Brian Keith
Brian Keith | |
---|---|
Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery | |
Other names | Robert Keith Jr. |
Education | East Rockaway High School |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1947–1997 |
Spouses | Victoria Young-Keith
(m. 1970) |
Children | 7 |
Parent |
|
Website | briankeith |
Robert Alba Keith
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 1980s lighthearted 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.[2] He was Roman Catholic.[3] 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.[4]
Career
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 began to guest star on shows such as
Keith guest starred on
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.[7] He was meant to support Joan Crawford in Queen Bee, but did not appear in the final film.[8]
He guest starred on .
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.[9]
Film stardom
Keith was second billed in
The Westerner and Disney
Keith supported Paul Newman in
He guest starred on
He went to Fox for .
Family Affair
In 1966, Keith landed the role of Uncle Bill Davis on
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 [who played Mr. French] 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."[16]
During the series' run Keith appeared in
The Brian Keith Show, The Zoo Gang, Archer
Keith went on to star as
Keith also starred in the role of Steven "The Fox" Halliday in the six-part television
Keith spoke fluent Russian, which led to his casting as a Russian in two roles: as a Soviet scientist in the film
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.
Later career
Keith made a guest appearance in the
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."[19]
Death
On June 24, 1997, at the age of 75, Keith died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound[20] at his home in Malibu, California.[21] 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.[22]
Maureen O'Hara stated in an interview not long after Keith died that she believed he did not commit suicide. She stated that he had a large gun collection and enjoyed cleaning them and showing them to people. She believed he might have been cleaning the gun or looking at it when it went off, and that his death was an accident and definitely not a suicide. She had just visited him and said he was in good spirits. She also stated that he would not have committed suicide given his Catholic beliefs.[23]
Keith's family was joined by many mourners at a private funeral, including
Legacy
On June 26, 2008, Brian Keith received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[25]
Filmography
Film
- Pied Piper Malone (1924) as Little Boy
- Arrowhead (1953) as Capt. Bill North
- Alaska Seas (1954) as Jim Kimmerly
- Jivaro (1954) as Tony
- The Bamboo Prison (1954) as Cpl. Brady
- The Violent Men (1955) as Cole Wilkison
- Tight Spot (1955) as Vince Striker
- 5 Against the House (1955) as Brick
- Storm Center (1956) as Paul Duncan
- Nightfall(1956) as John
- Run of the Arrow (1957) as Capt. Clark
- Dino (1957) as Larry Sheridan
- Chicago Confidential (1957) as Dist. Atty. Jim Fremont
- Appointment with a Shadow (1957) as Lt. Spencer
- Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957) as Happy Waters
- Fort Dobbs (1958) as Clett
- Violent Road (1958) as Mitch Barton
- Desert Hell (1958) as Capt. Robert Edwards
- Sierra Baron (1958) as Jack McCracken
- Villa!! (1958) as Bill Harmon
- The Young Philadelphians (1959) as Mike Flanagan
- Ten Who Dared (1960) as William 'Bill' Dunn
- The Deadly Companions (1961) as Yellowleg
- The Parent Trap (1961) as Mitch Evers
- Moon Pilot (1962) as Maj. Gen. John M. Vanneman
- Savage Sam (1963) as Uncle Beck Coates
- The Raiders (1963) as John G. McElroy / Narrator
- A Tiger Walks (1964) as Sheriff Pete Williams
- The Pleasure Seekers (1964) as Paul Barton
- Those Calloways (1965) as Cam Calloway
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Frank Wallingham
- The Rare Breed (1966) as Bowen
- Nevada Smith (1966) as Jonas Cord
- The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) as Police Chief Link Mattocks
- Way...Way Out (1966) as Gen. 'Howling Bull' Hallenby
- Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) as Lt. Col. Morris Langdon
- With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) as Jake Iverson
- Krakatoa, East of Java (1969) as Connerly
- Gaily, Gaily (1969) as Francis Sullivan
- Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?(1970) as Officer Michael M. Nace
- The McKenzie Break (1970) as Capt. Jack Connor
- Scandalous John (1971) as John McCanless
- Something Big (1971) as Col. Morgan
- The Yakuza (1975) as George Tanner
- The Wind and the Lion (1975) as President Theodore Roosevelt
- Nickelodeon (1976) as H.H. Cobb
- Hooper (1978) as Jocko
- Meteor (1979) as Dr. Dubov
- The Mountain Men (1980) as Henry Frapp
- Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) as Police Chief
- Sharky's Machine(1981) as Papa
- Death Before Dishonor (1987) as Col. Halloran
- Young Guns (1988) as Buckshot Roberts
- Welcome Home (1989) as Harry Robins
- Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996) as Cardinal
- The Second Civil War (1997) as Maj. Gen. Charles Buford
- Walking Thunder (1997) as Narrator (voice)
- Rough Riders (1997) as President William McKinley
Television
- Suspense (CBS, "Set-Up for Death" (1949), starring John Marley & Brian Keith)[26]
- Police Story (CBS, guest star)
- Tales of Tomorrow: Appointment on Mars (1952) Television series (as Robert Keith, Jr.)
- Target: The Corruptors! (ABC, guest star)
- Sam Benedict (NBC, guest star)
- Crusader (CBS, 1955–56; 52 episodes in title role) as Matt Anders
- The Westerner (NBC, 1960) as Dave Blassingame
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1959) (Season 4 Episode 31: "Your Witness") as Arnold Shawn
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1959) (Season 5 Episode 5: "No Pain") as Dave Rainey
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960) (Season 5 Episode 34: "Cell 227") as Herbert 'Herbie' Morrison
- Outlaws (NBC, 1961–62; 2 episodes as guest star) as Sven Johannsen / Jim Whipple
- The Untouchables ("The Jamaica Ginger Story") (1961) as Jim Martinson
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1962) (Season 7 Episode 20: "The Test") as Vernon Wedge
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(CBS, 1962) (Season 1 Episode 3: "Night of the Owl") as Jim Mallory
- Wonderful World of Coloras Sgt. Gabe Trotter
- The Virginian ("Duel at Shiloh") (1963) as Johnny Wade
- Wagon Train (1963, 2 episodes as guest star) as First Sgt. Gault / Tom Tuesday
- Fear in a Desert City (Pilot for The Fugitive) (1963) as Edward Welles
- Kraft Suspense Theatre: "A Cause of Anger" S1/Ep 19 (NBC, 1964) as Andy Bastian
- Wonderful World of Color
- Family Affair (CBS, 1966–71) as Uncle Bill Davis
- Password (CBS, 1966) as Himself, Game Show Contestant / Celebrity Guest Star
- The Bull of the West (TV movie, 1972) as Johnny Wade (archive footage)
- The Brian Keith Show (NBC, 1972–74) as Dr. Sean Jamison
- The Zoo Gang (ITV, 1974) as Steven 'The Fox' Halliday
- Archer (NBC, six episodes, 1975) as Lew Archer
- The Loneliest Runner (NBC, 1976) as Arnold Curtis
- In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (TV movie, 1977) as Joe Quinlan
- How the West Was Won (originally titled The Macahans) (ABC, 1977) as General Stonecipher
- Centennial (NBC, 1978–79) as Sheriff Axel Dumire
- The Seekers(1979) as Elijah Weatherby
- The Chisholms (CBS, 1979) as Andrew Blake
- World War III (miniseries) as Soviet General Secretary Gorny
- Cry for the Strangers (TV movie, 1982) as Chief Whalen
- Hardcastle and McCormick (ABC, 1983–86) as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle
- The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (Pilot for Murder, She Wrote) (CBS, 1984) as Caleb McCallum
- The B.R.A.T. Patrol (Disney Made for TV movie ABC, 1986)
- Pursuit of Happiness (ABC, 1987) as Prof. Roland G. Duncan
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (CBS, 1989) as Frank Wellman Sr.
- Heartland (CBS, 1989) as B.L. McCutcheon
- The Young Riders: "Star Light, Star Bright" (ABC, 1991) as Cyrus Happy
- Walter & Emily (NBC, 1991–92) as Walter Collins
- Evening Shade: "Chip Off the Old Brick" (CBS, 1991–94)
- The Streets of Beverly Hills (pilot) ABC (1992)
- Major Dad: "The People's Choice; parts I & II" (season 4, episodes 1 & 2) (CBS, 1992) as Jake MacGillis
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: "Progress" (syndicated, 1993) as Mullibok
- Spider-Man (1995) as Uncle Ben (voice)
- The Commish: "The Iceman Cometh" (ABC, 1994) as Phil 'Iceman' Greene / Lou Parslow
- Cybill: "Who's Who for What's His Name?" (season 2, episode 16) (CBS, 1996) as Arthur Minnow
- Pacific Blue: "First Shoot" (season 1, episode 2) (USA, 1996) as Mac McNamara
- Touched by an Angel (CBS, 1996) as Leonard Pound
- Walker, Texas Ranger: "Ghost Rider" (season 5, episode 3) (CBS, 1996) as Del Forman
- Duckman: "Kidney, Popsicle, and Nuts" (season 4, episode 18) (USA, 1997) 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
- Under a Killing Moon (1994) as The Colonel
References
- ^ Keith, Victoria Y. (2014). "About Us". BrianKeith.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ a b Van Gelder, Lawrence (June 25, 1997). "Brian Keith, Hardy Actor, 75; Played Dads and Desperadoes". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ 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, ...
- ^ p. 30 Naval Aviation News Nov-Dec 1988 Vol 71 No 1
- ^ a b Vosburgh, Dick (June 26, 1997). "Obituary: Brian Keith". The Independent. p. 18.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda (October 14, 1954). "Brian Keith Set for 'Five Against House'". Los Angeles Times. p. A13.
- ^ Hopper, Hedda (February 5, 1955). "Brian Keith to Star With Joan Crawford". Los Angeles Times. p. 14.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (June 4, 1956). "Drama: John Wayne Revives Batjac; Heston to Tour Straw Hat Show Circuit". Los Angeles Times. p. A9.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (August 5, 1957). "Modern 'Sergeant York' Type Aimed at Sinatra; Rome Fashion Fete Due". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
- ^ Dexter, Maury (2012). Highway to Hollywood (PDF). p. 92.
- ^ THOMAS M PRYOR (November 19, 1957). "REGAL TO START TEN FILMS SOON". New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e Smith, Cecil (January 26, 1975). "Brian Keith's playing Lew Archer--but with Hawaii on his mind". Los Angeles Times. p. q2.
- ^ "Brian Keith Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ Mavis, Paul (December 1, 2007). "Family Affair-Season Four". DVD Talk. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ "OSB Episode 120". On Screen & Beyond. July 11, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ Martin, Betty (October 18, 1968). "Break' Role for Keith". Los Angeles Times. p. f18.
- ^ Martin, Betty (February 19, 1971). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: 'big' Role for Carol White". Los Angeles Times. p. i9.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Simon, Stephanie (June 25, 1997). "Actor Brian Keith Found Dead in Apparent Suicide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ "Actor Brian Keith dies in apparent suicide". AP NEWS. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Simon, Stephanie (June 25, 1997). "Brian Keith – Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- ^ "Maureen O'Hara Discusses Her Life in Film". CNN Transcripts. CNN. October 28, 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Brian Keith-Daisy Keith grave plaques". Seeing-Stars. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Set Up for Death". Suspense. 1949. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Brian Keith at IMDb
- Brian Keith at the Internet Broadway Database
- Brian Keith at the TCM Movie Database
- Brian Keith at Memory Alpha
- Brian Keith at Find a Grave