Malcolm Browne was born on 17 April 1931 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Le Lieu Browne. He died on 27 August 2012 in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
He graduated from Swarthmore College with a degree in chemistry. In 1956, he was drafted and sent to Korea, and by chance got a job with a military newspaper. He decided on a career in journalism.