Brian Keith
Birthday:
14 November 1921, Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
Birth Name:
Robert Keith Richey Jr.
Height:
184 cm
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 s...
Show more »
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. Show less «
In other words...you can't be a misogynist and expect women to appreciate you.
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.
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 ...Show more »
[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. Show less «
[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 ...Show more »
[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. Show less «
[on his popularity, while playing the forty-five something "Uncle Bill Davis" on Family Affair (1966)]: This is the type of show I love, bec...Show more »
[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. Show less «
[About leaving Family Affair (1966) to spend time in Hawaii, before casting as Hardcastle]: I get tired of sitting home and doing nothing. I...Show more »
[About leaving Family Affair (1966) to spend time in Hawaii, before casting as Hardcastle]: I get tired of sitting home and doing nothing. If I'm doing something eight months of the year, I don't mind loafing the other four. But, lately, I've been finding fewer and fewer movies I'd like to do. And when that happens, I get hard to live with. Then this thing came along. I read it. I liked it. This character Hardcastle: I figured I could live with him for five years if I had to. There was something going on there. You don't get a helluva lot of character in series TV. They're more likely to star the car. Show less «
[Who became very antsy about the car that was needed in every script]: I don't pay any attention. The stunt people take care of all that. Al...Show more »
[Who became very antsy about the car that was needed in every script]: I don't pay any attention. The stunt people take care of all that. All I do is get in and out of the Coyote [the car Skid drove, which required anyone riding in it to enter and exit through the window], which is no mean trick. You can't get into the S.O.B. without bending yourself into a pretzel. Me, I'd rather drive a pickup. Show less «
[on beating out 3 others actors for the role of Hardcastle]: I never heard of these guys. Of course, I can be talking to 40 Academy Award wi...Show more »
[on beating out 3 others actors for the role of Hardcastle]: I never heard of these guys. Of course, I can be talking to 40 Academy Award winners and never know the difference. People in Muncie, Indiana, probably know more about them than I do. But I figure what the hell, if they're smart enough to hire me, they must have something." Show less «
The only attraction is the time. I work just 70 days a year on the show. I can still make two, three movies a year if I want to. If it were ...Show more »
The only attraction is the time. I work just 70 days a year on the show. I can still make two, three movies a year if I want to. If it were Bonanza (1959), walking around the Ponderosa, tied up nearly all year, no-o-o chance. That's a fate worse than death. Show less «
[on accepting the role as Hardcastle]: You learn to read a pilot script. A pilot isn't designed to be good, but only to spell out to the net...Show more »
[on accepting the role as Hardcastle]: You learn to read a pilot script. A pilot isn't designed to be good, but only to spell out to the network what it is that's going to make people tune in. Everything has to be either stark drama or screamingly funny with everybody dropping their pants all the time. You read most pilots and tell yourself, 'no, no, no, that's not life!' So you go with the character and ignore the hardware. Show less «
I never gave a hoot, I just took what came along.
I never gave a hoot, I just took what came along.
[In 1991]: A car is a car, it won't make you handsome or prettier or younger. And if it improves your standing with the neighbors, then you ...Show more »
[In 1991]: A car is a car, it won't make you handsome or prettier or younger. And if it improves your standing with the neighbors, then you live among snobs. Show less «
[As he was describing what Family Affair (1966) was about]: It's the same setup as The Parent Trap (1961), that I did for Disney. The clothe...Show more »
[As he was describing what Family Affair (1966) was about]: It's the same setup as The Parent Trap (1961), that I did for Disney. The clothes, the apartment, servants, all that jazz. Show less «
[In 1971]: If I were producing the picture, I would have hired somebody like Gig Young. You know, the millionaire type with the clothes and ...Show more »
[In 1971]: If I were producing the picture, I would have hired somebody like Gig Young. You know, the millionaire type with the clothes and a membership in the country club. There was no similarity between this clean-cut character and the guy with the tobacco hanging out of his mouth that I played in Ten Who Dared (1960). I guess Walt Disney figured I could do more than one thing, and I like that. It's tough playing the same guy over and over. Since then, everything I've done at Disney has been different. Show less «
I played a real nothing named Wally.
I played a real nothing named Wally.
[In 1966]: I like the kids. Aren't you going to ask about them? Yours or the ones in the show?
[In 1966]: I like the kids. Aren't you going to ask about them? Yours or the ones in the show?
[Who said about starring in his own movies]: I've made I don't know how many pictures. Forty, I guess. I've seen only about a half dozen of ...Show more »
[Who said about starring in his own movies]: I've made I don't know how many pictures. Forty, I guess. I've seen only about a half dozen of them. We made Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967) in Rome, last spring. I really enjoyed working with Liz (Elizabeth Taylor) and Brando (Marlon Brando) and that great director, John Huston. But the kind of picture I enjoy seeing is something like The Parent Trap (1961). That was a charming thing, with Hayley Mills playing my twin daughters. I saw that four times. I even took my wife's parents to see it. I like it so much, I forgot I was in it, as a matter of fact. Show less «
[In 1969]: I hope to get some time off this spring for a vacation.
[In 1969]: I hope to get some time off this spring for a vacation.
[In 1968]: You have the responsibility to conduct yourself in the best way you know how to do.
[In 1968]: You have the responsibility to conduct yourself in the best way you know how to do.
[In 1972]: I have to admit that I didn't mind it. We all got along well, and the kids were unspoiled. But towards the end, I was getting tir...Show more »
[In 1972]: I have to admit that I didn't mind it. We all got along well, and the kids were unspoiled. But towards the end, I was getting tired of it. Show less «
The main thing is to live, if possible, where you feel comfortable.
The main thing is to live, if possible, where you feel comfortable.
[on the cancelation of Family Affair (1966)]: We were getting bored, five years is a longtime. I didn't want to do it in the first place. My...Show more »
[on the cancelation of Family Affair (1966)]: We were getting bored, five years is a longtime. I didn't want to do it in the first place. My agent argued with me. He said, 'Do the pilot, it'll never sell. Grab the money and run.' Ten days later, it was sold. Show less «
[When he used to work in carnivals]: Gypsies believe you have to go out and meet life; take what comes. You aren't supposed to know what lie...Show more »
[When he used to work in carnivals]: Gypsies believe you have to go out and meet life; take what comes. You aren't supposed to know what lies ahead, and those who want to know are cheating. They're called marks, the suckers, and you tell them anything. Show less «
[on revisiting The Westerner (1960) for the first time in 1975]: It was fifteen years since I had seen it. I watched every one. We always re...Show more »
[on revisiting The Westerner (1960) for the first time in 1975]: It was fifteen years since I had seen it. I watched every one. We always remember things as being better than they were, and only four or five of these were really good. But those four or five were as good as anything anybody has ever done. Show less «
[While starring in the movie Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)]: I don't want to play the same guy all the time. I've got three or four scr...Show more »
[While starring in the movie Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967)]: I don't want to play the same guy all the time. I've got three or four scripts at home in which I play somebody's father or uncle, but it's the same old junk. I like to play characters. Show less «
[In 1997]: I was willing to deal with the emphysema, but now I don't think there's much point trying to live on.
[In 1997]: I was willing to deal with the emphysema, but now I don't think there's much point trying to live on.
[Of his last days]: Forgive me, but I don't want to live anymore. The pain is too bad. There's no point in trying to prolong this agony.
[Of his last days]: Forgive me, but I don't want to live anymore. The pain is too bad. There's no point in trying to prolong this agony.
She told me: 'How can you love me looking like this? It would be better if I were gone. No matter what I do I'm going to die, and the sooner...Show more »
She told me: 'How can you love me looking like this? It would be better if I were gone. No matter what I do I'm going to die, and the sooner the better as far as I'm concerned.' Show less «
[Who at one point was cast as a general]: They originally talked to me about that, and I came to Hollywood to do a TV special. We were just ...Show more »
[Who at one point was cast as a general]: They originally talked to me about that, and I came to Hollywood to do a TV special. We were just about finishing that when they called me about this thing, so I went up to talk with the director. Ronald Neame. We sat around and told stories I went back to finish the special, and he called me and asked if I wanted to play the Russian. I said, 'What for?' Well, he decided while we were telling the stories that I had an ear for it, so I said, 'Sure, when?' He said, 'Monday,' It was now Friday! Show less «
[When told he was to speak only Russian during filming]: Terrific, they gave me six whole days to learn the Russian language.
[When told he was to speak only Russian during filming]: Terrific, they gave me six whole days to learn the Russian language.
[In 1977]: Russians put different emphasis in their sentences. When we may stress the last word in a sentence, they may emphasize a word in ...Show more »
[In 1977]: Russians put different emphasis in their sentences. When we may stress the last word in a sentence, they may emphasize a word in the middle of it. Show less «
[In 1979, about Meteor (1979)]: Well, I can walk 20 miles and it won't bother me, but to stand still for 15 minutes is absolute torment! I r...Show more »
[In 1979, about Meteor (1979)]: Well, I can walk 20 miles and it won't bother me, but to stand still for 15 minutes is absolute torment! I remember that one day we were standing there and I was griping and Natalie Wood leaned over and said, 'There'll come a day when we'll look back to the good old days when we were just standing here looking at the screen' . . . and that came pretty soon, because we had an explosion. In the picture, pieces of the meteor fly off and one of them hits New York and devastates the city. Show less «
Brian Keith's Photos
NEXT PAGE
Theodore Roosevelt
Buckshot Roberts
Ben Parker
Mullibok
