Caryn Lee (Matchinga) Brown

Caryn Lee Matchinga Brown, beloved mother, grandmother, friend, dancer, artist, screenwriter, author and actress, passed away on November 17, 2024 - just shy of her 83 rd birthday. Born in Painesville, Ohio, on November 23, 1941, to Rudolph and Alma Matchinga, Caryn’s wit, boundless spirit, and talent made an indelible mark on all who knew her.

A versatile creator and actress, Caryn's career spanned decades. She began at an early age with an acting and playwright scholarship to Carnegie Mellon before quickly moving to NYC. There, she won a Barter Award for Best Actress and made her first television appearance on the Mike Wallace PM show.

Hollywood soon beckoned, and Caryn answered the call. She graced many iconic television shows of the 1960s and 1970s, including The Odd Couple, I Dream of Jeannie, The Flying Nun, The Wild Wild West, Big Valley Days, Rango, and more. Her film career included roles in Mad City (1997), Madigan (1968), and the internationally acclaimed Raid on Entebbe (1976). Even during her successful acting career, Caryn never stopped writing. She ghostwrote for MGM, NBC and Paramount Pictures, all while working on her own stories. In 2012 she published a novel, The Girl, under her stage name Toian Matchinga.

Caryn married Harold Brown on December 31, 1976, and their lively debates lasted until his passing in 2004. Together, they raised their son, Jeremy Brown, who survives her along with his wife Betsy and their children Zoe and Zachary. Caryn is also survived by her sister Bonnie McKenzie and her brother Rudy Matchinga.

Caryn was a gifted storyteller, often sharing outrageous and hilarious tales from her colorful life in New York and Hollywood. She had a knack for leaving everyone around her in stitches and maybe just a bit uncomfortable. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation to support other actors and storytellers as they strive to achieve their full potential.

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