Roscoe Lee Browne

With his commanding, mellifluous voice, actor of stage, film and television, Roscoe Lee Browne could easily have made a living as a dignified announcer and narrator. An entire generation of audiences would remember his touching narration of the feature film, "Babe," but his sly comic timing brought him a wealth of comedic roles as well, including the acerbic butler Saunders on the edgy sitcom, "Soap" and the sly Professor Foster on the seminal eighties sitcom, "The Cosby Show." Browne was also recognized for advancing the presence of African-Americans on the stage, with roles in the New York Shakespeare Festival as early as 1956. A well-rounded man, he was also an instructor of literature and French, as well as a gifted athlete, winning the 1951 world championship in the 800-yard run. An inspiration to countless actors over the decades, this true Renaissance man elevated all projects he was involved in, whether big and small.