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Brian Keith (November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997) was an American stage, film and television actor.

Biographical Information

Brian Keith was born Robert Keith Richey, Jr. in Bayonne, New Jersey to actor Robert Keith and stage actress Helena Shipman (born in Aberdeen, Washington). He made his acting debut in a silent film, Pied Piper Malone (1924) at the age of 3.

After high school, he joined the U.S. Marines (1942-1945) where he served during World War II as an aerial gunner and received an Air Medal. After the war, he became a stage actor, branching into television and films in the late 1940s. His biggest break came in 1966 when he landed the role of "Uncle Bill" on the popular television situation comedy Family Affair, a role which garnered him three Emmy nominations for Best Actor. The show made him a household name. He went on to star in such television series as The Brian Keith Show, Heartland, and Hardcastle and McCormick. He also starred in the six-part television series The Zoo Gang as "Stephen 'The Fox' Halliday", about a group of former underground freedom fighters from World War II, with Sir John Mills, Lilli Palmer, and Barry Morse.

He 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 The Brian Keith Show (1972-74) as Nurse Puni. Keith fathered a total of four children, but also adopted three others with Judith Landon. His first son died in childhood. One of his children with Victoria Young was Daisy Keith, who also became an actress, appearing with her father in the short-lived series Heartland in 1989.

During the later part of his life he suffered from emphysema and lung cancer, despite having quit smoking 10 years earlier. He had posed for Camel cigarettes in an endorsement campaign in 1955. He was also experiencing financial problems. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 24, 1997 at the age of 75, just two months after Daisy had committed suicide.

He is buried next to his daughter Daisy at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Career

Keith was a strong and capable actor who spent many years playing second leads and gruff sidekicks, but is best known for his role as "Uncle Bill" on the television series Family Affair (1966-1971). He was nominated for three Emmys during the popular series' long run.

On the Stage (Partial List)

On Television

Keith worked steadily in television from the 1950s until the end of his life and made numerous guest appearances. Series in which he had a starring role are listed here.

In Film

Trivia

  • Keith's father was married to actress Peg Entwistle from 1927-1929 who jumped to her death from the Hollywood sign in 1933.

  • 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.

External links

1921 births | 1997 deaths | People from New Jersey | American film actors | American stage actors | American television actors | American World War II veterans | Entertainers who died in their 70s | Entertainers who committed suicide in their 70s | Deaths by firearm | Suicides by firearm | Spider-Man actors | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actors | United States Marines

Brian Keith

 

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