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Richard Kiley
Richard Kiley 1960.JPG
Kiley in 1960
Born
Richard Paul Kiley

(1922-03-31)March 31, 1922
Died March 5, 1999(1999-03-05) (aged 76)
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 1950–1999
Spouse(s)
Mary Bell Wood
(m. 1948; div. 1967)
Patricia Ferrier
(m. 1968)
Children 6

Richard Paul Kiley (born March 31, 1922 – died March 5, 1999) was a talented American actor and singer. He was famous for his amazing work in plays, movies, and TV shows.

Richard Kiley won many awards during his 50-year career. He won two Tony Awards for his work in musicals, four Primetime Emmy Awards for TV, and two Golden Globe Awards for his acting. People often remembered his deep, clear voice, which he used to narrate many documentaries. He was known as a very skilled actor who could play many different kinds of characters.

Early Life and Beginnings

Richard Kiley was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 31, 1922. He grew up in a Catholic family. After finishing Mt. Carmel High School in 1939, he studied acting at the Barnum Dramatic School in Chicago.

In the late 1940s, he performed in plays during the summer in the Chicago area. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he worked as an actor and announcer on the radio in Chicago. Later, he moved to New York City to continue his acting and singing studies.

A Star on Stage

Richard Kiley became well-known for his roles in Broadway musicals. He was especially famous for playing Don Quixote in the original 1965 Broadway show Man of La Mancha. He was the first person to sing the hit song "The Impossible Dream" from that musical.

He also starred in other popular musicals like Kismet, where he played the Caliph, and Redhead. He won his first Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Redhead in 1959. His second Tony Award came in 1966 for his role in Man of La Mancha. He loved playing Don Quixote so much that he returned to the show for Broadway revivals in 1972 and 1977.

Television and Film Roles

Kiley also had a successful career in television and movies. In 1955, he starred in the TV play Patterns, which was very popular. He also appeared in films like The Phenix City Story and Blackboard Jungle, both released in 1955.

He won three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for his TV work. He won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his roles in The Thorn Birds (1983) and A Year in the Life (1986, 1987–1988). He also won an Emmy for his guest role in the TV series Picket Fences. Kiley played Chief Justice Earl Warren in the 1991 TV movie Separate but Equal, which was about the important Brown vs. Board of Education case.

Peter Falk Richard Kiley Colombo 1974
Kiley with Peter Falk in Columbo, 1974.

His other TV appearances included shows like Columbo, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ally McBeal, Hawaii Five-O, and Gunsmoke.

The Voice of Many Stories

Richard Kiley's deep voice made him a popular choice for narrating documentaries. He narrated many National Geographic Video specials, starting with 'Land of the Tiger' in 1985. He also narrated the A&E documentary series Mysteries of the Bible from 1994 to 1998.

One of his most famous voice roles was in the movie Jurassic Park. His voice guides visitors through the park's vehicle tour. The park owner in the movie even says he "spared no expense" to hire Kiley for the narration! If you visit Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida, you can still hear Kiley's voice on the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride. This makes him the only person to be in the Jurassic Park book, movie, and theme park ride.

His last acting role was in the 1999 TV movie Blue Moon, which came out a month after he passed away.

Death

Richard Kiley passed away on March 5, 1999, in Middletown, New York. He was almost 77 years old. He died from a bone marrow disease. He was survived by his wife, Patricia Ferrier, and his six children. To honor him, the lights on Broadway were dimmed.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Mob Thomas Clancy
1952 The Sniper Dr. James G. Kent
Eight Iron Men Private Coke
1953 Pickup on South Street Joey
1955 Blackboard Jungle Joshua Y. Edwards
The Phenix City Story John Patterson
1957 Spanish Affair Merritt Blake
1958 The Power of the Resurrection Peter
1969 Pendulum Woodrow Wilson King
1970 A.k.a. Cassius Clay Narrator
1974 The Little Prince The Pilot
1977 Looking for Mr. Goodbar Mr. Dunn
1981 Endless Love Arthur Axelrod
1986 Howard the Duck The Cosmos Voice
1989 To the Limit Narrator
Miami Cops
The Final Days J. Fred Buzhardt
1993 Jurassic Park Tour Guide Voice Voice
The Gospel According to St. Matthew Old Matthew
1996 Phenomenon Dr. Wellin
1997 Time to Say Goodbye? Dr. Gerald Klooster
1998 Patch Adams Dr. Titan
2002 Jesus the Christ Matthew Final role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1953 The United States Steel Hour Sergeant Lucky Dover Episode: "P.O.W."
1954 Justice Unknown 2 episodes
1955 Kraft Television Theatre Fred Staples Episode: "Patterns"
1956 Studio One Mr. Dean Episode: "The Landlady's Daughter"
1958 Decision Paul Scott Season 1 Episode 6: "Indemnity"
1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Harry Adams Season 4 Episode 4: "The Crooked Road"
1963 Alfred Hitchcock Hour Jim Derry Season 2 Episode 5: "Blood Bargain"
1969 Night Gallery Joseph Strobe Television film ("The Escape Route" segment)
1970–1973 Gunsmoke Lewis Stark
Tom Lynott
Bohannon
Will Stambridge
Episode: "Stark"
Episode: "Lynott"
Episode: "Bohannon"
Episode: "Kitty's Love Affair"
1970 Bonanza Gideon Yates Episode: "Gideon the Good"
The Ceremony of Innocence King Ethelred II Television film
1971 Murder Once Removed Frank Manning Television film
1974 Columbo: A Friend in Deed Mark Halperin
1975 Friendly Persuasion Jess Birdwell Television film
1976 How the West Was Won Timothy Macahan
1980 Angel on My Shoulder Nick Television film
1981 Isabel's Choice Lyman Jones Television film
Golden Gate Thomas J. Kingsley Television film
1983 The Thorn Birds Paddy Cleary 2 episodes
Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (1984)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special (1983)
1984 George Washington George Mason Television film
1985 A.D. Claudius Television film
The Canterville Ghost Sir Simon de Canterville Television film
Do You Remember Love George Hollis Television film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special (1985)
1986 Planet Earth Narrator 7 episodes
The Twilight Zone Lancelot Episode: "The Last Defender of Camelot (The Twilight Zone)"
If Tomorrow Comes Gunther Hartog 3 episodes
1986–1988 A Year in the Life Joe Gardner 22 episodes
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama (1987)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1988)
1988 My First Love Sam Morrissey Television film
1990 Aladdin The Magician Television film
1991 Absolute Strangers Dr. R.J. Cannon Television film
Separate but Equal Chief Justice Earl Warren Television film
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (1991)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special (1991)
The Ray Bradbury Theater Douglas Spaulding Episode: "The Utterly Perfect Murder"
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (1992)
1992–1994 Picket Fences Hayden Langston 2 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (1994)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (1993)
1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Dr. Gideon Seyetik Episode: "Second Sight"
1994–1998 Mysteries of the Bible Narrator
1995 The Great Defender Joe Dewitt 8 episodes
1996 Mary & Tim Ron Melville Television film
1997 Time to Say Goodbye? Dr. Gerald Klooster Television film
Tigers of the Show Narrator
1998 Ally McBeal Seymore Little Episode: "Once in a Lifetime"
Blue Moon Jimmy Keating Television film

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
1953 Misalliance Joey Percival Theatre World Award (1953)
1953–1955 Kismet The Caliph
1956 Time Limit Major Harry Cargill
1959–1960 Redhead Tom Baxter Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical (1959)
1960–1961 Advise and Consent Brig Anderson
1962–1963 No Strings David Jordan Nominated—Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical (1962)
1963–1964 Here's Love Fred Gaily
1964–1965 I Had a Ball Stan the Shpieler
1965–1971 Man of La Mancha Miguel de Cervantes / Don Quixote Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical (1966)
1968 Her First Roman Caesar
1971 The Incomparable Max Enoch Soames
1972 Voices Robert
Man of La Mancha Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote
1974–1976 Absurd Person Singular Ronald
1975 Ah, Wilderness! Nat Miller Academy Festival Theatre, Drake Theatre at Barat College, Lake Forest, Illinois
1976 The Heiress Dr. Austin Sloper Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (1976)
1977 Man of La Mancha Don Quixote Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (1978)
1987 All My Sons Joe Keller Nominated—Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play (1987)

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Results Ref.
1976 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play The Heiress Nominated
1978 Outstanding Actor in a Musical Man of La Mancha Nominated
1966 Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Award N/A Won
1983 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television The Thorn Birds Won
1987 Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama A Year in the Life Won
1991 Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Separate but Equal Nominated
1967 Grammy Awards Best Recording for Children Jungle Books Nominated
Magic Fishbone/Happy Prince/Potted Princess (with Julie Harris) Nominated
1983 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special The Thorn Birds Won
1985 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special Do You Remember Love Nominated
1988 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series A Year in the Life Won
1991 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special Separate but Equal Nominated
1992 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series The Ray Bradbury Theater (Episode: "The Utterly Perfect Murder") Nominated
1993 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Picket Fences (Episode: "Thanksgiving") Nominated
1994 Picket Fences (Episode: "Buried Alive") Won
1995 Outstanding Informational Special 30 Years of National Geographic Specials Nominated
1997 National Geographic Special: Tigers of the Snow Won
1953 Theatre World Awards N/A Misalliance Won
1959 Tony Awards Best Leading Actor in a Musical Redhead Won
1962 No Strings Nominated
1966 Man of La Mancha Won
1987 Best Leading Actor in a Play All My Sons Nominated
1975 Western Heritage Awards Factual Television Program The American Parade (Episode: "The 34th Star") Won
1976 Fictional Television Drama How the West Was Won (Episode: "The Macahans") Won
1991 Factual Narrative World of Discovery (Episode: "Cougar: Ghost of the Rockies") Won

See also

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