing Prisoner (uncredited)

• The Death Kiss (1932) as Shoeshine Man (uncredited)

• Frisco Jenny (1932) as Singer (voice, uncredited)

• Laughter in Hell (1933) as Abraham Jackson

• From Hell to Heaven (1933) as Sam – Bellhop

• The Mind Reader (1933) as Sam

• The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933) as Masseur (uncredited)

• Melody Cruise (1933) as Dock Worker (uncredited)

• The Wrecker (1933) as Chauffeur

• Fury of the Jungle (1933) as Sunrise

• Flying Down to Rio (1933) as Caddy in Haiti (uncredited)

• Massacre (1934) as Sam

• A Very Honorable Guy (1934) as Black Man (uncredited)

• The Personality Kid (1934) as Shamrock

• Operator 13 (1934) as Slave at Medicine Show (uncredited)

• Black Moon (1934) as 'Lunch' McClaren

• The Count of Monte Cristo (1934) as Ali

• Kid Millions (1934) as Native (uncredited)

• Broadway Bill (1934) as Whitey

• Red Hot Tires (1935) as Bud's Truck Partner

• Alias Mary Dow (1935) as 'Rufe'

• So Red the Rose (1935) as Cato

• After the Dance (1935) as Cook (uncredited)

• Harmony Lane (1935) as Old Joe

• The Public Menace (1935) as Janitor (uncredited)

• O'Shaughnessy's Boy (1935) as Jeff

• East of Java (1935) as First Mate Johnson

• Muss 'em Up (1936) as William

• Laughing Irish Eyes (1936) as Deacon

• Show Boat (1936) as Janitor

• The Green Pastures (1936) as Angel (uncredited)

• Spendthrift (1936) as Restaurant Table Captain (uncredited)

• Follow Your Heart (1936) as Choir Leader (uncredited)

• Daniel Boone (1936) as Pompey

• The Broken Earth (1936), a short, extant

• Mysterious Crossing (1936) as Lincoln

• High Hat (1937) as Congo MacRosenbloom

• Jungle Menace (1937) as Lightning – Street Singer

• Deep South (1937, Short)

• Spirit of Youth (1938, also music) as Frankie Walburn

• The Toy Wife (1938) as Brutus

• Prison Train (1938) as Train Steward / Sam

• Secrets of a Nurse (1938) as Tiger

• Way Down South (1939, also writer) as Uncle Caton

• Zanzibar (1940) as Bino

• Sporting Blood (1940) as Jeff

• Maryland (1940) as Rev. Bitters (uncredited)

• That Gang of Mine (1940) as Ben

• Murder Over New York (1940) as Butler

• Chad Hanna (1940) as Henry Prince (uncredited)

• Adam Had Four Sons (1941) as Sam

• The Flame of New Orleans (1941) as Samuel

• Invisible Ghost (1941) as Evans

• Love Crazy (1941) as Robert

• Kisses for Breakfast (1941) as Old Jeff

• Gentleman from Dixie (1941) as Jupe

• Belle Starr (1941) as Bootblack in Saloon (uncredited)

• Among the Living (1941) as Riverbottom Cafe Waiter (uncredited)

• Twin Beds (1942) as George (uncredited)

• Tough As They Come (1942) as Eddie

• Tales of Manhattan (1942) as Grandpa (Robeson sequence)

• The Talk of the Town (1942) as Supreme Court Doorkeeper (uncredited)

• Sin Town (1942) as Train Porter (uncredited)

• Broken Strings (1942) as Arthur Williams

• Strictly in the Groove (1942) as Durham's Valet (uncredited)

• The Black Swan (1942) as Margaret's Servant (uncredited)

• Shadow of a Doubt (1943) as Pullman Porter

• Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943) as George – Porter (uncredited)

• The Sky's the Limit (1943) as Colonial Club Doorman (uncredited)

• Honeymoon Lodge (1943) as Porter (uncredited)

• Heaven Can Wait (1943) as Jasper, Strabel's Butler (uncredited)

• Watch on the Rhine (1943) as Horace

• Johnny Come Lately (1943) as Butler

• Flesh and Fantasy (1943) as Jeff (uncredited)

• The Racket Man (1944) as George (uncredited)

• Jam Session (1944) as Henry

• Follow the Boys (1944) as Singer (uncredited)

• Stars on Parade (1944) as Carter (uncredited)

• Double Indemnity (1944) as Man (uncredited)

• The Soul of a Monster (1944) as Entertainer (uncredited)

• In the Meantime, Darling (1944) as Henry – Hotel Porter (uncredited)

• San Diego, I Love You (1944) as Porter (uncredited)

• Jungle Queen (1945) as Kyba

• God Is My Co-Pilot (1945) as Frank (uncredited)

• Without Love (1945) as Porter (uncredited)

• Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945) as Hotel Porter (uncredited)

• She Wouldn't Say Yes (1945) as Porter (uncredited)

• Scarlet Street (1945) as Ben – Bank Janitor (uncredited)

• The Thin Man Goes Home (1945) as Porter on Train (uncredited)

• Two Smart People (1946) as Porter

• Night and Day (1946) as Porter (uncredited)

• Affairs of Geraldine (1946) as Porter (uncredited)

• My Favorite Brunette (1947) as Second Man on Death Row (uncredited)

• A Likely Story (1947) as Porter (uncredited)

• Welcome Stranger (1947) as Clarence, Train Waiter (uncredited)

• Joe Palooka in the Knockout (1947) – Smoky

• Unconquered (1947) – Jason

• The Peanut Man (1947) as Dr. George Washington Carver

• King of the Gamblers (1948) as Tom the Porter (uncredited)

• Silver River (1948) as Servant (uncredited)

• An Act of Murder (1948) as Mr. Pope

• The Great Dan Patch (1949) as Voodoo

• Riding High (1950) as Whitey

• County Fair (1950) as Romulus (uncredited)

• Apache Drums (1951) as Jehu

• My Forbidden Past (1951) as Pompey

• She Couldn't Say No (1952) as Diaper Delivery Man (uncredited)

• The Las Vegas Story (1952) as Pullman Porter (uncredited)

• Caribbean Gold (1952) as Quashy

• The Sun Shines Bright (1953) as Uncle Zack

• Jamaica Run (1953) as Mose

• Porgy and Bess (1959) as Peter

• Buck and the Preacher (1972) as Cudjo

• The World's Greatest Athlete (1973) as Gazenga's Assistant

• Car Wash (1976) as Snapper

• Passing Through (1977) as Poppa Harris

• The Black Stallion (1979) as Snoe