- Credits his industry endeavors to 2 life mentors: his great-grandfather, John Sampson and family friend June Pembroke. John Sampson taught Brown how to read with daily Chicago newspapers and introduced him to Baseball after his retirement from Chicago's famed The Stockyards. June Pembroke was an elementary school teacher who extended Brown's interest in reading & became head librarian for Beasley Magnet School shortly after for over 25 years. She also played a major role in his interest in the Arts.
- An avid Chicago sports fan, he has followed all teams (Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Bulls & Bears) since childhood. As a born & raised south side Chicagoan, his favorite team is the Chicago Cubs.
- Influences: John Ritter, Robin Williams, John Cassavetes, Charles Durning, Taylor Negron, Richard Pryor, Albert Brooks, Robert Altman and Gordon Parks Sr.
- Loves Retro & Pop Culture, Music & Sports Trivia; including The New Hollywood Film Era, 1970's Culture & Baseball.
- Worked as a Casting Intern for David O'Connor Casting in Chicago 2002-2003.
- Has a unique Children's Interactivity background beginning in 1990 that includes working as a unaccompanied minor runner for American Airlines at O'Hare Airport, sales associate for FAO Schwarz, ensemble member for GreatWorks Theatre Company and Navy Pier's WinterWonderfest in Chicago & after school program site coordinator and chef's assistant for a children's cooking camp in Los Angeles.
- Huge fan of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story movie and soundtrack. John C. Reilly and Jane Lynch, who are in the movie, were also born and raised on Chicago's south side, like Tony.
- Favorite movies include: Network, Field of Dreams, Glory, Forrest Gump and Easy Rider.
- Resident Improviser, LA Connection Comedy 2014-2017.
- Favorite TV shows include: 24, Dream On, St. Elsewhere, Three's Company, Hill Street Blues, Get Smart & 1970's police/detective genre shows.
- Began recognizing Roger Ebert's photo & Chicago Sun-Times columns in the late 1970s. This led to watching Ebert & Gene Siskel's movie review show Sneak Previews in the early 1980's and following their influential movie reviews through the remainder of their lives. The 1st movie Tony recalls in their review show is My Dinner With Andre.
- Worked for popular Chicago points-of-interest including: Field Museum of Natural History, Shoreline Architecture Boat Tours and Gibsons Steakhouse. Left Field season ticket client at Comiskey Park in its final season (1990), Comiskey Park II (1997-98) & Wrigley Field (1999-2011). Officially became a member of the Wrigley Field bleacher community in 1995. This included a direct visual of the infamous 8th inning play in the Game 6 2003 playoff game.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content