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Biography
Biographical Information
Brian Keith was born Robert Keith Richey, Jr. in Bayonne, New Jersey to actor Robert Keith and stage actress Helena Shipman (born in Aberdeen, Washington). He made his acting debut in a silent film, Pied Piper Malone (1924) at the age of 3.
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. His biggest break came in 1966 when he landed the role of "Uncle Bill" on the popular television situation comedy Family Affair, a role which garnered him three Emmy nominations for Best Actor. The show made him a household name.
He married three times, first to Frances Helm, then in 1955 to Judith Landon, and finally in 1970 to Hawaiian actress Victoria Young (née Leialoha), who later appeared on The Brian Keith Show (1972-74) as Nurse Puni. Keith fathered a total of four children, but also adopted three others with Judith Landon. His first son died in childhood. One of his children with Victoria Young was Daisy Keith, who also became an actress, appearing with her father in the short-lived series Heartland in 1989.
During the later part of his life he suffered from emphysema and lung cancer, despite having quit smoking 10 years earlier. He had posed for Camel cigarettes in an endorsement campaign in 1955. He was also experiencing financial problems. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 24, 1997 at the age of 75, just two months after Daisy had committed suicide.
He is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.
Career
Keith was a strong and capable actor who spent many years playing second leads and gruff sidekicks, but is best known for his role as "Uncle Bill" on the television series Family Affair (1966-1971). He was nominated for three Emmys during the popular series' long run.
On the Stage (Partial List)
Darkness at Noon (1951)
Mister Roberts (1948)
Heyday (1946)
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.
Walter and Emily (NBC, 1991-1992)
Heartland (CBS, 1989)
Pursuit of Happiness (ABC, 1987)
Hardcastle and McCormick (ABC, 1983-1986)
Archer (NBC, 1975)
The Brian Keith Show (NBC, 1972-1974)
Family Affair (CBS, 1966-1971)
The Westerner (NBC, 1960)
The Crusader (CBS, 1955-1956)
In Film
Follow Your Heart (1998)
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)
Under a Killing Moon (1994)
Wind Dancer (1993)
After the Rain (1990)
Welcome Home (1989)
Young Guns (1988)
Death Before Dishonor (1987)
Sharkey's Machine (1981)
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen (1981)
The Mountain Men (1980)
Meteor (1979)
Centennial (1978)
Hooper (1978)
Nickelodeon (1976)
Joe Panther (1976)
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
The Yakuza (1975)
Scandalous John (1971)
Something Big (1971)
The MacKenzie Break (1970)
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came? (1970)
Gaily, Gaily (1969)
Krakatoa, East of Java (1969)
With Six You Get Eggroll (1968)
Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)
Way… Way Out (1966)
Nevada Smith (1966)
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966)
The Rare Breed (1966)
The Hallelujah Trail (1965)
Those Calloways (1965)
The Pleasure Seekers (1964)
The Raiders (1964)
A Tiger Walks (1964)
With Six You Get Eggroll (1963)
Savage Sam (1963)
Moon Pilot (1962)
The Deadly Companions (1961)
The Parent Trap (1961)
Ten Who Dared (1960)
The Young Philadelphians (1959)
Appointment with a Shadow (1959)
Villa! (1958)
Violent Road (1958)
Sierra Baron (1958)
Desert Hell (1958)
Fort Dobbs (1958)
Hell Canyon Outlaws (1957)
Chicago Confidential (1957)
Run of the Arrow (1957)
Dino (1957)
Nightfall (1957)
Storm Center (1956)
5 Against the House (1955)
Tight Spot (1955)
The Violent Men (1955)
The Bamboo Prison (1954)
Jivaro (1954)
Alaska Seas (1954)
Arrowhead (1953)
The Other Kind of Love (1924)
Pied Piper Malone (1924)
Trivia
-Keith's father was married to actress Peg Entwhistle from 1927-1929 who jumped to her death from the Hollywood sign in 1933.
-When NBC requested that he pose for Christmas publicity shots connected with Family Affair, Keith refused on the basis that this was exploitative of the holiday.
