In the 1960s, Hollywood actors Georg Stanford Brown and Tyne Daly defied societal norms and overcame discrimination to create a lasting love. Back then, interracial marriage was met with disapproval and was even illegal in many US states. But their love was stronger than any obstacle.
On June 1, 1966, just a year before interracial marriage was legalized nationwide, Brown and Daly exchanged vows. It was a bold and courageous move considering that as late as 1960, such weddings were still illegal in 31 states. Their determination was truly remarkable.
Georg Stanford Brown’s journey to success in Hollywood was not without its challenges. At the age of seven, he moved from Havana to Harlem before eventually settling in Los Angeles, where he pursued a degree in theater arts. Initially, Brown saw theater as an easy and casual career choice.
However, his perspective soon changed when he enrolled at New York’s American Musical and Dramatic Academy. To support himself, Brown worked as a janitor at a school, earning a mere $80 a week to pay for his tuition.
It was during his time at the academy that Brown met Tyne Daly, who would later become his wife. They were both students of Philip Burton, the renowned actor Richard Burton’s mentor. Brown gained recognition for his role as Officer Terry Webster in the popular ABC series “The Rookies” from 1972 to 1976. His portrayal of Tom Harvey in the groundbreaking miniseries “Roots” also left a lasting impression.
On the other hand, Tyne Daly was already a well-known actress when she married Brown. She gained fame for her role as Mary Beth Lacey, the strong and armed working mother police officer in the popular sitcom “Cagney and Lacey.”
Throughout their marriage, the couple faced racial prejudice, but they chose to rise above it and not let narrow-minded opinions define them. When they shared their first interracial kiss on screen in an episode of “The Rookies,” their strength and determination were challenged. Network censors threatened to remove the scene, but Daly and Brown stood their ground. Their unwavering devotion to each other and their beliefs shone through in the flawless recording and broadcast of the episode.
In a 1985 interview with the Washington Post, Daly shared her views on her marriage to Brown. She refused to be confined to categories, simply seeing it as being married to “another member of the human race.” Their relationship was built on love and shared principles, transcending the boundaries of race.
Together, Brown and Daly have three remarkable daughters: Alisabeth Brown (born December 12, 1967), Kathryne Dora Brown (born February 10, 1971), and Alyxandra Beatris Brown (born October 1, 1985). They made a conscious decision to embrace their children’s individuality and reject labels, raising them with open minds. On Alyxandra’s birth certificate, they listed “human” under race, “yes” under sex, and “citizen of the world” under ethnic origin.
Although Brown and Daly eventually divorced after 24 years of marriage, their love story continues to inspire. They showed that love knows no boundaries, breaking through prejudice and societal norms. Let us celebrate their incredible journey and share their tale of love triumphing over all obstacles.
