Brian Keith
Biography
Brian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor born on November 14, 1921, in Bayonne, New Jersey, and he also used the alternate name Robert Kei. During his four decade-long career, he gained recognition for his work in films including the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and the Lion, in which he portrayed Theodore Roosevelt. On television, his best known roles included playing a widowed uncle turned bachelor, Bill Davis, in the 1960s sitcom Family Affair, and a tough judge in the 1980s drama Hardcastle and McCormick. He passed away on June 24, 1997.
Career overview
Brian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor with a career spanning four decades. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on November 14, 1921, his background included a father who was a popular Hollywood character actor and a mother who worked as a theater actress. During his extensive career, which included 145 known credits and an alternative name of Robert Kei, he gained recognition for his work across film, television, and stage productions.
In film, he appeared in notable motion pictures including the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming, and the 1975 adventure saga The Wind and the Lion, in which he portrayed Theodore Roosevelt. Additional film and television credits associated with his career included appearances in Spiderman, Disneyland, and the television program Příběhy Alfreda Hitchcocka.
On television, two of his most prominent roles were Bill Davis, a widowed uncle turned bachelor in the 1960s sitcom Family Affair, and a tough judge in the 1980s drama series Hardcastle and McCormick. His acting career continued until his death on June 24, 1997, at the age of 75.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
161 titles- Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- Follow Your Heart (1999) as Roddy Thompson
- Rough Riders (1997) as President William McKinley
- The Second Civil War (1997) as General Buford
- Pacific Blue (1996) as Mac McNamara
- Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996) as Cardinal
- Cybill (1995) as Arthur Minnow
- The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A. (1995) as Pete Morgan
- National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins (1995) as 'Noble Hart' / Self
- Walking Thunder (1995) as Narrator
- Picture Windows: Lightning (1995) as Tappan
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Leonard Pound
- Spider-Man (1994) as Uncle Ben (voice)
- Duckman (1994) as Duckman's Father (voice)
- Burke's Law (1994) as Norman Hope
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) as Mullibok
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) as Del Forman
- Wind Dancer (1993) as Truman Richards
- The Commish (1991)
- The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) as The Westerner
- Walter & Emily (1991) as Walter Collins
- Lady in a Corner (1989) as David Henderson
- Welcome Home (1989) as Harry Robins
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989) as Frank Wellman Sr.
- Heartland (1989) as B.L. McCutcheon
- Young Guns (1988) as Buckshot Roberts
- After the Rain (1988) as Byron Monroe
- Death Before Dishonor (1987) as Col. Halloran
- The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987) as Colonel Davy Crockett
- Pursuit of Happiness (1987)
- The B.R.A.T. Patrol (1986) as General Newmeyer
- All Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986) as Self (uncredited)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Caleb McCallum
- Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) as Milton Hardcastle
- World War III (1982) as Secretary General Gorny
- Cry for the Strangers (1982) as Chief Whalen
- Sharky's Machine (1981) as Papa
- Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981) as Police Chief Baxter
- All-Star Party for Burt Reynolds (1981) as Self
- The Mountain Men (1980) as Henry Frapp
- Power (1980) as Charles Kandell
- The Silent Lovers (1980) as Mauritz Stiller
- The Seekers (1979) as Elijah Weatherby
- The Chisholms (1979) as Andrew Blake
- Meteor (1979) as Dr. Dubov
- Centennial (1978) as Sheriff Axel Dumire
- Hooper (1978) as Jocko Doyle
- How the West Was Won (1977) as General Stonecipher
- In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan (1977) as Joe Quinlan
- The Court-Martial of George Armstrong Custer (1977) as Allan Jacobson - Defense Attorney
- The Quest (1976) as Tank Logan
- Nickelodeon (1976) as H.H. Cobb
- The Loneliest Runner (1976) as Arnold Curtis
- The Quest (1976) as Tank Logan
- Joe Panther (1976) as Capt. Harper
- The Wind and the Lion (1975) as Theodore Roosevelt
- Archer (1975) as Lew Archer
- The Lion Roars Again (1975) as Self
- The Zoo Gang (1974) as Stephen "The Fox" Halliday
- The Yakuza (1974) as George Tanner
- The Brian Keith Show (1972) as Dr. Sean Jamison
- The Brian Keith Show (1972) Director
- The Bull of the West (1972) as Johnny Wade
- Second Chance (1972) as Geoff Smith
- Something Big (1971) as Col. Morgan
- Scandalous John (1971) as John McCanless
- The McKenzie Break (1970) as Captain Jack Connor
- Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970) as Officer Michael M. Nace
- The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969) as Self
- Krakatoa, East of Java (1969) as Connerly
- Gaily, Gaily (1969) as Francis Sullivan
- With Six You Get Eggroll (1968) as Jake Iverson
- Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) as Lt. Col. Morris Langdon
- Family Affair (1966) as Bill Davis
- Way... Way Out (1966) as Gen. 'Howling Bull' Hallenby
- Nevada Smith (1966) as Jonas Cord
- The Rare Breed (1966) as Alexander Bowen
- The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966) as Police Chief Link Mattocks
- The Tenderfoot (1966) as Mose Carson
- The Hallelujah Trail (1965) as Frank Wallingham
- Johnny Shiloh (1965) as Sgt. Gabe Trotter
- Profiles in Courage (1964) as Thomas Hart Benton
- A Tiger Walks (1964) as Sheriff Pete Williams
- The Pleasure Seekers (1964) as Paul Barton
- Bristle Face (1964) as Lue Swank
- Those Calloways (1964) as Cam Calloway
- The Tenderfoot (1964) as Mose Carson
- The Fugitive (1963) as Edward Welles
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Andy Bastian
- The Great Adventure (1963) as Henry Bergh
- Savage Sam (1963) as Uncle Beck Coates
- The Raiders (1963) as McElroy
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Virginian (1962) as Johnny Wade
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Jim Mallory
- Moon Pilot (1962) as Maj. Gen. John M. Vanneman
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Alfred Freely
- The Parent Trap (1961) as Mitch Evers
- Target: The Corruptors! (1961)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1961)
- The Deadly Companions (1961) as Yellowleg
- Outlaws (1960)
- The Westerner (1960) as Dave Blassingame
- Ten Who Dared (1960) as William Dunn
- Rapids Ahead/Bear Country (1960)
- Rawhide (1959) as Tod Macauley
- The Untouchables (1959) as Jim Martinson
- Laramie (1959)
- The Young Philadelphians (1959) as Mike Flanagan
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Sgt. Patrick Cohan
- Fort Dobbs (1958) as Clett
- Violent Road (1958) as Mitch Barton
- Desert Hell (1958) as Capt. Robert Edwards
- Sierra Baron (1958) as Jack McCrackin
- Villa!! (1958) as Bill Harmon
- Dino (1957) as Larry Sheridan
- Run of the Arrow (1957) as Captain Clark
- Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957) as Happy Waters
- Chicago Confidential (1957) as Jim Fremont
- Appointment with a Shadow (1957) as Lt. Spencer
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Dave Blassingame
- Nightfall (1956) as John
- Storm Center (1956) as Paul Duncan
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Dave Rainey
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Arnold Shawn
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Herbert Morrison
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Vernon Wedge
- Crusader (1955) as Matt Anders
- The Violent Men (1955) as Cole Wilkison
- Tight Spot (1955) as Vince Striker
- 5 Against the House (1955) as Brick
- Climax! (1954) as Sam Pryce
- Studio 57 (1954)
- Studio 57 (1954) as Dan
- Studio 57 (1954) as Denis Burke
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Shadrach O'Reilly
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Sergeant Gabe Trotter
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Lue Swank
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Gen. Newmeyer
- Alaska Seas (1954) as Jim Kimmerly
- The Bamboo Prison (1954) as Cpl. Brady
- Jivaro (1954) as Tony
- Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer! (1954) as Mike Hammer
- The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953) as Joe Kelly
- Arrowhead (1953) as Capt. Bill North
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Dan Crawford
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Mano
- Fourteen Hours (1951) as Extra (uncredited)
- Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Prosecuting Attorney
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) as Harry
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Happy
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Choya
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as David Sutton
- Suspense (1949) as Johnny
- Suspense (1949) as Lt. Jim Connor
- Suspense (1949) as Kip Caley
- Suspense (1949) as Idaho
- Suspense (1949)
- Boomerang! (1947) as Man in Mob Behind Courthouse (uncredited)
- Knute Rockne All American (1940) as Student at Train Station (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Brian Keith best known for?
Brian Keith is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Pacific Blue (1996), Cybill (1995), National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins (1995), Touched by an Angel (1994).
When and where was Brian Keith born?
Brian Keith was born on November 14, 1921 in Bayonne, New Jersey, USA. They passed away on June 24, 1997.
How many credits does Brian Keith have?
Brian Keith has accumulated over 161 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1940 to 2004.
What is Brian Keith's background in cinema and television?
Brian Keith was an American film, television, and stage actor born on November 14, 1921, in Bayonne, New Jersey, and he also used the alternate name Robert Kei. During his four decade-long career, he gained recognition for his work in films including the 1961 Disney family film The Parent Trap, the 1966 comedy The Russ...
Brian Keith by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Prosecuting Attorney — aged about 29
- Spider-Man (1994) as Uncle Ben (voice) — aged about 72
- The Untouchables (1959) as Jim Martinson — aged about 37
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) as Mullibok — aged about 71
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Shadrach O'Reilly — aged about 32
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1954) as Sergeant Gabe Trotter — aged about 32
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