Roscoe Lee Browne

Roscoe Lee Browne (b. 1925) is an actor known for his erudite diction and smooth voice, often typecast as butlers, professors, or intellectuals. Browne narrated the Creature Shop film Babe.

In his early years, Browne set the record for the 800 meter dash in 1951, and also taught literature at Lincoln University before turning to acting full time. He has worked steadily on the stage (garnering a Tony nomination for August Wilson's Two Trains Running in 1992), and in film, television, commercials, and animation since the 1960s. Film work has included parts in Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz, Jumpin' Jack Flash with Whoopi Goldberg, The Mambo Kings, and Dear God, as well as Polonius in the 2000 Hallmark TV version of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Television roles have included Saunders the butler on Soap and a recurring part as Dr. Barnabus Foster on The Cosby Show and its spinoff A Different World, and guest spots on All in the Family, Barney Miller, Law & Order, and Columbo. Animation voice roles range from guest parts on Batman: The Animated Series (and more recently The Batman) to playing the Kingpin on the 1990s version of Spider-Man and principal roles in the Disney features Oliver and Company and Treasure Planet.