Burly supporting actor, often in gruff roles or as a heavy. A favorite of
Hal Roach, who used him as a foil in
Charley Chase (
Be Your Age (1926)) and early
Laurel & Hardy comedies (
Do Detectives Think? (1927)). He was frequently seen in westerns as gold miners or second-string henchmen. After the coming of sound, Brownlee was increasingly relegated to playing background characters, usually military or police officers, guards or farmers.