Misplaced Pages

Brian Keith: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 15:52, 1 April 2008 editKumioko (renamed) (talk | contribs)318,300 edits copyedit, Replaced: {{Find A Grave|id= → {{findagrave| using AWB← Previous edit Latest revision as of 22:37, 12 November 2024 edit undo98.15.219.187 (talk) Family Affair: Fixed typoTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit 
(767 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American actor (1921–1997)}}
{{Infobox actor
{{other people}}
|name = Brian Keith
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
|image = Replace this image.svg
{{Infobox person
|imagesize = 150px
| name = Brian Keith
|birthname = Robert Keith Richey, Jr.
| image = Brian Keith - still.jpg
|birthdate = {{birth date|1921|11|14|mf=n}}
| caption = Keith in '']'', 1957
|birthplace = ], ]
| birth_name = Robert Alba Keith
|deathdate = {{death date and age|1997|6|24|1921|11|14|mf=n}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|11|14|mf=yes}}
|deathplace = ], ]
| birth_place = ], U.S.
|restingplace = ], ]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|6|24|1921|11|14|mf=yes}}
|restingplacecoordinates = Plot: Garden Of Serenity New Memorial Garden
| death_place = ], U.S.
|othername = Robert Keith Jr.<br/>Jr. Robert Keith
| resting_place = ]
|spouse = Victoria Young (1970-1997) (his death)<br/>2 children<br/>Judy Landon (1955-?) (divorced)<br/>2 children 3 adopted children<br/>Frances Helm (?-1955) (divorced)
|parents = ] And Stage Actress Helena Shipman | other_names = Robert Keith Jr.
| education = ]
|emmyawards = 1969 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Continued Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Comedy Series<br/>For: "Family Affair"<br/>1968 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Continued Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Comedy Series<br/>For: "Family Affair"<br/>1967 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Continued Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Comedy Series<br/>For: "Family Affair"
| occupation = Actor
|awards = Golden Boot Awards
| years_active = 1924-1997
1991 - Golden Boot Laurel Awards<br/>1971 3Rd Place Golden Laurel Best Action Performance<br/>For: The Mckenzie Break (1970)
| spouse = {{plainlist|
1962 Nominated Golden Laurel Top Male Comedy Performance<br/>For: The Parent Trap (1961)
*{{marriage|]|1948|1954|reason=divorced}}
*{{marriage|]|1954|1969|reason=divorced}}
*{{marriage|Victoria Young-Keith|1970}}
}}
| children = 7
| father = ]
| website = {{URL|briankeith.com}}
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{USA}}
|branch = {{tree list}}
* ]
** {{nowrap|]}}
{{tree list/end}}
| serviceyears = 1942–1945
| battles = {{tree list}}
* ]
** ], ]
{{tree list/end}}
| rank = Sergeant E-5
}}
}} }}
'''Brian Keith''' (], ] – ], ]) was an ] stage, ] and ] actor.


'''Robert Alba Keith'''<ref name="keith">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.briankeith.com/aboutus.html|author=Keith, Victoria Y.|date=2014|website=BrianKeith.com|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> (November 14, 1921 &ndash; June 24, 1997), known professionally as '''Brian Keith''', was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his six-decade career gained recognition for his work in films such as the ] family film '']'' (1961); '']'' (1963); the comedy '']'' (1966); and the adventure saga '']'' (1975), in which he portrayed President ].
==Early life, military service==
Brian Keith was born '''Robert Keith, Jr.''' in ], to actor ] and stage actress ], a native of ].<ref>Van Gelder, lawrence. , '']'', ], ]. Accessed ], ]. "Mr. Keith, whose full name was Robert Brian Keith Jr., was born in Bayonne, N.J."</ref> He made his acting debut in the silent film ''Pied Piper Malone'' (1924) at the age of three. After high school in ] he joined the ] (1942-1945). He served during ] as an aerial ] and received an ].


On television, two of his best-known roles were those of bachelor-uncle-turned-reluctant-parent Bill Davis in the 1960s sitcom '']'', and a tough retired judge in the lighthearted 1980s crime drama '']''. He also starred in '']'', which aired on ] from 1972 to 1974, where he portrayed a pediatrician who operated a free clinic on ], and in the ] comedy series '']''.
==Acting career==
After the war, Keith became a stage actor, branching out into films and then television. A strong and capable actor, Keith spent many years playing second leads and gruff sidekicks. He won much acclaim for his starring role in ]'s short-lived '']'' (1960). His biggest break, however, came in 1966 when he landed the role of "Uncle Bill" Davis on the popular television situation comedy '']'', a role that earned him three ] nominations for Best Actor. The show made him a household name. When CBS requested that he pose for Christmas publicity shots connected with ''Family Affair'', Keith refused on the basis that this was exploitative of the holiday.


==Early life==
He was offered the role of Deke Thornton in '']'' by ], but turned down due to his commitment on ''Family Affair'', leading to a falling-out between the two former friends.
Robert Alba Keith was born in ], on November 14, 1921, to actor ] and stage actress Helena Shipman, a native of ]. Some sources also list his full name as Brian Robert Keith.<ref name="lawrence">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/25/arts/brian-keith-hardy-actor-75-played-dads-and-desperadoes.html|title=Brian Keith, Hardy Actor, 75; Played Dads and Desperadoes|author=Van Gelder, Lawrence|date=June 25, 1997|newspaper=]|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> He was ].<ref name="mirror">{{cite news|url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/072706/dc5.html|title=It's a Family Affair|first=Matthew|last=Hays|newspaper=]|quote=I was surprised at Brian, who was Catholic, ...|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630173150/http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/072706/dc5.html|archive-date=June 30, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> In 1941 he graduated from ] in ].


He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 completing his service in 1945. He served during World War II as a radioman/tail gunner in the rear cockpit of a two-man ] dive bomber in a U.S. Marine squadron. He was awarded a ], ], ] with three battle stars and ].<ref>p. 30 ''Naval Aviation News'' Nov-Dec 1988 Vol 71 No 1</ref>
He is also fondly remembered for his role as the father of twins in the 1961 film ''],'' costarring ] and ]. His performance as ] in '']'' (1975) is also particularly well-remembered and regarded, being considered among the best portrayals of an American president on film.


==Career==
Keith went on to star in such television series as ''The Brian Keith Show'', ''Heartland'', and '']''. He also starred in the six-part television series '']'', about a group of former underground freedom fighters from ], as "Stephen 'The Fox' Halliday". The show also starred Sir ], ], and ].
]
] in '']'' (1960)]]


===Theatre===
Keith spoke fluent ], which led to his casting as a Russian in two roles: the Soviet Premier in '']'' with ]; and as a Soviet scientist in '']'' with ]. In '']'', where he played the unexcitable police chief of an island where a ] ] runs aground, however, his character had to have Russian translated to him by ]'s character.
Keith made his Broadway debut in 1948 in the ensemble of '']'', which starred his father as "Doc". He was a guard in '']'' (1951) by Sidney Kingsley, and was in ''Out West of Eighth'' (1951), which had only a short run.


===Television and films===
In his last film, Keith played President ] in '']'' (1997). Director ] dedicated ''Rough Riders'' to "Brian Keith, Actor, Marine, Raconteur."
Keith made his film debut at age 3 in '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowles |first=Jennifer |title=Brian Keith, 'Family Affair' star, dead of apparent suicide |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/entertainment/local/1997/06/25/brian-keith-family-affair-star/50609100007/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He began to guest star on shows such as '']'', '']'', and an adaptation of '']'' in '']''. He was in '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="ind">{{cite news|title=Obituary: Brian Keith|author=Vosburgh, Dick|work=The Independent|date=June 26, 1997|page=18}}</ref> Keith's feature film debut was in a Western for Paramount, '']'' (1953). He stayed at that studio for '']'' (1954), replacing ], and '']'' (1954).<ref>{{cite news|title=DISNEY IS TESTING FOX' CINEMASCOPE: ' Pleased' With Film Process, but Isn't Sure He Will Use It on Dog Cartoon Feature|author= THOMAS M. PRYOR|work=THE NEW YORK TIMES|date=June 27, 1953|page=7}}</ref>


Keith guest starred on '']'', '']'', '']'', and ''The Mask'' and also played ] in a ] directed by ], but the series was not picked up.
In 2008, the ] will install a star in Brian Keith's honor on the world famous sidewalk in California.

He went to Columbia for '']'' (1954), '']'' (1955), '']'' (1955), and '']'' (1955), the last two directed by ].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brian Keith Set for 'Five Against House'|author=Hopper, Hedda|date=October 14, 1954|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A13}}</ref> He was meant to support Joan Crawford in '']'', but did not appear in the final film.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Brian Keith to Star With Joan Crawford|author=Hopper, Hedda|date=February 5, 1955|work=Los Angeles Times|page=14}}</ref>

He guest starred on '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.

In 1955, Keith starred in his own series, '']'', as fictional journalist Matt Anders. He continued to appear in films for Columbia, such as '']'' (1956) co-starring with ] and '']'' (1956) with ].

In June 1956, he announced he had formed his own company, Michael Productions, and had optioned a story by Robert Blees called ''Cairo''.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Drama: John Wayne Revives Batjac; Heston to Tour Straw Hat Show Circuit|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=June 4, 1956|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A9}}</ref>

===Film stardom===
Keith was second billed in '']'' (1957) with ], and '']'' (1957) with ]. He was top billed in '']'' (1957), but returned to supporting parts with '']'' (1957) '']'' (1957), and '']'' (1958). He announced he would make ''Alien Virus'' for his Michael Productions, but it was not made.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Modern 'Sergeant York' Type Aimed at Sinatra; Rome Fashion Fete Due|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=August 5, 1957|work=Los Angeles Times|page=C11}}</ref> Keith was top billed in some low-budget action movies: '']'' (1958), '']'' (1958), '']'' (1958), and '']'' (1958). The last two were shot back-to-back in Mexico.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://fiftieswesterns.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/highway-to-hollywood1.pdf|title=Highway to Hollywood|first=Maury|last=Dexter|date=2012|page=92}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=THOMAS M PRYOR|date=November 19, 1957|title=REGAL TO START TEN FILMS SOON|work= New York Times}}</ref> He guest starred on '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and an episode of '']'', which was written and directed by ] and later led to ''The Westerner''.

===''The Westerner'' and Disney===
Keith supported Paul Newman in '']'' (1959), and had the lead in two productions for Disney, the TV show ''Elfego Baca: Move Along, Mustangers'' (1959) and the feature '']'' (1960). In 1960, he won acclaim for his starring role in ]'s extremely hard-bitten, adult, and short-lived series '']'' (1960). The show aired for only 13 episodes. "Only four or five of those were any good", said Keith later. "But those four or five were as good as anything anybody has ever done."<ref name="archer"/> Keith guest starred in: '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'' again. Keith made a second film for Disney, playing the father of twins in the film '']'' (1961), costarring ] and ], which was a huge hit. Critical acclaim was given to '']'' (1961), a Western with O'Hara, which marked Peckinpah's feature directorial debut. Keith did two more films for Disney, '']'' (1962) and '']'' (1963).

He guest starred on '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. Keith did a Western for Universal, '']'' (1963), then returned to Disney for '']'' (1963), ''Bristle Face'' (1964), '']'' (1964), '']'' (1964), and '']'' (1965).

He went to Fox for '']'' (1964) and had support roles in '']'' (1965), '']'' (1966) (again with O'Hara), and '']'' (1966), co-starring with ] as traveling gunsmith Jonas Cord. Keith did the comedies '']'' (1966) for ], '']'' (1966) with ], and '']'' (1968) with ].

===''Family Affair''===
] (top) and the other costars of '']'']]
In 1966, Keith landed the role of Uncle Bill Davis on ]'s popular television situation comedy '']''. This role earned him three ] nominations for ].<ref name="TVguide">{{Cite web
| url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/brian-keith/bio/142765
| title=Brian Keith Biography
| website=]
| access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> The show made him a household name. It was in the vein of successful 1960s and 1970s sitcoms that dealt with widowhood and/or many ] issues, such as '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. During its first season in 1966, ''Family Affair'' was an immediate hit, ranking number 15 in the ].<ref name="dvd">{{cite web
| url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/31556/family-affair-season-four/
| title=Family Affair-Season Four
| author=Mavis, Paul
| date=December 1, 2007
| website=]
| access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> By the end of its fifth season, in 1971, ''Family Affair'' still had high ratings, but was cancelled after 138 episodes.

], who co-starred as Keith's teenaged niece, Cissy, on ''Family Affair'', indicated that Keith said: "I'm a cultural Irishman, don't you know, I'm a cultural Irishman." Garver explained: "But he went through many manifestations and changes of character, during the five years that we shot. At first, he was up and then his second year, he was going through a divorce, and then, the third year, he met somebody else, and he became more anecdotal and told stories that he loved kids, and he was very outspoken about those that he did not like. So, he was a very interesting character and it was Brian and Sebastian Cabot had such a different style of acting and that's another reason I think that ''Family Affair'' was so popular and stayed as it did. Both excellent actors, both coming from very different methods and styles of acting with Sebastian was more from the classical style and he would take home his script and he would dutifully look at every single word and have it to perfection, and then Brian would come in and say, 'Oh what do we have today? Let me see the scene, uh-huh, uh-huh, let's go!' So he was very improvisational, motion of the moment. And those two different styles really worked out for each of them very well."<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://onscreenandbeyond.com/OSBseason3Reruns.htm
| title=OSB Episode 120
| date=July 11, 2010
| website=On Screen & Beyond
| access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>

During the series' run Keith appeared in '']'' (1967) with ], '']'' (1968) with ], '']'' (1968) for Cinerama, and '']'' (1969) for Norman Jewison. He had leading roles in '']'' (1970) for Cinerama and '']'' (1970).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Break' Role for Keith|author=Martin, Betty|date=October 18, 1968|work=Los Angeles Times|page=f18}}</ref> In 1970, Keith moved to Hawaii.<ref name="archer">{{cite news|title=Brian Keith's playing Lew Archer--but with Hawaii on his mind|author=Smith, Cecil|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 26, 1975|page=q2}}</ref> Keith made '']'' (1971) for Disney, '']'' (1972) with Dean Martin and director ], and the TV movie '']'' (1972).<ref>{{Cite news|title=MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'big' Role for Carol White|author=Martin, Betty|date=February 19, 1971|work=Los Angeles Times|page=i9}}</ref>

===''The Brian Keith Show'', ''The Zoo Gang'', ''Archer''===
Keith went on to star as ] Dr. Sean Jamison in the NBC sitcom '']'' (also known as ''The Little People''). The series was cancelled in 1974 after two seasons. "The show ended because it was bad, not because of Hawaii," said Keith.<ref name="archer"/>

Keith also starred in the role of Steven "The Fox" Halliday in the six-part television ], '']'' (1974), about a group of former underground ] fighters from World War II. The show also starred ], ], and ], and featured a theme by ].<ref name="archer"/> Keith was third billed in '']'' (1974) starring ], and in '']'' (1975) starring ], Keith played ] for writer-director ]. He starred in the TV series '']'' (1975) as ], replacing ] who'd starred in the pilot, but it was cancelled after six episodes and has never been rerun in the United States (]'s score for the first episode of the series was released in 2018 by Lalaland Records).<ref name="archer"/> Keith did some Westerns, '']'' (1976) pilot, and '']'' (1976), and the TV movie '']'' (1976). He had a supporting role in '']'' (1976) and did the TV movies '']'' (1977) and '']'' (1977). He was in '']'' (1978), '']'' (1978) with ], '']'' (1979), and '']'' (1979). In 1992, he starred in the unsold, ABC half-hour pilot ''The Streets of Beverly Hills''.

Keith spoke fluent Russian, which led to his casting as a Russian in two roles: as a Soviet scientist in the film '']'' (1979) with ] (who also spoke fluent Russian and played his translator), and as the Soviet premier in the NBC miniseries '']'' (1982) with ]. He replaced ] on Broadway in '']'' and was on '']'' (1979), '']'' (1980), '']'' (1980), '']'' (1980) with ], and '']'' (1981). Of the latter he joked, "I only did the picture because it had a long title, and I seem to specialize in those."<ref name="ind"/> He had support roles in '']'' (1981) with Burt Reynolds and '']'' (1982).

===''Hardcastle and McCormick'', ''Pursuit of Happiness'', and ''Heartland''===
Keith once again returned to series television in 1983, with ''Hardcastle and McCormick'', in the role of a cranky retired judge named Milton C. Hardcastle. ] co-starred as ex-con Mark McCormick in this ABC crime drama with elements of comedy. The chemistry of Keith and Kelly was a hit, and the series lasted three years until its cancellation in 1986.<ref name="lawrence"/> During the series run, Keith was in '']'' and ''The B.R.A.T. Patrol'' (1986). Keith starred in '']'' (1987) (as ]), and '']'', then did another TV series '']'' (1987–88), which ran 10 episodes. He was in ''After the Rain'' (1988), '']'' (1988), and ''Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson'' (1989). He starred in another short-lived series '']'' (1989). He had roles in '']'' (1989), and '']'' (1989).

===Later career===
Keith made a guest appearance in the '']'' season-one episode "Chip Off The Old Brick" (1991), as the loud-mouthed father of Herman Stiles (played by actor ]). He reprised his character from ''The Westerner'' in '']'' (1991) (which featured numerous actors from 1950s TV series playing their original roles in brief cameos), had the lead in '']'' (1991), a short-lived sitcom, and ''The Streets of Beverly Hills'' (1992), a pilot. Brian Keith appeared on a two-part episode of '']'', season four "The People's Choice" as the Major's (]) domineering father who pays a visit to the family. The episode aired on September 25, 1992. Keith performed the role of Mullibok on the '']'' season-one episode entitled "Progress" (1993), in which an elderly farmer resists forcible relocation by Bajoran authorities.

Among his last performances were ''The Secrets of Lake Success''; '']''; '']''; '']'' (1994); ''The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A.'' (1995); '']''; '']'' (1995); '']'' (1996); '']''; '']''; and '']'' (1997). Keith guest-starred in an episode of the TV series '']'' titled "The Bounty Hunter" (1995) in which he played then ], Police Chief Rick Stone under the stage name of Chief Skoblow. The ] cooperated with the Canadian TV production company by providing details of Chief Stone's actual police dress uniform for Keith to wear during the episode. Keith also provided the voice of ] on '']''.

In his last film, Keith played President ] in the film '']'' (1997). Director ] dedicated the film to "Brian Keith, Actor, Marine, Raconteur."<ref name="fame">{{cite web
| url=http://www.walkoffame.com/brian-keith
| title=Brian Keith: Inducted to the Walk of Fame on June 26, 2008, with 1 star.
| date=June 26, 2008
| website=]
| access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>


==Personal life and death== ==Personal life and death==
Keith married three times. He was married to ] from 1948 to 1954, Judy Landon from 1954 to 1969 and Victoria Young-Keith from 1970 until his death. He had seven children, one of whom had died by suicide six weeks prior to his death.<ref> {{Cite web |last=Richmond |first=Ray |date=1997-06-25 |title=Brian Keith, 75, dead in apparent suicide |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/brian-keith-75-dead-in-apparent-suicide-1116678811/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Variety}}</ref>
Keith married three times, first to Frances Helm; then, in 1955, to Judith Landon; and finally, in 1970, to Hawaiian actress Victoria Young (née Leialoha), who later appeared on '']'' (]-]) as Nurse Puni. Keith fathered four children but also adopted three others with Judith Landon. Daisy Keith, one of his children with Victoria Young, became an actress and appeared with her father in the short-lived series '']'' in ].


On June 24, 1997, at the age of 75, Keith died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound<ref name="simon">{{cite news
During the later part of his life, Keith suffered from ] and ], despite having quit ] ten years earlier (he had posed for ] ] in an ] campaign in ]). Keith was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on ], ], two months after his daughter Daisy had committed ].
| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-25-me-7884-story.html
| title=Actor Brian Keith Found Dead in Apparent Suicide
| author=Simon, Stephanie
| date=June 25, 1997
| newspaper=]
| access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> at his home in ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Actor Brian Keith dies in apparent suicide |url=https://apnews.com/article/fc20a3f609f2c21177b3b7d983035186 |access-date=March 17, 2022 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> He suffered from ] and lung cancer during the latter part of his life, despite having quit ] ten years earlier. He reportedly also struggled with financial problems and suffered from depression throughout his final days.<ref name="star">{{cite news |author=Simon, Stephanie |date=June 25, 1997 |title=Brian Keith – Hollywood Star Walk |newspaper=] |url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/brian-keith/ |access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref>


Keith's friend ] did not believe Keith died as a result of suicide. She stated that he had a large gun collection and he might have been cleaning the gun, or looking at it, when it went off accidentally. She had just visited him and said he was in good spirits and would not have committed suicide given his Catholic beliefs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maureen O'Hara Discusses Her Life in Film|url=http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0010/28/lklw.00.html|website=CNN Transcripts|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 26, 2017|date=October 28, 2000}}</ref>
He is buried next to Daisy at ] in ], ].


Keith's private funeral was attended by '']'' co-stars ] and ], and ''Hardcastle and McCormick'' co-star ]. His ashes were interred next to those of his daughter Daisy at ] in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brian Keith-Daisy Keith grave plaques|url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/imagepages/briankeithgravephoto.shtml|website=Seeing-Stars|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>
==Film, stage, and television credits==
===On stage (partial list)===
*'']'' (1978)
*'']'' (])
*'']'' (])
*'']'' (])


===Television=== ==Legacy==
On June 26, 2008, Brian Keith received a posthumous star on the ].<ref name="life">{{cite web
Keith worked steadily in ] from the ] until the end of his life and made numerous guest appearances. Series in which he had a starring role are listed here.
| url=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-daniel-hugh-kelly-attends-the-brian-keith-honored-news-photo/81727714
| title=Brian Keith Honored At The Hollywood Walk of Fame
| date=June 28, 2008
| website=]
| access-date=August 29, 2015
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040557/http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-daniel-hugh-kelly-attends-the-brian-keith-honored-news-photo/81727714
|archive-date=September 24, 2015
}}</ref>


==Filmography==
*'']'' (], ] – ])
*'']'' (], ])
*'']'' (], ])
*'']'' (Pilot for '']'') (], ])
*'']'' (], ] – ])
*'']'' (], ])
*'']'' (], ])
*'']'' (], ] – ])
*'']'' (], ] – ])
*'']'' (], ])
*'']'' (], ] – ])


===Guest Star=== ===Film===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*'']'' (], ])
* '']'' (1924) as Little Boy
* '']'' (1953) as Captain Bill North
* '']'' (1954) as Jim Kimmerly
* '']'' (1954) as Tony
* '']'' (1954) as Corporal Brady
* '']'' (1955) as Cole Wilkison
* '']'' (1955) as Vince Striker
* '']'' (1955) as Brick
* '']'' (1956) as Paul Duncan
* '']'' (1956) as John
* '']'' (1957) as Captain Clark
* '']'' (1957) as Larry Sheridan
* '']'' (1957) as District Attorney Jim Fremont
* '']'' (1957) as Lieutenant Spencer
* '']'' (1957) as Happy Waters
* '']'' (1958) as Clett
* '']'' (1958) as Mitch Barton
* '']'' (1958) as Captain Robert Edwards
* '']'' (1958) as Jack McCracken
* '']'' (1958) as Bill Harmon
* '']'' (1959) as Mike Flanagan
* '']'' (1960) as William 'Bill' Dunn
* '']'' (1961) as Yellowleg
* '']'' (1961) as Mitch Evers
* '']'' (1962) as Major General John M. Vanneman
* '']'' (1963) as Uncle Beck Coates
* '']'' (1963) as John G. McElroy / Narrator
* '']'' (1964) as Sheriff Pete Williams
* '']'' (1964) as Paul Barton
* '']'' (1965) as Cam Calloway
* '']'' (1965) as Frank Wallingham
* '']'' (1966) as Bowen
* '']'' (1966) as Jonas Cord
* '']'' (1966) as Police Chief Link Mattocks
* '']'' (1966) as General 'Howling Bull' Hallenby
* '']'' (1967) as Lieutenant Colonel Morris Langdon
* '']'' (1968) as Jake Iverson
* '']'' (1969) as Connerly
* '']'' (1969) as Francis Sullivan
* '']'' (1970) as Officer Michael M. Nace
* '']'' (1970) as Captain Jack Connor
* '']'' (1971) as John McCanless
* '']'' (1971) as Colonel Morgan
* '']'' (1975) as George Tanner
* '']'' (1975) as President ]
* '']'' (1976) as H.H. Cobb
* '']'' (1978) as Jocko
* '']'' (1979) as Dr. Dubov
* '']'' (1980) as Henry Frapp
* '']'' (1981) as Police Chief
* '']'' (1981) as Papa
* '']'' (1987) as Colonel Halloran
* '']'' (1988) as Buckshot Roberts
* '']'' (1989) as Harry Robins
* '']'' (1996) as Cardinal
* '']'' (1997) as Major General Charles Buford
* '']'' (1997) as Narrator (voice)
* '']'' (1997) as President ]
{{div col end}}


===Movies=== ===Television===
{{col-begin}} {{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* '']'' (1952) (]) (7 episodes)
{{col-break}}
**(Season 4 Episode 24: "Night Drive") as Bob
*'']'' (])
**(Season 4 Episode 26: "Four Days to Kill") as Johnny
*''] (])
**(Season 4 Episode 34: "The Corsage") as Lieutenant Jim Connor
*'']'' (])
**(Season 4 Episode 36: "The Debt") as Idaho
*'']'' (])
**(Season 4 Episode 41: "Fifty Beautiful Girls")
*''Wind Dancer'' (])
**(Season 4 Episode 44: "Death Cargo")
*''After the Rain'' (])
**(Season 4 Episode 51: "Set-Up for Death") as Kip Caley (starring John Marley)<ref>{{cite news|work=Suspense|title=Set Up for Death|date=1949|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrR-oEQcLeg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zrR-oEQcLeg |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
*''Welcome Home'' (])
* '']'' (1952) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 16: "The California Case") (credited as Robert Keith, Jr.)
*'']'' (])
*'']'' (]) * '']'' (1952) (3 episodes)
**(Season 1 Episode 17: "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: The Chase: Part 1")
*'']'' (])
**(Season 1 Episode 18: "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: The Escape: Part 2")
*'']'' (])
**(Season 1 Episode 39: "Appointment on Mars") as Jack (credited as Robert Keith, Jr.)
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1955–56) (CBS) (52 episodes in title role) as Matt Anders
*'']'' (])
*'']'' (]) * '']'' (1959-1962) (4 episodes)
**(Season 4 Episode 31: "Your Witness") (1959) as Arnold Shawn
*'']'' (])
**(Season 5 Episode 5: "No Pain") (1959) as Dave Rainey
*'']'' (])
**(Season 5 Episode 34: "Cell 227") (1960) as Herbert 'Herbie' Morrison
*'']'' (])
**(Season 7 Episode 20: "The Test") (1962) as Vernon Wedge
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1959-1986) (10 episodes)
*'']'' (])
**(Season 6 Episode 7: "Elfego Baca: Move Along, Mustangers") (for '']'') (1959) as Shadrak O'Reilly
*'']'' (])
**(Season 6 Episode 8: "Elfego Baca: Mustang Man, Mustang Maid") (for '']'') (1959) as Shadrak O'Reilly
*'']'' (])
**(Season 9 Episode 16: "'']'': Part 1") (for '']'') (1963) as Sergeant Gabe Trotter
*'']'' (])
**(Season 9 Episode 17: "'']'': Part 2") for ('']'') (1963) as Sergeant Gabe Trotter
*'']'' (])
**(Season 10 Episode 15: "Bristle Face: Part 1") (for '']'') (1964) as Lue Swank
*'']'' (])
**(Season 10 Episode 16: "Bristle Face: Part 2") (for '']'') (1964) as Lue Swank
*'']'' (])
**(Season 11 Episode 5: "'']'': Part 1") (for '']'') (1964) as Mose Carson
*'']'' (])
**(Season 11 Episode 6: "'']'': Part 2") (for '']'') (1964) as Mose Carson
*'']'' (])
**(Season 11 Episode 7: "'']'': Part 3") (for '']'') (1964) as Mose Carson
*'']'' (])
**(Season 31 Episode 4: "The B.R.A.T. Patrol") (for '']'') (1986) (]) as General Newmeyer
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1960) (]) (13 episodes) as Dave Blassingame
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1961) (Season 2 Episode 16: "The Jamaica Ginger Story") as Jim Martinson
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1961–62) (NBC) (2 episodes)
*'']'' (])
**(Season 2 Episode 3: "My Friend, the Horse Thief") (1961) as Jim Whipple
{{col-break}}
**(Season 2 Episode 14: "The Bitter Swede") (1962) as Sven Johannsen
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1962) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 3: "Night of the Owl") as James 'Jim' Mallory, District Ranger
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1962) (ABC) (2 episodes) as George Vaclavic
*'']'' (])
**(Season 1 Episode 32: "The Organizers: Part 1")
*'']'' (])
**(Season 1 Episode 33: "The Organizers: Part 2")
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (NBC) (1963) (Season 1 Episode 20: "Run Softly, Oh Softly") as Mitchison Dawit
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1963) (Season 1 Episode 15: "Duel at Shiloh") as Johnny Wade
*'']'' (])
*'']'' (]) * '']'' (1963) (2 episodes)
**(Season 6 Episode 28: "The Tom Tuesday Story") as Tom Tuesday
*'']'' (])
**(Season 7 Episode 5: "The Robert Harrison Clarke Story") as First Sergeant Gault
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1963) (Season 1 Episode 1 (Pilot): "Fear in a Desert City") as Edward Welles
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1964) (NBC) (Season 1 Episode 19: "A Cause of Anger") as Andy Bastian
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1966) (CBS) as Himself, Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1966–71) (CBS) (138 episodes) as Uncle Bill Davis
*'']'' (])
* ''The Bull of the West'' (1972) (TV movie) as Johnny Wade (archive footage)
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1972–74) (NBC) (47 episodes) as Dr. Sean Jamison
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1974) (]) (all 6 episodes) as Steven 'The Fox' Halliday
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1975) (NBC) (all 6 episodes) as Lew Archer
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1976) (NBC) (TV movie) as Arnold Curtis
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1977) (TV movie) as Joe Quinlan
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (originally titled ''The Macahans'') (1978) (ABC) (3 episodes) as General Stonecipher
*'']'' (])
**(Season 2 Episode 1: "Buffalo Story")
*'']'' (])
**(Season 2 Episode 2: "Mormon Story")
*'']'' (])
**(Season 2 Episode 3: "Interlude")
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1978–79) (NBC) (12 episodes) as Sheriff Axel Dumire
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1979) (2 episodes: Season 1 Episode 1 and Season 1 Episode 2) as Elijah Weatherby
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1979) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 4: "Chapter IV") as Andrew Blake
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1982) (2 episodes: Season 1 Episode 1: "Part I" and Season 1 Episode 2: "Part II") as Soviet General Secretary Gorny
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1982) (TV movie) as Chief Whalen
*''Arrowhead'' (])
* '']'' (1983–86) (ABC) (67 episodes) as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1984) (CBS) (Season 1 Pilot Episode: "'']''") as Caleb McCallum
*'']'' (])
* '']'' (1987-1988) (ABC) (all 10 episodes) as Professor Roland G. Duncan
{{col-end}}
* ''Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson'' (1989) (CBS) (TV movie) as Frank Wellman Sr.
* '']'' (1989) (CBS) (TV movie) as B.L. McCutcheon
* '']'' (1990) (ABC) (Season 2 Episode 10: "Star Light, Star Bright") as Cyrus Happy
* '']'' (1991) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 15: "Chip Off the Old Brick") as Brick Stiles
* '']'' (1991–92) (NBC) (all 13 episodes) as Walter Collins
* ''The Streets of Beverly Hills'' (1992) (ABC) (TV movie) as Charlie Street
* '']'' (1992) (CBS) (2 episodes) as Jake MacGillis
**(Season 4 Episode 1: "The People's Choice: Part 1")
**(Season 4 Episode 2: "The People's Choice: Part 2")
* '']'' (1993) (]) (Season 1 Episode 15: "]" as Mullibok
* '']'' (1994) (ABC) (Season 3 Episode 22: "The Iceman Cometh") as Phil 'Iceman' Greene / Lou Parslow
* '']'' (1995-1998) (3 episodes) as ] (voice)
**(Season 1 Episode 5: "The Menace of Mysterio") (1995)
**(Season 2 Episode 4: "Neogenic Nightmare Chapter 4: The Mutant Agenda") (1995)
**(Season 5 Episode 13: "Spider Wars, Chapter 2: Farewell Spider-Man") (1998)
* '']'' (1996) (CBS) (Season 2 Episode 16: "Who's Who for What's His Name?") as Arthur Minnow
* '']'' (1996) (]) (Season 1 Episode 2: "First Shoot") as Mac McNamara
* '']'' (1996) (CBS) (Season 3 Episode 8: "The Sky is Falling") as Leonard Pound
* '']'' (1996) (CBS) (Season 5 Episode 3: "Ghost Rider") as Del Forman
* '']'' (1997) (USA) (Season 4 Episode 18: "Kidney, Popsicle, and Nuts") as Duckman's Father (voice)
{{div col end}}

===Stage===
*''Heyday'' (1946)
*''Mr. Roberts'' as First Mate (c. 1950 as Robert Keith, Jr.) N.B. Robert Keith, Sr. was the Doctor in it.
* '']'' (1951)
* '']'' (1978)


==See also== ===Video games===
* '']'' (1994) as The Colonel
{{portal|United States Marine Corps|USMC_logo.svg}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{reflist|30em}}
*''''


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{imdb|0001417}} Retrieved on ]
{{Portal|Biography}}
*{{ibdb|47306}} Retrieved on ]
* {{Official website|http://www.briankeith.com/}}
{{memoryalpha}}
* {{IMDb name|1417}}
*
* {{IBDB name}}
*
* {{tcmdb name}}
*{{findagrave|4988}} Retrieved on ]
{{Memory Alpha}}
* {{Find a Grave|4988}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Keith, Brian}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Keith, Brian}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 22:37, 12 November 2024

American actor (1921–1997) For other people named Brian Keith, see Brian Keith (disambiguation).

Brian Keith
Keith in Dino, 1957
BornRobert Alba Keith
(1921-11-14)November 14, 1921
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 24, 1997(1997-06-24) (aged 75)
Malibu, California, U.S.
Resting placeWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Other namesRobert Keith Jr.
EducationEast Rockaway High School
OccupationActor
Years active1924-1997
Spouses
Frances Helm ​ ​(m. 1948; div. 1954)
Judy Landon ​ ​(m. 1954; div. 1969)
Victoria Young-Keith ​ ​(m. 1970)
Children7
FatherRobert Keith
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch
Years of service1942–1945
RankSergeant E-5
Battles / wars
Websitebriankeith.com

Robert Alba Keith (November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997), known professionally as Brian Keith, was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his six-decade career gained recognition for his work in films such as the Disney family film The Parent Trap (1961); Johnny Shiloh (1963); the comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966); and the adventure saga The Wind and the Lion (1975), in which he portrayed President Theodore Roosevelt.

On television, two of his best-known roles were those of bachelor-uncle-turned-reluctant-parent Bill Davis in the 1960s sitcom Family Affair, and a tough retired judge in the lighthearted 1980s crime drama Hardcastle and McCormick. He also starred in The Brian Keith Show, which aired on NBC from 1972 to 1974, where he portrayed a pediatrician who operated a free clinic on Oahu, and in the CBS comedy series Heartland.

Early life

Robert Alba Keith was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on November 14, 1921, to actor Robert Keith and stage actress Helena Shipman, a native of Aberdeen, Washington. Some sources also list his full name as Brian Robert Keith. He was Roman Catholic. In 1941 he graduated from East Rockaway High School in East Rockaway, New York.

He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 completing his service in 1945. He served during World War II as a radioman/tail gunner in the rear cockpit of a two-man Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber in a U.S. Marine squadron. He was awarded a Combat Aircrew Insignia, Air Medal, Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars and World War II Victory Medal.

Career

Keith in his TV series Crusader (1955)
Keith and Spike in The Westerner (1960)

Theatre

Keith made his Broadway debut in 1948 in the ensemble of Mister Roberts, which starred his father as "Doc". He was a guard in Darkness at Noon (1951) by Sidney Kingsley, and was in Out West of Eighth (1951), which had only a short run.

Television and films

Keith made his film debut at age 3 in Pied Piper Malone. He began to guest star on shows such as Hands of Mystery, Shadow of the Cloak, and an adaptation of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas in Tales of Tomorrow. He was in Police Story, Suspense, Eye Witness, The United States Steel Hour, Robert Montgomery Presents, and The Motorola Television Hour. Keith's feature film debut was in a Western for Paramount, Arrowhead (1953). He stayed at that studio for Alaska Seas (1954), replacing Van Heflin, and Jivaro (1954).

Keith guest starred on Campbell Summer Soundstage, The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, Lux Video Theatre, and The Mask and also played Mike Hammer in a television pilot directed by Blake Edwards, but the series was not picked up.

He went to Columbia for The Bamboo Prison (1954), The Violent Men (1955), Tight Spot (1955), and 5 Against the House (1955), the last two directed by Phil Karlson. He was meant to support Joan Crawford in Queen Bee, but did not appear in the final film.

He guest starred on The Elgin Hour, Mystery Is My Business, Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, The Box Brothers, The Ford Television Theatre, Climax!, Wire Service and Studio 57.

In 1955, Keith starred in his own series, Crusader, as fictional journalist Matt Anders. He continued to appear in films for Columbia, such as Storm Center (1956) co-starring with Bette Davis and Nightfall (1956) with Aldo Ray.

In June 1956, he announced he had formed his own company, Michael Productions, and had optioned a story by Robert Blees called Cairo.

Film stardom

Keith was second billed in Dino (1957) with Sal Mineo, and Run of the Arrow (1957) with Rod Steiger. He was top billed in Chicago Confidential (1957), but returned to supporting parts with Appointment with a Shadow (1957) Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957), and Fort Dobbs (1958). He announced he would make Alien Virus for his Michael Productions, but it was not made. Keith was top billed in some low-budget action movies: Violent Road (1958), Desert Hell (1958), Sierra Baron (1958), and Villa!! (1958). The last two were shot back-to-back in Mexico. He guest starred on Studio One in Hollywood, Rawhide, Laramie, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and an episode of Zane Grey Theater, which was written and directed by Sam Peckinpah and later led to The Westerner.

The Westerner and Disney

Keith supported Paul Newman in The Young Philadelphians (1959), and had the lead in two productions for Disney, the TV show Elfego Baca: Move Along, Mustangers (1959) and the feature Ten Who Dared (1960). In 1960, he won acclaim for his starring role in Sam Peckinpah's extremely hard-bitten, adult, and short-lived series The Westerner (1960). The show aired for only 13 episodes. "Only four or five of those were any good", said Keith later. "But those four or five were as good as anything anybody has ever done." Keith guest starred in: The Untouchables, The Americans, Frontier Circus, Alcoa Premiere, Outlaws, Follow the Sun, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents again. Keith made a second film for Disney, playing the father of twins in the film The Parent Trap (1961), costarring Hayley Mills and Maureen O'Hara, which was a huge hit. Critical acclaim was given to The Deadly Companions (1961), a Western with O'Hara, which marked Peckinpah's feature directorial debut. Keith did two more films for Disney, Moon Pilot (1962) and Savage Sam (1963).

He guest starred on Target: The Corruptors, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Virginian, Sam Benedict, Dr. Kildare, The Fugitive, Wagon Train, 77 Sunset Strip, Kraft Suspense Theatre, The Great Adventure, and Profiles in Courage. Keith did a Western for Universal, The Raiders (1963), then returned to Disney for Johnny Shiloh (1963), Bristle Face (1964), The Tenderfoot (1964), A Tiger Walks (1964), and Those Calloways (1965).

He went to Fox for The Pleasure Seekers (1964) and had support roles in The Hallelujah Trail (1965), The Rare Breed (1966) (again with O'Hara), and Nevada Smith (1966), co-starring with Steve McQueen as traveling gunsmith Jonas Cord. Keith did the comedies The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) for Norman Jewison, Way... Way Out (1966) with Jerry Lewis, and With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) with Doris Day.

Family Affair

Keith (center right) with Sebastian Cabot (top) and the other costars of Family Affair

In 1966, Keith landed the role of Uncle Bill Davis on CBS's popular television situation comedy Family Affair. This role earned him three Emmy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. The show made him a household name. It was in the vein of successful 1960s and 1970s sitcoms that dealt with widowhood and/or many single-parent issues, such as The Andy Griffith Show, My Three Sons, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, One Day at a Time, Here's Lucy, Julia, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, and Sanford and Son. During its first season in 1966, Family Affair was an immediate hit, ranking number 15 in the Nielsen ratings. By the end of its fifth season, in 1971, Family Affair still had high ratings, but was cancelled after 138 episodes.

Kathy Garver, who co-starred as Keith's teenaged niece, Cissy, on Family Affair, indicated that Keith said: "I'm a cultural Irishman, don't you know, I'm a cultural Irishman." Garver explained: "But he went through many manifestations and changes of character, during the five years that we shot. At first, he was up and then his second year, he was going through a divorce, and then, the third year, he met somebody else, and he became more anecdotal and told stories that he loved kids, and he was very outspoken about those that he did not like. So, he was a very interesting character and it was Brian and Sebastian Cabot had such a different style of acting and that's another reason I think that Family Affair was so popular and stayed as it did. Both excellent actors, both coming from very different methods and styles of acting with Sebastian was more from the classical style and he would take home his script and he would dutifully look at every single word and have it to perfection, and then Brian would come in and say, 'Oh what do we have today? Let me see the scene, uh-huh, uh-huh, let's go!' So he was very improvisational, motion of the moment. And those two different styles really worked out for each of them very well."

During the series' run Keith appeared in Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) with Marlon Brando, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) with Doris Day, Krakatoa: East of Java (1968) for Cinerama, and Gaily, Gaily (1969) for Norman Jewison. He had leading roles in Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970) for Cinerama and The McKenzie Break (1970). In 1970, Keith moved to Hawaii. Keith made Scandalous John (1971) for Disney, Something Big (1972) with Dean Martin and director Andrew McLaglen, and the TV movie Second Chance (1972).

The Brian Keith Show, The Zoo Gang, Archer

Keith went on to star as pediatrician Dr. Sean Jamison in the NBC sitcom The Brian Keith Show (also known as The Little People). The series was cancelled in 1974 after two seasons. "The show ended because it was bad, not because of Hawaii," said Keith.

Keith also starred in the role of Steven "The Fox" Halliday in the six-part television miniseries, The Zoo Gang (1974), about a group of former underground French Resistance fighters from World War II. The show also starred Sir John Mills, Lilli Palmer, and Barry Morse, and featured a theme by Paul McCartney. Keith was third billed in The Yakuza (1974) starring Robert Mitchum, and in The Wind and the Lion (1975) starring Sean Connery, Keith played President Theodore Roosevelt for writer-director John Milius. He starred in the TV series Archer (1975) as Lew Archer, replacing Peter Graves who'd starred in the pilot, but it was cancelled after six episodes and has never been rerun in the United States (Jerry Goldsmith's score for the first episode of the series was released in 2018 by Lalaland Records). Keith did some Westerns, The Quest (1976) pilot, and Joe Panther (1976), and the TV movie The Loneliest Runner (1976). He had a supporting role in Nickelodeon (1976) and did the TV movies In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (1977) and The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer (1977). He was in How the West Was Won (1978), Hooper (1978) with Burt Reynolds, Centennial (1979), and The Chisholms (1979). In 1992, he starred in the unsold, ABC half-hour pilot The Streets of Beverly Hills.

Keith spoke fluent Russian, which led to his casting as a Russian in two roles: as a Soviet scientist in the film Meteor (1979) with Natalie Wood (who also spoke fluent Russian and played his translator), and as the Soviet premier in the NBC miniseries World War III (1982) with Rock Hudson. He replaced Barnard Hughes on Broadway in Da and was on The Seekers (1979), Power (1980), The Silent Lovers (1980), The Mountain Men (1980) with Charlton Heston, and Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981). Of the latter he joked, "I only did the picture because it had a long title, and I seem to specialize in those." He had support roles in Sharky's Machine (1981) with Burt Reynolds and Cry for the Strangers (1982).

Hardcastle and McCormick, Pursuit of Happiness, and Heartland

Keith once again returned to series television in 1983, with Hardcastle and McCormick, in the role of a cranky retired judge named Milton C. Hardcastle. Daniel Hugh Kelly co-starred as ex-con Mark McCormick in this ABC crime drama with elements of comedy. The chemistry of Keith and Kelly was a hit, and the series lasted three years until its cancellation in 1986. During the series run, Keith was in Murder, She Wrote and The B.R.A.T. Patrol (1986). Keith starred in The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987) (as Davy Crockett), and Death Before Dishonor, then did another TV series Pursuit of Happiness (1987–88), which ran 10 episodes. He was in After the Rain (1988), Young Guns (1988), and Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989). He starred in another short-lived series Heartland (1989). He had roles in Welcome Home (1989), and Lady in the Corner (1989).

Later career

Keith made a guest appearance in the Evening Shade season-one episode "Chip Off The Old Brick" (1991), as the loud-mouthed father of Herman Stiles (played by actor Michael Jeter). He reprised his character from The Westerner in The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) (which featured numerous actors from 1950s TV series playing their original roles in brief cameos), had the lead in Walter & Emily (1991), a short-lived sitcom, and The Streets of Beverly Hills (1992), a pilot. Brian Keith appeared on a two-part episode of Major Dad, season four "The People's Choice" as the Major's (Gerald McRaney) domineering father who pays a visit to the family. The episode aired on September 25, 1992. Keith performed the role of Mullibok on the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season-one episode entitled "Progress" (1993), in which an elderly farmer resists forcible relocation by Bajoran authorities.

Among his last performances were The Secrets of Lake Success; Wind Dancer; The Commish; Under a Killing Moon (1994); The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A. (1995); The Monroes; Favorite Deadly Sins (1995); Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996); Walker, Texas Ranger; Touched by an Angel; and The Second Civil War (1997). Keith guest-starred in an episode of the TV series The Marshal titled "The Bounty Hunter" (1995) in which he played then Wichita, Kansas, Police Chief Rick Stone under the stage name of Chief Skoblow. The Wichita Police Department cooperated with the Canadian TV production company by providing details of Chief Stone's actual police dress uniform for Keith to wear during the episode. Keith also provided the voice of Ben Parker on Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

In his last film, Keith played President William McKinley in the film Rough Riders (1997). Director John Milius dedicated the film to "Brian Keith, Actor, Marine, Raconteur."

Personal life and death

Keith married three times. He was married to Frances Helm from 1948 to 1954, Judy Landon from 1954 to 1969 and Victoria Young-Keith from 1970 until his death. He had seven children, one of whom had died by suicide six weeks prior to his death.

On June 24, 1997, at the age of 75, Keith died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Malibu, California. He suffered from emphysema and lung cancer during the latter part of his life, despite having quit smoking ten years earlier. He reportedly also struggled with financial problems and suffered from depression throughout his final days.

Keith's friend Maureen O'Hara did not believe Keith died as a result of suicide. She stated that he had a large gun collection and he might have been cleaning the gun, or looking at it, when it went off accidentally. She had just visited him and said he was in good spirits and would not have committed suicide given his Catholic beliefs.

Keith's private funeral was attended by Family Affair co-stars Kathy Garver and Johnny Whitaker, and Hardcastle and McCormick co-star Daniel Hugh Kelly. His ashes were interred next to those of his daughter Daisy at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Legacy

On June 26, 2008, Brian Keith received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Filmography

Film

Television

  • Suspense (1952) (CBS) (7 episodes)
    • (Season 4 Episode 24: "Night Drive") as Bob
    • (Season 4 Episode 26: "Four Days to Kill") as Johnny
    • (Season 4 Episode 34: "The Corsage") as Lieutenant Jim Connor
    • (Season 4 Episode 36: "The Debt") as Idaho
    • (Season 4 Episode 41: "Fifty Beautiful Girls")
    • (Season 4 Episode 44: "Death Cargo")
    • (Season 4 Episode 51: "Set-Up for Death") as Kip Caley (starring John Marley)
  • Police Story (1952) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 16: "The California Case") (credited as Robert Keith, Jr.)
  • Tales of Tomorrow (1952) (3 episodes)
    • (Season 1 Episode 17: "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: The Chase: Part 1")
    • (Season 1 Episode 18: "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: The Escape: Part 2")
    • (Season 1 Episode 39: "Appointment on Mars") as Jack (credited as Robert Keith, Jr.)
  • Crusader (1955–56) (CBS) (52 episodes in title role) as Matt Anders
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1959-1962) (4 episodes)
    • (Season 4 Episode 31: "Your Witness") (1959) as Arnold Shawn
    • (Season 5 Episode 5: "No Pain") (1959) as Dave Rainey
    • (Season 5 Episode 34: "Cell 227") (1960) as Herbert 'Herbie' Morrison
    • (Season 7 Episode 20: "The Test") (1962) as Vernon Wedge
  • Disney anthology television series (1959-1986) (10 episodes)
  • The Westerner (1960) (NBC) (13 episodes) as Dave Blassingame
  • The Untouchables (1961) (Season 2 Episode 16: "The Jamaica Ginger Story") as Jim Martinson
  • Outlaws (1961–62) (NBC) (2 episodes)
    • (Season 2 Episode 3: "My Friend, the Horse Thief") (1961) as Jim Whipple
    • (Season 2 Episode 14: "The Bitter Swede") (1962) as Sven Johannsen
  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 3: "Night of the Owl") as James 'Jim' Mallory, District Ranger
  • Target: The Corruptors! (1962) (ABC) (2 episodes) as George Vaclavic
    • (Season 1 Episode 32: "The Organizers: Part 1")
    • (Season 1 Episode 33: "The Organizers: Part 2")
  • Sam Benedict (NBC) (1963) (Season 1 Episode 20: "Run Softly, Oh Softly") as Mitchison Dawit
  • The Virginian (1963) (Season 1 Episode 15: "Duel at Shiloh") as Johnny Wade
  • Wagon Train (1963) (2 episodes)
    • (Season 6 Episode 28: "The Tom Tuesday Story") as Tom Tuesday
    • (Season 7 Episode 5: "The Robert Harrison Clarke Story") as First Sergeant Gault
  • The Fugitive (1963) (Season 1 Episode 1 (Pilot): "Fear in a Desert City") as Edward Welles
  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (1964) (NBC) (Season 1 Episode 19: "A Cause of Anger") as Andy Bastian
  • Password (1966) (CBS) as Himself, Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star
  • Family Affair (1966–71) (CBS) (138 episodes) as Uncle Bill Davis
  • The Bull of the West (1972) (TV movie) as Johnny Wade (archive footage)
  • The Brian Keith Show (1972–74) (NBC) (47 episodes) as Dr. Sean Jamison
  • The Zoo Gang (1974) (ITV) (all 6 episodes) as Steven 'The Fox' Halliday
  • Archer (1975) (NBC) (all 6 episodes) as Lew Archer
  • The Loneliest Runner (1976) (NBC) (TV movie) as Arnold Curtis
  • In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (1977) (TV movie) as Joe Quinlan
  • How the West Was Won (originally titled The Macahans) (1978) (ABC) (3 episodes) as General Stonecipher
    • (Season 2 Episode 1: "Buffalo Story")
    • (Season 2 Episode 2: "Mormon Story")
    • (Season 2 Episode 3: "Interlude")
  • Centennial (1978–79) (NBC) (12 episodes) as Sheriff Axel Dumire
  • The Seekers (1979) (2 episodes: Season 1 Episode 1 and Season 1 Episode 2) as Elijah Weatherby
  • The Chisholms (1979) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 4: "Chapter IV") as Andrew Blake
  • World War III (miniseries) (1982) (2 episodes: Season 1 Episode 1: "Part I" and Season 1 Episode 2: "Part II") as Soviet General Secretary Gorny
  • Cry for the Strangers (1982) (TV movie) as Chief Whalen
  • Hardcastle and McCormick (1983–86) (ABC) (67 episodes) as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle
  • Murder, She Wrote (1984) (CBS) (Season 1 Pilot Episode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes") as Caleb McCallum
  • Pursuit of Happiness (1987-1988) (ABC) (all 10 episodes) as Professor Roland G. Duncan
  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989) (CBS) (TV movie) as Frank Wellman Sr.
  • Heartland (1989) (CBS) (TV movie) as B.L. McCutcheon
  • The Young Riders (1990) (ABC) (Season 2 Episode 10: "Star Light, Star Bright") as Cyrus Happy
  • Evening Shade (1991) (CBS) (Season 1 Episode 15: "Chip Off the Old Brick") as Brick Stiles
  • Walter & Emily (1991–92) (NBC) (all 13 episodes) as Walter Collins
  • The Streets of Beverly Hills (1992) (ABC) (TV movie) as Charlie Street
  • Major Dad (1992) (CBS) (2 episodes) as Jake MacGillis
    • (Season 4 Episode 1: "The People's Choice: Part 1")
    • (Season 4 Episode 2: "The People's Choice: Part 2")
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) (syndicated) (Season 1 Episode 15: "Progress" as Mullibok
  • The Commish (1994) (ABC) (Season 3 Episode 22: "The Iceman Cometh") as Phil 'Iceman' Greene / Lou Parslow
  • Spider-Man (1995-1998) (3 episodes) as Uncle Ben (voice)
    • (Season 1 Episode 5: "The Menace of Mysterio") (1995)
    • (Season 2 Episode 4: "Neogenic Nightmare Chapter 4: The Mutant Agenda") (1995)
    • (Season 5 Episode 13: "Spider Wars, Chapter 2: Farewell Spider-Man") (1998)
  • Cybill (1996) (CBS) (Season 2 Episode 16: "Who's Who for What's His Name?") as Arthur Minnow
  • Pacific Blue (1996) (USA) (Season 1 Episode 2: "First Shoot") as Mac McNamara
  • Touched by an Angel (1996) (CBS) (Season 3 Episode 8: "The Sky is Falling") as Leonard Pound
  • Walker, Texas Ranger (1996) (CBS) (Season 5 Episode 3: "Ghost Rider") as Del Forman
  • Duckman (1997) (USA) (Season 4 Episode 18: "Kidney, Popsicle, and Nuts") as Duckman's Father (voice)

Stage

  • Heyday (1946)
  • Mr. Roberts as First Mate (c. 1950 as Robert Keith, Jr.) N.B. Robert Keith, Sr. was the Doctor in it.
  • Darkness at Noon (1951)
  • Da (1978)

Video games

References

  1. Keith, Victoria Y. (2014). "About Us". BrianKeith.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  2. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (June 25, 1997). "Brian Keith, Hardy Actor, 75; Played Dads and Desperadoes". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  3. Hays, Matthew. "It's a Family Affair". Montreal Mirror. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2015. I was surprised at Brian, who was Catholic, ...
  4. p. 30 Naval Aviation News Nov-Dec 1988 Vol 71 No 1
  5. Bowles, Jennifer. "Brian Keith, 'Family Affair' star, dead of apparent suicide". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Vosburgh, Dick (June 26, 1997). "Obituary: Brian Keith". The Independent. p. 18.
  7. THOMAS M. PRYOR (June 27, 1953). "DISNEY IS TESTING FOX' CINEMASCOPE: ' Pleased' With Film Process, but Isn't Sure He Will Use It on Dog Cartoon Feature". THE NEW YORK TIMES. p. 7.
  8. Hopper, Hedda (October 14, 1954). "Brian Keith Set for 'Five Against House'". Los Angeles Times. p. A13.
  9. Hopper, Hedda (February 5, 1955). "Brian Keith to Star With Joan Crawford". Los Angeles Times. p. 14.
  10. Schallert, Edwin (June 4, 1956). "Drama: John Wayne Revives Batjac; Heston to Tour Straw Hat Show Circuit". Los Angeles Times. p. A9.
  11. Schallert, Edwin (August 5, 1957). "Modern 'Sergeant York' Type Aimed at Sinatra; Rome Fashion Fete Due". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
  12. Dexter, Maury (2012). Highway to Hollywood (PDF). p. 92.
  13. THOMAS M PRYOR (November 19, 1957). "REGAL TO START TEN FILMS SOON". New York Times.
  14. ^ Smith, Cecil (January 26, 1975). "Brian Keith's playing Lew Archer--but with Hawaii on his mind". Los Angeles Times. p. q2.
  15. "Brian Keith Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  16. Mavis, Paul (December 1, 2007). "Family Affair-Season Four". DVD Talk. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  17. "OSB Episode 120". On Screen & Beyond. July 11, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  18. Martin, Betty (October 18, 1968). "Break' Role for Keith". Los Angeles Times. p. f18.
  19. Martin, Betty (February 19, 1971). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'big' Role for Carol White". Los Angeles Times. p. i9.
  20. "Brian Keith: Inducted to the Walk of Fame on June 26, 2008, with 1 star". Hollywood Walk of Fame. June 26, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  21. Richmond, Ray (June 25, 1997). "Brian Keith, 75, dead in apparent suicide". Variety. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  22. Simon, Stephanie (June 25, 1997). "Actor Brian Keith Found Dead in Apparent Suicide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  23. "Actor Brian Keith dies in apparent suicide". AP NEWS. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  24. Simon, Stephanie (June 25, 1997). "Brian Keith – Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  25. "Maureen O'Hara Discusses Her Life in Film". CNN Transcripts. CNN. October 28, 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  26. "Brian Keith-Daisy Keith grave plaques". Seeing-Stars. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  27. "Brian Keith Honored At The Hollywood Walk of Fame". Getty Images. June 28, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  28. "Set Up for Death". Suspense. 1949. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

External links

Categories: