Reno Browne was an American actress best known for her roles in B-Western films such as “Fence Riders,” “Across the Rio Grande,” and “The Gentleman from Texas.” Born Josephine Ruth Clarke, she gained fame in the low-budget Western genre during the 1940s and 1950s.
Personal and Family Life
Reno Browne was born on April 20, 1921, in Reno, Nevada. She was briefly married to cowboy star Lash LaRue from 1962 to 1964 and had no children, but she had stepchildren from his previous marriage who called her Mom. Browne had a passion for acting and enjoyed working on films where she performed her own stunts.
Career
Initially stepping into the film industry through small roles in Reno, Reno Browne moved to Hollywood to work as a stuntwoman and trick rider. She then starred in many low-budget Western films for Monogram and Republic Pictures. In the 1940s, she also hosted her own radio show named “Reno Rides the Range.” Browne became widely recognized for her performances alongside other famous actors of the time.
Death and Legacy
Reno Browne passed away on May 15, 1991, in her hometown of Reno, Nevada, due to cancer at the age of 70. Her contributions to the world of Western cinema are remembered, particularly her roles as a pioneering female presence in the genre.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Across The Rio Grande | 1949-05-14 | Sally Blaine |
| The Gentleman from Texas | 1946-06-08 | Diane Foster (as Reno Blair) |
| Shadows of the West | 1949-01-24 | Virginia Grayson |
| Haunted Trails | 1949-08-21 | Marie Martel |
| Fence Riders | 1950-01-19 | Jean Martin |
| Range Land | 1949-12-24 | Doris Allen |
| Gunslingers | 1950-04-09 | Libby Rawlins |
| Under Arizona Skies | 1946-05-27 | Cindy Rigby (as Reno Blair) |
| Raiders of the South | 1947-01-18 | Lynne Chambers (as Reno Blair) |
| The Law Comes to Gunsight | 1947-05-24 | Judy Hartley |
| Frontier Agent | 1948-05-16 | Sandra Kerrigan |
| Riders of the Dusk | 1949-11-13 | Nora Neal |
| West of El Dorado | 1949-06-04 | Mary |
| Red Rock Outlaw | 1949-12-16 | Reno – Troupe Driver Manager |