Jim Brown

This oil on canvas portrait of Jim Brown by Henry Koerner appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, November 26, 1965. It belongs to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.

Jim Brown born 1936
Born St. Simons Island, Georgia

It is little wonder that Cleveland Browns star fullback Jim Brown was sometimes likened to Superman. During his pro football career (1957—65), brown's strength, speed, and agility made him all but unstoppable as he powered his way over, around, or through his opponent’s defense. As one lineman noted ruefully, the only way to tackle was “to hold on and wait for help,” Brown's versatility also made him a constant threat. Besides exceeding the 1,000-yards-rushing mark for seven out nine seasons and ultimately scoring more that 100 rushing touchdowns, Brown caught passes, returned kickoffs, and even threw the ball for an occasional touchdown. Although his NFL game, season and career rushing records have now been surpassed, experts continue to rank Brown as one of the greatest ball carriers of all time. -- NPG

Jim Brown was also a movie star. The Washington Post carried this photo of Brown running but this time running in The Dirty Dozen in 1967.

Jim Brown, once the burly hero of the Cleveland Browns and now a movie star, is seen above in action for “The Dirty Dozen,” the hit war film now at the Town Theater. -- from  Actor Jim Brown Runs for Big Gains by, Vernon Scott, Washington Post Aug 6, 1967 pg. E5.

And here he is with Rachel Welch in 1969's “The 100 Rifles.”