DuShon Monique Brown

DuShon Monique Brown
Born(1968-11-30)November 30, 1968
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 2018(2018-03-23) (aged 49)
Alma materGovernors State University
OccupationActress
Years active2003–2018
Notable work
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1]
Children1

DuShon Monique Brown (November 30, 1968 – March 23, 2018) was an American actress known for her performances as Nurse Katie Welch on the Fox series Prison Break and Connie in the NBC series Chicago Fire from 2012 until her death in 2018.

Early life and education

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Brown was born in Chicago on November 30, 1968, to Zachary M. Brown and Liz Colburn.[2] She was a graduate of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School and Governors State University, with a master's degree in school counseling. Brown previously worked at Chicago's South Shore International College Preparatory High School as the guidance counselor, and at Kenwood Academy High School as a crisis counselor and drama instructor.[3][4]

Career

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Early career

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Brown was active in theater in her hometown for many years.[5] Her first performance on television was 2003's made-for-TV movie Skin Complex.[6] From 2005 to 2007, she was on Prison Break. Brown appeared in 2011's The Dilemma in an uncredited role.[7] Brown was in 2012's romantic comedy One Small Hitch.[8]

Chicago Fire

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In 2012, Brown began playing the recurring role of Connie on Chicago Fire. Of her time on the TV show, Brown said in an interview with Hidden Remote, "She was a secretary and had a single speech. But I auditioned because it was a new series in Chicago Fire and had the possibility that she could become. She sees herself, especially with the younger members of the team, as a kind of mother, aunt, teacher. Eamonn and I, we play when I'm on the set that Connie is the boss's working wife and all the rest are her kids, they wrote Connie as that motherly figure that everyone seems to run away from. I'm just a goofy, geeky Chicagoan who plays the violin, likes karaoke, embraces the trees, loves to be appreciated for her work and dreams of playing a superhero in the movies."[9] She was asked how she would feel about a spinoff called Chicago Ed or Chicago Shelter by reporter Andrew Crist, who noted Brown's master's degree in counseling and background in social work; Brown replied, "I’m there! If they pull that show out, I will be an actor and a consultant! Trust me."[10]

Later career

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Brown guest-starred in Boss in 2012 and Shameless in 2013.[11] She was in 2015's Unexpected.[12] Brown was also in 2015's A Light Beneath Their Feet.[13][14] In 2015, she guest-starred on Empire.[15] Brown guest-starred on Electric Dreams in 2017.[16] Also in 2017, she was in the comedy film Surprise Me! written and directed by Nancy Goodman and based on the book of the same name by Goodman.[17] Her last role was in 2017's made-for-TV movie Public Housing Unit.[18]

Personal life and death

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Brown had one child: a daughter, Zoe.[3] She had one brother and two sisters: Zachary Brown Jr., Zaire King, and Jamyra Siek.[2] Brown checked herself into the hospital earlier in the week of her death, after experiencing chest pains, but was released after undergoing tests.[19] She died at St. James Olympia Fields Hospital on March 23, 2018.[20] The Cook County coroner scheduled an autopsy on March 24, 2018.[10] On May 31, 2018, the Cook County Medical examiner confirmed the death was the result of sepsis of an unknown etiology.[21] Obesity and high blood pressure were also cited as the reason of sudden death.[22]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 The Dilemma Weiner Circle Worker [7]
2012 One Small Hitch Unflappable Nurse Romantic comedy film directed by John Burgess and written by Dode B. Levenson [8]
2015 Unexpected Principal Clements
[12]
A Light Beneath Their Feet Cindy Drama film directed by Valerie Weiss [13][14]
2017 Surprise Me! Shirley
[17]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 Skin Complex Laurie Made-for-TV-movie directed by Jim Friedman and Brad Pruitt [6]
2005–07 Prison Break Katie Welch Recurring (season 1), guest (season 2)
2012–18 Chicago Fire Connie Recurring
2012 Boss Large Inmate Episodes:
[11]
2013 Shameless Teresa Episode: "May I Trim Your Hedges?" (S 3:Ep 3) [11]
2015 Empire Ilene
  • Episode: "Poor Yorick" (S 1:Ep 10)
  • Credited as DuShon M. Brown
[15]
2017 Electric Dreams Peace Sergeant Episode: "Kill All Others" [16]
Public Housing Unit Commander Roberta Made-for-TV-movie directed by Daniel Willis [18]

Theatre

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Venue Title Role Notes Ref.
Pegasus Players Theatre For Her as a Piano Mutha Ku/Dirk September 30 – November 1, 2015 [1][23][24]
Chicago Dramatists Hope VI Queenie 2009 [1][25]
Piven Theatre Workshop Because They Have No Words Actor 3 and Others
  • May 11 – June 15, 2008
  • March 6 – April 11, 2010
[1][26][27]
Victory Gardens Theater Shoes Miss Viola [1]
Drury Lane Theatre Little Shop of Horrors Ronette [1][28]
Lookingglass Theatre Company Summertime Barbara/Violinist [1]
Chicago Theatre Love Child Miss Fanny
Goodman Theatre The Amen Corner Ensemble
MPAACT Christ T Maximillian
Steppenwolf Theatre Company Division Street: America Louise/Lois
Apple Tree Theatre Once on this Island Mama Euralie
Chicago Theatre Journal of Ordinary Thought Actress #2
Train is Comin Maggie Porter
Shakin' the mess Outta Misery Miss Corrine
Steppenwolf Theatre Company Our Town Stage Manager
Lifeline Theatre Praying for Sheetrock Mary/Belle/Louise
ETA Creative Arts Foundation This Far By Faith Viola Benson

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "DuShon Monique Brown". Grossman & Jack Talent. Chicago. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Dushon Monique Brown". MyHeritage. Or Yehuda: MyHeritage Ltd. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Marcus, Emily (March 23, 2018). "DuShon Monique Brown Dead: 'Chicago Fire' Actress Dies at 49". Us Weekly. New York City: American Media, Inc. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Ray, Richard (March 23, 2018). "'Chicago Fire' Actress DuShon Monique Brown Dies". KNTV. San Jose, California: NBCUniversal. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "'Chicago Fire' actress DuShon Monique Brown dead at 49". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis: Lee Enterprises. Associated Press. March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Skin Complex". AllMovie. United States: All Media Network. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "The Dilemma". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Rechtshaffen, Michael (February 5, 2015). "'One Small Hitch' an overly familiar rom-com". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  9. ^ "Chicago Fire: DuShon Brown Tells How Connie Runs The Firehouse". Hidden Remote. 22 November 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Farber, Lindsay (March 23, 2018). "Chicago Fire Actress DuShon Monique Brown Dead at Age 49". E! Online. Los Angeles: NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c Chicago Tribune (March 23, 2018). "Report: 'Chicago Fire' Actress DuShon Monique Brown has died". WTMJ-TV. Milwaukee: E. W. Scripps Company. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Unexpected". Turner Classic Movies. United States: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Scheck, Frank (May 27, 2016). "'A Light Beneath Their Feet': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Eldridge Industries). Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  14. ^ a b McNary, Dave (March 28, 2016). "Taryn Manning Coming-of-Age Drama 'Light Beneath Their Feet' Gets Release Date". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Huff, Lauren (March 23, 2018). "DuShon Monique Brown, 'Chicago Fire' Actress, Dies at 49". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Eldridge Industries). Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Petski, Denise (March 23, 2018). "DuShon Monique Brown Dies: 'Chicago Fire' Actress Was 49". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Goodman, Nancy (2017). Surprise Me! (Paperback ed.). Scotts Valley, California. ISBN 978-1544125718.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. ^ a b Kogan, Rick (March 16, 2017). "Chicago TV festival gives us a look at 4 new shows". Chicago Tribune. Chicago: Tronc, Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  19. ^ TMZ Staff (March 23, 2018). "'CHICAGO FIRE' ACTRESS DUSHON MONIQUE BROWN DEAD AT 49". TMZ. Los Angeles: Time Warner. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  20. ^ Metz, Nina (March 23, 2018). "'Chicago Fire' actress DuShon Monique Brown has died". Chicago Tribune. Chicago: Tronc, Inc. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  21. ^ Aiello, McKenna (March 24, 2018). "Chicago Fire's DuShon Monique Brown's Cause of Death Revealed". E! Online. Los Angeles: NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  22. ^ Hautman, Nicholas (March 24, 2018). "'Chicago Fire' Star DuShon Monique Brown's Cause of Death Revealed". Us Weekly. New York City: American Media, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  23. ^ "FOR HER AS A PIANO". Pegasus Theatre. Chicago. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  24. ^ Clement, Olivia (September 30, 2015). "For Her As a Piano, New Musical Play by Native SonPlaywright, Debuts in Chicago Tonight". Playbill. New York City: TotalTheater. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  25. ^ "Hope VI". Theatre In Chicago. Chicago. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  26. ^ BWW News Desk. "Piven Theatre Presents NUMBER OF PEOPLE 3/6-4/11". BroadwayWorld. New York City: Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  27. ^ Jones, Kenneth (May 23, 2008). "Because They Have No Words, Play About Post-Katrina Animal Rescue, Gets Chicago Premiere". Playbill. New York City: TotalTheater. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  28. ^ "WHY SEE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS?". Theatre In Chicago. Chicago. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
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