October 07, 2008

Rob Brown '08 is The Express

As the opening date for the new film The Express approaches, its star, Rob Brown ‘08, is getting quite a lot of press. The film tells the story of Syracuse University running back Ernie Davis, nicknamed the “Elmira Express” for his hometown of Elmira, New York, who in 1961 became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Brown, whose acting career began in 2000 with a starring role in Gus Van Sant’s Finding Forrester after he sought work on the film as an extra, has been working steadily while attending Amherst, appearing in six films since 2005 (we made note of his roles in Take the Lead and The Express while he was still Rob Brown ‘06 and ‘07; he graduated in May of this year).

Brown’s role as a wide receiver for the Amherst football team gave him an insight into playing Davis in the new film; for more on the way Brown juggled school and acting, take a look at this 2005 Sports Illustrated profile.

We’ll start with a nice profile and interview with Brown in the Seattle Times, in which he describes the process of winning the role:

“I tested and tested again. I had a football tryout, even though everyone knew I played football in high school and college,” says Brown, who turned 24 in March. “I took it with a grain of salt, all the hoops I had to jump through. Ernie earned a lot, and I thought it was fine if I had to earn this role.”

Brown is also interviewed in a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as a training regimen-heavy interview in Men’s Fitness.

In a New York Daily News interview, Brown reveals one of the reasons he wears his Yankees hats: “The only hats I own are Yankees hats. Part of that was an indirect reaction to people at my college - they’re a bunch of Red Sox fans.”

In an interview with the Edmonton Sun, Brown discusses getting advice voicemails from Sean Connery (his co-star in Finding Forrester) and what it was like to play the role of Davis while attending a school that “isn’t the most diverse place to get your college education.”

More interviews will surely be appearing as the week goes on, followed by reviews as the film opens this weekend, and we’ll gather them here as we find them.

Brian Meacham '97 | October 7, 2008 10:34 PM | Alumni

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