Brian Keith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian Keith
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Keith in Dino, 1957
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Robert Alba Keith
November 14, 1921 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | June 24, 1997 (aged 75) Malibu, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Other names | Robert Keith Jr. |
| Education | East Rockaway High School |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1947-1997 |
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| Children | 7 |
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Brian Keith (born Robert Alba Keith, November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997) was an American actor. He worked in films, television, and on stage for sixty years. He is well-known for his roles in movies like the Disney family film The Parent Trap (1961) and The Wind and the Lion (1975), where he played President Theodore Roosevelt.
On television, Brian Keith was famous for playing Uncle Bill Davis in the 1960s show Family Affair. He also starred as a tough retired judge in the 1980s crime drama Hardcastle and McCormick. He also had his own show, The Brian Keith Show, from 1972 to 1974, where he played a doctor in Hawaii.
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Early Life and Military Service
Brian Keith was born Robert Alba Keith in Bayonne, New Jersey, on November 14, 1921. His father, Robert Keith, was also an actor, and his mother, Helena Shipman, was a stage actress. He graduated from East Rockaway High School in East Rockaway, New York, in 1941.
In 1942, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II. He was a radioman and tail gunner in a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber. He received several awards for his service, including the Air Medal. He finished his military service in 1945.
Acting Career Highlights
Early Roles
Brian Keith started acting on Broadway in 1948 in the play Mister Roberts. His father also starred in this play. He then began guest starring on many television shows like Suspense and Tales of Tomorrow. His first movie role was in the Western film Arrowhead (1953). He appeared in several other films, often playing strong, dependable characters.
In 1955, Keith starred in his own TV series called Crusader, where he played a journalist named Matt Anders. He also continued to appear in movies, including Storm Center (1956) with Bette Davis.
The Westerner and Disney Films
Keith gained more attention in the late 1950s. He starred in The Westerner (1960), a TV series that became a cult classic. He also started working with Disney. He played the father of twins in the very popular film The Parent Trap (1961), alongside Hayley Mills and Maureen O'Hara. He made two more films for Disney: Moon Pilot (1962) and Savage Sam (1963).
He continued to appear in many TV shows and films, including Westerns and comedies. He was in The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) and Nevada Smith (1966) with Steve McQueen.
Family Affair
In 1966, Brian Keith became a household name by starring as Uncle Bill Davis in the popular CBS sitcom Family Affair. In the show, Uncle Bill, a wealthy bachelor, suddenly becomes the guardian of his young nieces and nephew. This role earned him three Emmy Award nominations.
Family Affair was very successful, ranking high in the TV ratings. It ran for five seasons and had 138 episodes. Kathy Garver, who played his niece Cissy on the show, said that Brian Keith was very natural in his acting. She noted that he and Sebastian Cabot (who played Mr. French) had different acting styles, which made the show special. Brian Keith was more spontaneous, while Sebastian Cabot carefully planned his performances.
During his time on Family Affair, Keith also appeared in movies like Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) with Marlon Brando and With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) with Doris Day.
Later Television and Film Roles
After Family Affair, Brian Keith starred in The Brian Keith Show (1972–74) as a pediatrician (a children's doctor) in Hawaii. He also played Steven "The Fox" Halliday in the TV miniseries The Zoo Gang (1974), about former World War II fighters.
In films, he played President Theodore Roosevelt in The Wind and the Lion (1975) with Sean Connery. He also spoke fluent Russian, which helped him get roles as Russian characters in the film Meteor (1979) and the miniseries World War III (1982).
In 1983, Keith returned to series television with Hardcastle and McCormick. He played a retired judge named Milton C. Hardcastle, who teamed up with a former criminal, Mark McCormick (played by Daniel Hugh Kelly). Their on-screen chemistry made the show a hit, and it ran for three years.
In his later career, Brian Keith made guest appearances on shows like Evening Shade and Major Dad. He also played Mullibok in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) and voiced Ben Parker in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. His last film role was playing President William McKinley in Rough Riders (1997).
Personal Life
Brian Keith was married three times. His first wife was Frances Helm. In 1954, he married actress Judy Landon, and in 1970, he married Hawaiian actress Victoria Young.
He had two children with Judy Landon and adopted three more children with her. He also had two children with Victoria Young. His daughter Daisy became an actress and appeared with him in the series Heartland.
Death and Legacy
Brian Keith passed away on June 24, 1997, at his home in Malibu, California, at the age of 75. He was buried next to his daughter Daisy at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
On June 26, 2008, Brian Keith was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his long and successful career in entertainment.
Images for kids
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Keith in Dino, 1957
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Keith in his TV series Crusader (1955)
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Keith and Spike in The Westerner (1960)
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Keith (center right) with Sebastian Cabot (top) and the other costars of Family Affair
See also
In Spanish: Brian Keith para niños
