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{{short description|American actor}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Drew Bundini Brown
| name = Drew Bundini Brown
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Drew Bundini Brown, Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|03|21}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|03|21}}
| birth_place = [[Midway, Seminole County, Florida|Midway, Florida]]
| birth_place = [[Midway, Seminole County, Florida|Midway, Florida]], US
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|09|24|1928|03|21}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|09|24|1928|03|21}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles County, California]]
| death_place = [[Los Angeles County, California]], US
| occupation = athletic trainer, boxing cornerman, valet, actor
| occupation = athletic trainer, boxing cornerman, valet, actor
| spouse = Rhoda Palestine (divorced)
| spouse = Rhoda Palestine (divorced)
| children = 2
| children = 2 sons, Drew Bundini Brown III (with Palestine) <br> Ronald David Jackson (with blues singer [[Ruth Brown]])
| homepage =
| homepage =
}}
}}


'''Drew Bundini Brown''' (March 21, 1928 – September 24, 1987) was an assistant [[athletic trainer|trainer]] and [[cornerman]] of the American 20th Century [[boxer]] [[Muhammad Ali]].<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/26/obituaries/drew-bundini-brown.html | work=The New York Times | title=Drew (Bundini) Brown | date=September 26, 1987}}</ref>
'''Drew Bundini Brown''' (March 21, 1928 – September 24, 1987) was an American assistant [[athletic trainer|trainer]] and [[cornerman]] of heavyweight champion [[Boxer (boxing)|boxer]] [[Muhammad Ali]].<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/26/obituaries/drew-bundini-brown.html | work=The New York Times | title=Drew (Bundini) Brown | date=September 26, 1987}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Brown, who was born in [[Midway, Seminole County, Florida|Midway]], [[Florida]], and raised in nearby [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]], dropped out of junior high school after the eighth grade. The strapping young Brown, who had matured rapidly during puberty, was able to lie about his age and join the [[United States Navy]] as a Messboy at age 13. Discharged two years later, he found employment as a [[United States Merchant Marine]], and spent 12 years traveling the world on the [[high seas]].
Brown, who was born in [[Midway, Seminole County, Florida|Midway]], [[Florida]], and raised in nearby [[Sanford, Florida|Sanford]], dropped out of junior high school after the eighth grade. The strapping young Brown, who had matured rapidly during puberty, was able to lie about his age and join the [[United States Navy]] as a Messboy at age 13. Discharged two years later, he found employment in the [[United States Merchant Marine]], and spent 12 years traveling the world on the [[high seas]].


==Career==
== Career ==
⚫
Brown joined [[Muhammad Ali]]'s boxing team as a cornerman in 1963.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070408163951/http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Muhammad%20Ali{{dead link|date=August 2017}}</ref> and remained with him throughout his career.<ref name=nytimes/> (Later he also became a cornerman for James "Quick" Tillis).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antekprizering.com/brownbundinimanuscriptsii.html |title=Drew Bundini Brown. A Collection of un-published original manuscripts written by Drew Bundini Brown |publisher=Antekprizering.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-03}}</ref>


⚫
After seven years with [[Sugar Ray Robinson]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hannibalboxing.com/bundini-brown-boxings-greatest-hype-man/|title = Drew "Bundini" Brown: Boxing's Greatest Hype Man|date = 27 November 2017}}</ref> widely recognized as one of the best boxers of all time, Brown joined [[Muhammad Ali]]'s boxing team as a cornerman in 1963.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070408163951/http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Muhammad%20Ali {{dead link|date=August 2017}}</ref> and remained with him throughout his career.<ref name=nytimes/> (Later he also became a cornerman for James "Quick" Tillis).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antekprizering.com/brownbundinimanuscriptsii.html |title=Drew Bundini Brown. A Collection of un-published original manuscripts written by Drew Bundini Brown |publisher=Antekprizering.com |access-date=2010-08-03}}</ref>
⚫
Brown was one of Ali's [[speech writer]]s. He wrote certain poems, including that which coined Ali's famous and oft quoted: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, rumble young man rumble." Ali used the poem to taunt [[Sonny Liston]] at the press conference prior to his February 25, 1964, victory over the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] and [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] champion to claim both titles.<ref name=nytimes/>

⚫
Brown was one of Ali's [[speech writer]]s. He wrote certain poems, including that which coined Ali's famous and oft quoted: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, rumble, young man, rumble.” Ali used the poem to taunt [[Sonny Liston]] at the press conference prior to his February 25, 1964, victory over the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] and [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] champion to claim both titles.<ref name=nytimes/>


==Death==
==Death==
Brown died on 24 September 1987 in Los Angeles County, Californoa at the age of 59 from medical complications of injuries sustained in a previous car accident. He pinched a nerve in his spine in the crash and subsequently suffered a serious fall at home, from which he never recovered. He was visited by Ali on his deathbed.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/29/sports/sports-of-the-times-float-like-a-bundini.html | work=The New York Times | first=Dave | last=Anderson | title=Sports of the Times – Float Like a Bundini | date=September 29, 1987}}</ref> His body was buried at Page Jackson Cemetery, in [[Sanford, Florida]].<ref>Entry for Brown's grave in Findagrave website (2019). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14806996/drew-brown </ref>
Brown died on 24 September 1987 in [[Los Angeles County]], California, at the age of 59 from medical complications of injuries sustained in a previous car accident. He suffered a pinched nerve in his spine in the crash and subsequently had a serious fall at home, from which he never recovered. He was visited by Ali on his deathbed.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/29/sports/sports-of-the-times-float-like-a-bundini.html | work=The New York Times | first=Dave | last=Anderson | title=Sports of the Times – Float Like a Bundini | date=September 29, 1987}}</ref>


⚫
== Personal life ==
He had one brother, Elbert James Brown, who also was raised by his father Drew Brown Sr.


⚫
Brown had one brother, Elbert James Brown. In the early 1950s, while living in [[Harlem]], [[New York City]], Brown married Rhoda Palestine, whose family was [[History of the Jews in Russia|Russian-Jewish]]. Due to this relationship, Brown later converted to [[Reform Judaism]]. They married at a time when interracial relationships and marriages were considered by many as taboo, and had one son, Drew Brown III (born January 20, 1955, in Harlem).
⚫
==Personal life==
⚫
In the early 1950s, while living in [[Harlem]], [[New York City]], Brown married Rhoda Palestine, whose family was [[History of the Jews in Russia|Russian-Jewish]]. Through this relationship Brown later converted to [[Reform Judaism]]. They married at a time when interracial relationships and marriages were considered by many as taboo, and had one son, Drew Brown III (born January 20, 1955, in Harlem).


According to the [[autobiography]] of singer [[Ruth Brown]] (no relation),<ref>Brown, Ruth and Yule, Andrew. (1996). ''Miss Rhythm''.</ref> he was also the true father of her son Ronald David Jackson ("Ronnie"), though he was unaware of this during the boy's childhood.
According to the [[autobiography]] of singer [[Ruth Brown]] (no relation),<ref>Brown, Ruth and Yule, Andrew. (1996). ''Miss Rhythm''.</ref> he was also the true father of her son Ronald David Jackson (“Ronnie”), though he was unaware of this during the boy's childhood.


His son Drew III later joined the United States Navy and became a Medium Attack Bomber pilot flying the [[A-6 Intruder]]. He later went on to write a bestselling book titled ''You Gotta Believe'', and became a nationally known speaker.<ref name=nytimes/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drewbrown.net/bio.html|title=404 page not found - Commander Drew Brown|website=www.drewbrown.net|accessdate=4 August 2017}}</ref>
His son Drew III joined the United States Navy and became a Medium Attack Bomber pilot flying the [[A-6 Intruder]]. After retiring from the Navy, he wrote a bestselling book, ''You Gotta Believe'', and became a nationally known speaker.<ref name=nytimes/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drewbrown.net/bio.html|title=404 page not found - Commander Drew Brown|website=www.drewbrown.net|access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref>


==Portrayals in film==
==Portrayals in film==
He was played by the actor [[Bernie Mac]] in the film ''[[Don King: Only in America]]'', and by [[Jamie Foxx]] in the cinema film [[Ali (film)|''Ali'']] respectively.
He was played by the actor [[Bernie Mac]] in the film ''[[Don King: Only in America]]'', and by [[Jamie Foxx]] in the film [[Ali (film)|''Ali'']] and by [[Lawrence Gilliard Jr.]] in ''[[One Night in Miami (film)|One Night In Miami]]''.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
===As actor===
===As actor===
⚫
*''[[Penitentiary III]]'' (1987) .... Sugg/Inmate #2
⚫
*''[[The Color Purple]]'' (1985) .... Jook Joint Patron
⚫
*''Aaron Loves Angela'' (1975) .... Referee
⚫
*''Shaft's Big Score!'' (1972) .... Willy
*''[[Shaft (1971 film)|Shaft]]'' (1971) .... Willy
*''[[Shaft (1971 film)|Shaft]]'' (1971) .... Willy
⚫
*''Shaft's Big Score!'' (1972) .... Willy
⚫
*''Aaron Loves Angela'' (1975) .... Referee
⚫
*''[[The Color Purple (1985 film)|The Color Purple]]'' (1985) .... Jook Joint Patron
⚫
*''[[Penitentiary III]]'' (1987) .... Sugg / Inmate #2 (final film role)


===As self===
===As self===
*''[[When We Were Kings]]'' (1996) (uncredited) .... Himself
*''[[:de:Am laufenden Band|Am laufenden Band]]'' (1976, 1 TV episode, dated 22 May 1976) .... Himself
⚫
*''[[Doin' Time (film)|Doin' Time]]'' (1985) .... Himself (special appearance)
*''Muhammad and Larry'' (1980) .... Himself
*''[[The Greatest (1977 film)|The Greatest]]'' (1977) .... Himself
*''[[The Greatest (1977 film)|The Greatest]]'' (1977) .... Himself
*''"Am laufenden Band"'' (1976) .... Himself (1 TV episode, dated 22 May 1976 .... Himself
*''Muhammad and Larry'' (1980) .... Himself
⚫
*''[[Doin' Time (film)|Doin' Time]]'' (1985) .... Himself (special appearance)
*''[[When We Were Kings]]'' (1996) .... Himself (uncredited)


===Archive footage===
===Archive footage===
⚫
*''Beat This!: A [[Hip hop]] History'' (1984) (TV) .... Himself
*''[[A.k.a. Cassius Clay|A.K.A. Cassius Clay]]'' (1970) .... Himself
*''[[A.k.a. Cassius Clay|A.K.A. Cassius Clay]]'' (1970) .... Himself
⚫
*''Beat This!: A [[Hip hop]] History'' (1984, TV) .... Himself
* ''[[Muhammad Ali (miniseries)|Muhammad Ali]]'' (docuseries), Episode 1: "Round One: The Greatest (1942–1964)" (2021, TV) .... Himself


==References==
==References==
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*{{IMDb name | id=0113467| name=Drew Bundini Brown}}
*{{IMDb name | id=0113467| name=Drew Bundini Brown}}
*{{Amg name|8922|Drew Bundini Brown}}
*{{Amg name|8922|Drew Bundini Brown}}
{{Muhammad Ali}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century converts to Judaism]]
[[Category:African-American Jews]]
[[Category:African-American Jews]]
[[Category:African-American male actors]]
[[Category:African-American male actors]]
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[[Category:American sailors]]
[[Category:American sailors]]
[[Category:American Reform Jews]]
[[Category:American Reform Jews]]
[[Category:Converts to Reform Judaism]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Jewish American sports coaches]]
[[Category:People from Sanford, Florida]]
[[Category:People from Sanford, Florida]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in California]]
[[Category:African Americans in World War II]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:African-American sports coaches]]

Latest revision as of 02:59, 6 November 2024

Drew Bundini Brown
Born
Drew Bundini Brown, Jr.

(1928-03-21)March 21, 1928
Midway, Florida, US
DiedSeptember 24, 1987(1987-09-24) (aged 59)
Los Angeles County, California, US
Occupation(s)athletic trainer, boxing cornerman, valet, actor
SpouseRhoda Palestine (divorced)
Children2

Drew Bundini Brown (March 21, 1928 – September 24, 1987) was an American assistant trainer and cornerman of heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Brown, who was born in Midway, Florida, and raised in nearby Sanford, dropped out of junior high school after the eighth grade. The strapping young Brown, who had matured rapidly during puberty, was able to lie about his age and join the United States Navy as a Messboy at age 13. Discharged two years later, he found employment in the United States Merchant Marine, and spent 12 years traveling the world on the high seas.

Career

[edit]

After seven years with Sugar Ray Robinson,[2] widely recognized as one of the best boxers of all time, Brown joined Muhammad Ali's boxing team as a cornerman in 1963.[3] and remained with him throughout his career.[1] (Later he also became a cornerman for James "Quick" Tillis).[4]

Brown was one of Ali's speech writers. He wrote certain poems, including that which coined Ali's famous and oft quoted: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, rumble, young man, rumble.” Ali used the poem to taunt Sonny Liston at the press conference prior to his February 25, 1964, victory over the WBA and WBC champion to claim both titles.[1]

Death

[edit]

Brown died on 24 September 1987 in Los Angeles County, California, at the age of 59 from medical complications of injuries sustained in a previous car accident. He suffered a pinched nerve in his spine in the crash and subsequently had a serious fall at home, from which he never recovered. He was visited by Ali on his deathbed.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Brown had one brother, Elbert James Brown. In the early 1950s, while living in Harlem, New York City, Brown married Rhoda Palestine, whose family was Russian-Jewish. Due to this relationship, Brown later converted to Reform Judaism. They married at a time when interracial relationships and marriages were considered by many as taboo, and had one son, Drew Brown III (born January 20, 1955, in Harlem).

According to the autobiography of singer Ruth Brown (no relation),[6] he was also the true father of her son Ronald David Jackson (“Ronnie”), though he was unaware of this during the boy's childhood.

His son Drew III joined the United States Navy and became a Medium Attack Bomber pilot flying the A-6 Intruder. After retiring from the Navy, he wrote a bestselling book, You Gotta Believe, and became a nationally known speaker.[1][7]

Portrayals in film

[edit]

He was played by the actor Bernie Mac in the film Don King: Only in America, and by Jamie Foxx in the film Ali and by Lawrence Gilliard Jr. in One Night In Miami.

Filmography

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
  • Shaft (1971) .... Willy
  • Shaft's Big Score! (1972) .... Willy
  • Aaron Loves Angela (1975) .... Referee
  • The Color Purple (1985) .... Jook Joint Patron
  • Penitentiary III (1987) .... Sugg / Inmate #2 (final film role)

As self

[edit]

Archive footage

[edit]
  • A.K.A. Cassius Clay (1970) .... Himself
  • Beat This!: A Hip hop History (1984, TV) .... Himself
  • Muhammad Ali (docuseries), Episode 1: "Round One: The Greatest (1942–1964)" (2021, TV) .... Himself

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Drew (Bundini) Brown". The New York Times. September 26, 1987.
  2. ^ "Drew "Bundini" Brown: Boxing's Greatest Hype Man". 27 November 2017.
  3. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20070408163951/http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Muhammad%20Ali [dead link]
  4. ^ "Drew Bundini Brown. A Collection of un-published original manuscripts written by Drew Bundini Brown". Antekprizering.com. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  5. ^ Anderson, Dave (September 29, 1987). "Sports of the Times – Float Like a Bundini". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Brown, Ruth and Yule, Andrew. (1996). Miss Rhythm.
  7. ^ "404 page not found - Commander Drew Brown". www.drewbrown.net. Retrieved 4 August 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
[edit]
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