From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Russell Brown (May 30, 1892; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 19, 1964; Englewood, New Jersey) was an American Tony Award-winning actor of stage and film. Brown, a stage actor for decades, is best remembered by audiences as Captain Brackett in South Pacific (which he repeated in the movie version) and for his performances as 'Benny Van Buren' in the stage/film version of Damn Yankees in 1958, and the following year as park caretaker George Lemon in the ...