Brian Keith



         


Brian Keith (November 14, 1921 - June 24, 1997) was an American stage, film and television actor.

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Biographical Information

Brian Keith was born Robert Keith Richey, Jr. in Bayonne, New Jersey to actor Robert Keith and actress Helen Shipman. He made his acting debut in a silent film, Pied Piper Malone (1924). After high school, he joined the U.S. Marines (1942-1945) where he served during World War II as an aerial gunner and received an Air Medal. After the war, he became a stage actor, branching into television and films in the late 1940s. During the later part of his life he suffered from emphysema and lung cancer. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 24, 1997, just two months after his daughter had committed suicide. He is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California.

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Career

Keith was a strong and capable actor who spent many years playing second leads and gruff sidekicks, He may be best known for his role as "Uncle Bill" on the television series Family Affair (1966-1971). [1]

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On the Stage (Partial List)

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On Television

Keith worked steadily in television from the 1950s until the end of his life and made numerous guest appearances. Series in which he had a starring role are listed here.

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In Film

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