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Brian KeithAmerican stage, film and television actor
Date of Birth: 14.11.1921
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Brian Keith
Brian Keith, an American stage, film, and television actor, had a career that spanned over 50 years. He played 159 roles in movies and TV shows and participated in four Broadway productions, not counting other stage performances. Some of his most famous films include the 1961 Disney movie "The Parent Trap," the 1966 comedy "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!," and the adventure film "The Wind and the Lion." On television, his most notable roles were the old bachelor Bill Davis in the sitcom "Family Affair" and the main character in the crime drama series "Hardcastle and McCormick."
Early Life and Career
Brian Keith, whose real name is Robert Alba Keith, was born on November 14, 1921, in Bayonne, New Jersey. His parents were Robert Keith, a stage actor, and Helena Shipman, an actress, both of whom were Catholics. Keith made his first film appearances at the age of three in silent movies such as "Pied Piper Malone" and "The Other Kind of Love." After his parents divorced in 1926, he spent his childhood with his grandmother on Long Island, New York. With his grandmother's help, he learned to read at an early age and would often sit quietly backstage, watching his parents' performances. As a young child, he even slept in a dresser drawer in his mother's dressing room.
In 1939, Keith graduated from high school and appeared in a small role before serving as an aerial gunner in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. He was awarded the Air Medal for his bravery. After the war, Keith became a successful stage actor and soon started receiving offers for film and television roles. In 1952, he made his television debut in three episodes of "Tales of Tomorrow."
Television and Film Success
Brian Keith appeared in an impressive number of television shows throughout his career. However, his most memorable and beloved role was that of the suave bachelor Bill Davis in the sitcom "Family Affair." The series, which aired on CBS from 1966 to 1971, followed the story of Davis raising his orphaned nieces and nephew in his luxurious New York City apartment. Keith portrayed the character in 138 episodes and earned three Emmy Award nominations. From September 1972 to March 1974, Keith starred in his own television program, "The Brian Keith Show."
Keith's fluency in Russian allowed him to play the head of the Soviet government in "World War III" and a Soviet scientist in "Meteor." In his last film, "Rough Riders," he portrayed President William McKinley. The film was dedicated to Brian Keith's memory as an actor, Marine, and storyteller by director John Milius.
Personal Life and Legacy
Brian Keith was married three times during his life. From 1948 to 1954, he was married to actress Frances Helm. After their divorce, he married Judith Landon, an actress and dancer, in 1954. They had five children before divorcing in 1969. A year later, Keith married Victoria Young, an actress of Hawaiian descent, and they had two children together. Both Judith and Victoria made guest appearances on Brian's show.
In the last years of his life, Keith suffered from emphysema and lung cancer, despite quitting smoking ten years earlier. It was a bitter irony as he had been part of a cigarette advertising campaign for "Camel" in 1955. On June 24, 1997, two months after his daughter Daisy's suicide, Brian Keith was found dead in Malibu, California. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was reported that he faced serious financial problems and battled severe depression. Many of his colleagues joined his family at his funeral. He was buried next to his daughter in Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California. In June 2008, Brian Keith was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
