Don Keefer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Keefer
Born	Donald Hood Keefer (1916-08-18)August 18, 1916 Highspire, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	September 7, 2014(2014-09-07) (aged 98) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1947–1997
Spouse(s)	Catherine McLeod Keefer (1950–1997, her death)
Children	3

Donald Hood Keefer (born August 18, 1916 – died September 7, 2014) was an American actor. He was known for being able to play many different kinds of characters. He could be funny in comedies or serious in dramas. His acting career lasted more than 50 years. During this time, he appeared in hundreds of plays, movies, and TV shows.

Early Life and Start in Acting

Don Keefer was born in Highspire, Pennsylvania, in August 1916. He was the youngest of three brothers. When he was in his early twenties, Don moved to New York City. There, he went to a famous acting school called the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He graduated in 1939.

That same year, he performed in plays by William Shakespeare at the 1939 New York World's Fair. In the 1940s, Don acted in Broadway plays like Junior Miss and Othello. He also started learning a special acting style called method acting at The Actors Studio. He was one of the first members of this group. During this time, he also began acting on television, which was a new thing back then. In 1947, he was in a TV show of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He also appeared in an episode of Kraft Television Theatre.

By 1949, Don was back on Broadway in a famous play called Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. This play helped him get his first movie role. He played the same character, Bernard, in the 1951 film version of Death of a Salesman. After that, he was in other movies like The Girl in White (1952) and The Caine Mutiny (1954). But in the 1950s, Don started acting more and more on TV.

Movies and TV Shows

Don Keefer appeared in many different TV shows. Some of these were early shows that told different stories each week, like Fireside Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He was also in popular Western shows like Gunsmoke and Death Valley Days. He even had a small part in Woody Allen's movie Sleeper and the comedy film The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966). He also appeared in an early version of The Twilight Zone called “Time Element” in 1958.

Long-Running TV Roles

Don Keefer had a few roles that lasted for many episodes. He was in 10 episodes of Gunsmoke and 10 episodes of Angel.

Gunsmoke Appearances

Don Keefer was in Gunsmoke from 1957 to 1973. Here are some of his roles:

• "Wrong Man" (1957) - as Sam Rickers
• "Bad Sheriff" (1961) - Chet
• "Coventry" (1962) - Rankin
• "Quint-Cident" (1963) - Nally
• "The Pariah" (1965) - Newspaper editor
• "Taps for Old Jeb" (1965) - Milty Sims
• "Champion of the World" (1966) - Wally
• "Gentry's Law" (1970) - Floyd Babcock
• "Kitty's Love Affair" (1973) - Turner

Angel Appearances

On the show Angel, Don Keefer played a neighbor named George. His wife, Susie, was played by Doris Singleton. Here are some of the Angel episodes he was in:

• "Goodbye Young Lovers"
• "Voting Can Be Fun" (1960)
• "Angel's Temper" (1960)
• "The Valedictorian" (1960)
• "The Dowry" (1961)
• "The Joint Bank Account" (1961)
• "Call Me Mother" (1961)
• "Phone Fun" (1961)
• "Unpopular Mechanics" (1961)
• "The Trailer" (1961)

Other Notable TV Shows

Don Keefer also appeared in many other popular TV shows. These included comedies like My Favorite Martian, The Munsters, and Bewitched. He was also in dramas like Star Trek (as Cromwell in "Assignment: Earth" in 1968) and The Twilight Zone (in episodes like "It's a Good Life" and "Passage on the Lady Anne"). He also appeared in Mission: Impossible and The F.B.I..

Personal Life

On May 7, 1950, Don Keefer married actress Catherine McLeod. They were married for 47 years until she passed away on May 11, 1997.

In 1957, Don and Catherine even acted together in an episode of Gunsmoke called “Wrong Man.” Don's character was a homesteader, and Catherine played his wife.

Don and Catherine had three sons: Donald McLeod, John H., and Thomas James. Don Keefer passed away at the age of 98 on September 7, 2014. His last acting role was in the 1997 movie Liar Liar, where he played a beggar.

Images for kids

• Death of a Salesman (1951 film).jpg

  Don Keefer as Bernard in Death of a Salesman (1951)

• The Caine Mutiny (1954 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in The Caine Mutiny (1954)

• Away All Boats (1956 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in Away All Boats (1956)

• Hellcats of the Navy (1957 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in Hellcats of the Navy (1957)

• The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)

• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

• Sleeper (1973 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in Sleeper (1973)

• The Car (1977 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in The Car (1977)

• Creepshow (1982 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in Creepshow (1982)

• Liar Liar (1997 film).jpg

  Don Keefer in his final film role in Liar Liar (1997)