Tod David Brown was born in San Francisco on November 15, 1936, the first of two children born to George and Edna Anne Brown. His brother Daniel Brown lives in Orinda, California with his wife.

Bishop Brown received his early education at various schools in Northern California. His seminary education and formation were at Ryan Seminary in Fresno, St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo and the North American College in Rome, Italy. He holds a B.A. from St. John’s Seminary, a STB from Gregorian University, Rome, and has master’s degrees in biblical theology and education from the University of San Francisco.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1963, for the Diocese of Monterey in California. In the Diocese of Monterey, he had various assignments, including parochial vicar, pastor, chairman of the Divine Worship Commission, chairman and member of the Presbyterial Council and Priests Pension Committee, and member of the Diocesan Board of Education. In addition, he served as Chancellor, Moderator of the Curia and the Vicar General.

On December 27, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Boise, Idaho. He was ordained and installed as Bishop of that See on April 3, 1989. On September 3, 1998, Bishop Brown was installed as the third Bishop of Orange, succeeding Bishop Norman McFarland, who had served the Diocese of Orange until his retirement.

Bishop Brown led the Diocese of Orange effort to purchase the former Crystal Cathedral in 2012.