Timothy Brown

African-American actor Timothy Brown entered films and TV in the late 1960s and remained active until 1988. Brown appeared in guest spots on several TV programs, most notably the pilot for Jack Webb's O'Hara: US Treasury (1971). What could have been his longest-lasting TV stint turned out to last but a single season. In 1972, Brown was cast as Spearchucker Jones, the only black member of the 4077th, on the first season of M*A*S*H. Spearchucker had been a minor character in the 1970 film version of M*A*S*H, with Fred Williamson in the part; the character had very little to do in the movie until the climactic football game. No such gridiron activity was deemed necessary for the TV M*A*S*H, nor was Spearchucker alotted much screen time (Alan Alda, Wayne Rogers and company were carrying the ball), so Timothy Brown was out of the series after only one year. M*A*S*H of course weathered the loss, and lasted until 1983.

~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide