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Brian Keith in Hardcastle and McCormick (1983)

Biography

Brian Keith

Edit

Overview

  • Born
    November 14, 1921 · Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
  • Died
    June 24, 1997 · Malibu, California, USA (self-inflicted gunshot suicide)
  • Birth name
    Robert Alba Keith Jr.
  • Height
    6′ (1.83 m)

Biography

    • Son of character actor Robert Keith and stage actress Helena Shipman. He grew up on the road with his parents while they toured in plays. First appeared at age 3 in film Pied Piper Malone (1924) with his father. Began acting in radio programs and on stage before World War II. Joined the Marines and served as a machine gunner. Returned to Broadway stage after the war and branched out into television and film. Worked as an extra in several films before achieving speaking roles and subsequent stardom.
      - IMDb mini biography by: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>

Family

  • Spouses
      Victoria Young(January 9, 1970 - June 24, 1997) (his death, 2 children)
      Judy Landon(June 23, 1954 - May 2, 1969) (divorced, 5 children)
      Frances Helm(January 3, 1948 - June 23, 1954) (divorced)
  • Parents
      Helena Shipman
      Robert Keith

Trademarks

  • His gruff voice
  • His curly hair.

Trivia

  • Keith was predeceased by two of his children: his first son, Michael, who died in childhood in 1963, and his daughter, Daisy Keith, who committed suicide at age 27.
  • At the time of his death, Keith was suffering from emphysema and terminal lung cancer. He had been a heavy smoker until 1986, quitting a decade before his diagnoses. He was also mourning the death of his 27-year-old daughter, Daisy Keith, who had committed suicide 10 weeks earlier. He also had financial problems. All of these were contributing factors to Keith's own suicide on June 24, 1997. His last work appeared after his death: voice-over work in the final episode of Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994), and an on-screen appearance in Follow Your Heart (1999). He is interred in Westwood Village Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California.
  • When future Family Affair (1966) co-star Johnny Whitaker appeared in the movie The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966), Keith was so impressed by Johnny's acting that he invited him to co-star in Keith's new sitcom.
  • He served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II, and received an Air Medal. He was the rear-facing gunner on an SBD Dauntless, a scout/dive bomber, used extensively by the Marine Corps and Navy, that saw a great deal of action in the Pacific during WWII. His weapons were twin-mounted .30 caliber Browning machine guns. He particularly saw action on Rabal in the Pacific.
  • His final film Rough Riders (1997) was dedicated to his memory.

Quotes

  • In other words...you can't be a misogynist and expect women to appreciate you.
  • New Year's Eve though it's a custom. We invite over friends who, like ourselves don't drink at all, or else very lightly.
  • [on trying to live a long life]: If I live to be a hundred -- and I hope I do -- I won't have time to read all the books I want to read, or talk to the people I want to know. Not party talk. That's a waste of time. Real talk.
  • [on his handsomeness]: What for? I don't go to the Daisy or any of that. We don't give parties under a striped awning out over the lawn for two hundred people, four of whom we like.
  • [on his popularity, while playing the forty-five something "Uncle Bill Davis" on Family Affair (1966)]: This is the type of show I love, because it reminds me of what happiness I have with my wife and our children.

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