R.C. Keene, a native of Dallas County, Texas, hails from a long line of early settlers and land holders in the area dating back to 1846. He attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Irving, Texas, graduating in 1967. After completing his secondary education, R.C. went on to attend the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1972.
Before graduating from college, R.C. became aware of a Sam Peckinpah-directed film, "The Getaway", being shot in nearby San Marcos, Texas. Intrigued, he drove his 1967 Austin Mini-Cooper to the location to get a glimpse of the production. As he parked near the town square, he found himself in the midst of a filming break, with none other than Steve McQueen strolling by. The two struck up a conversation about cars, with McQueen expressing admiration for R.C.'s vehicle, mentioning that he had a similar model that he used to race. Just then, an orange VW Beetle pulled up, driven by James Garner, who was visiting the set on a whim. Garner revealed that he had been drafted to drive the VW as an uncredited extra in a scene, having made a bet with someone for a dollar.
McQueen, impressed by R.C.'s car, called over an assistant and asked if they still needed extras for the next scene. He requested that R.C. be added to the mix. This chance encounter marked the beginning of R.C.'s career as a film extra.
Throughout the 1970s, R.C. continued to work as an engineer while sporadically taking on extra roles in various productions across the United States, including stints in New York and on the West Coast. Upon returning to Central Texas in the late 1970s, he resumed his background acting work, taking on impromptu gigs for films such as "Outlaw Blues", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Roadie", "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", "Office Space", "Idiocracy", and several Alamo history-related projects.
Now retired from his professional engineering career, R.C. is eager to continue his work as a film extra, focusing on western and science fiction productions, as well as developing his acting skills and producing his own projects.
