Robert Keith

Robert Keith

Deceased · Born: Feb 10, 1890 · Died: Dec 22, 1966

Personal Details

BornFeb 10, 1890 Fowler, Indiana, USA
Spouse
  • Dorothy Tierney

    ( May 10, 1930 to Dec 23, 1966 )
  • Peg Entwistle

    ( Apr 18, 1927 to May 2, 1929 )
  • Helena Shipman

    ( Jun 7, 1922 to Jan 15, 1926 )
  • Laura Corinne Jackson

    ( Jul 18, 1918 to Jul 7, 2025 )
Parents
  • James Haughey Richey
  • Mary Della Snyder

Biography

Robert Keith, a renowned American character actor, left an indelible mark on the film industry and was also the proud father of accomplished actor Brian Keith.

Born in Indiana, Keith's journey into the world of theater began in his teenage years when he joined a stock company, honing his skills as a writer and actor. He went on to appear in numerous plays across the country and even on Broadway, showcasing his exceptional talent.

Keith's impressive work as a writer caught the attention of Hollywood, and he was soon contracted to pen dialogue for various films. Not only did he excel as a writer, but he also managed to secure acting roles in several movies.

After returning to Broadway as a playwright in 1932, Keith continued to act on stage in a range of iconic productions, including "Yellow Jack," "The Children's Hour," and "Mr. Roberts" (as Doc).

In the late 1940s, Keith dedicated himself to film work full-time, becoming a well-respected and familiar face in many films of the era. His son Brian, born to his second wife Helena Shipman, had the privilege of sharing the screen with him in several silent films as a child, long before establishing himself as a prominent actor in his own right.

Sadly, Robert Keith passed away in 1966, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.

Career

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1962
The Eleventh Hour
The Eleventh Hour as Dr. Walter Sommers
{"id":103834710,"title":"The Dick Powell Show","year":1962,"character":"Gen. Johanson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-dick-powell-show","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834710.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834710.jpg"},"released":1}
The Dick Powell Show
The Dick Powell Show as Gen. Johanson
{"id":119869,"title":"Duel of Champions","year":"1961","character":"Tullio King of Rome","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/duel-of-champions","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_119869.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_119869.jpg"},"released":1}
1961
Duel of Champions
Duel of Champions as Tullio King of Rome
{"id":66070,"title":"Posse from Hell","year":"1961","character":"Captain Jeremiah Brown","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/posse-from-hell","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66070.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66070.jpg"},"released":1}
Posse from Hell
Posse from Hell as Captain Jeremiah Brown
{"id":32696,"title":"Cimarron","year":"1960","character":"Sam Pegler","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/cimarron-1960","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32696.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32696.jpg"},"released":1}
1960
Cimarron
Cimarron as Sam Pegler
{"id":13523,"title":"They Came to Cordura","year":"1959","character":"Col. Rogers","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/they-came-to-cordura","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/22btcjrgkstg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/22btcjrgkstg.jpg"},"released":1}
1959
{"id":66535,"title":"The Lineup","year":"1958","character":"Julian","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-lineup","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66535.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66535.jpg"},"released":1}
1958
The Lineup
The Lineup as Julian
{"id":94760,"title":"My Man Godfrey","year":"1957","character":"Alexander Bullock","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/my-man-godfrey-1957","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7p176squbni0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7p176squbni0.jpg"},"released":1}
1957
My Man Godfrey
My Man Godfrey as Alexander Bullock
{"id":5392,"title":"Men in War","year":"1957","character":"The Colonel","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/men-in-war","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_5392.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_5392.jpg"},"released":1}
Men in War
Men in War as The Colonel
{"id":66868,"title":"Written on the Wind","year":"1956","character":"Jasper Hadley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/written-on-the-wind","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66868.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66868.jpg"},"released":1}
1956
Written on the Wind
Written on the Wind as Jasper Hadley
{"id":33691,"title":"Ransom!","year":"1956","character":"Police Chief Jim Backett","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/ransom-1956","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_33691.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_33691.jpg"},"released":1}
Ransom!
Ransom! as Police Chief Jim Backett
{"id":12314,"title":"Between Heaven and Hell","year":"1956","character":"Col. Cousins","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/between-heaven-and-hell","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_12314.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_12314.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":12018,"title":"Guys and Dolls","year":"1955","character":"Lt. Brannigan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/guys-and-dolls","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/fesvippbbui0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/fesvippbbui0.jpg"},"released":1}
1955
Guys and Dolls
Guys and Dolls as Lt. Brannigan
{"id":96499,"title":"Love Me or Leave Me","year":"1955","character":"Bernard V. Loomis","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/love-me-or-leave-me-1955","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_96499.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_96499.jpg"},"released":1}
Love Me or Leave Me
Love Me or Leave Me as Bernard V. Loomis
{"id":32425,"title":"Underwater!","year":"1955","character":"Father Cannon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/underwater","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32425.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32425.jpg"},"released":1}
Underwater!
Underwater! as Father Cannon
{"id":67501,"title":"Drum Beat","year":"1954","character":"Bill Satterwhite","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/drum-beat","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67501.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67501.jpg"},"released":1}
1954
Drum Beat
Drum Beat as Bill Satterwhite
{"id":15001,"title":"Young at Heart","year":"1954","character":"Gregory Tuttle","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/young-at-heart","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_15001.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_15001.jpg"},"released":1}
Young at Heart
Young at Heart as Gregory Tuttle
{"id":67573,"title":"The Wild One","year":"1953","character":"Sheriff Harry Bleeker","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-wild-one","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67573.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67573.jpg"},"released":1}
1953
The Wild One
The Wild One as Sheriff Harry Bleeker
{"id":67586,"title":"Battle Circus","year":"1953","character":"Le Lieutenant-Colonel Hillary Whalters","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/battle-circus","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67586.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67586.jpg"},"released":1}
Battle Circus
Battle Circus as Le Lieutenant-Colonel Hillary Whalters
{"id":67828,"title":"Devil's Canyon","year":"1953","character":"Steve Morgan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/devils-canyon-1953","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67828.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67828.jpg"},"released":1}
Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon as Steve Morgan
{"id":82650,"title":"Small Town Girl","year":"1953","character":"Judge Gordon Kimbell","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/small-town-girl-1953","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82650.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82650.jpg"},"released":1}
Small Town Girl
Small Town Girl as Judge Gordon Kimbell
{"id":68169,"title":"Somebody Loves Me","year":"1952","character":"Sam Doyle","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/somebody-loves-me","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68169.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68169.jpg"},"released":1}
1952
{"id":186812,"title":"Just Across the Street","year":"1952","character":"Walter Medford","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/just-across-the-street","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186812.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186812.jpg"},"released":1}
Just Across the Street
Just Across the Street as Walter Medford
{"id":68258,"title":"Fourteen Hours","year":"1951","character":"Paul E. Cosick","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/fourteen-hours","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68258.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68258.jpg"},"released":1}
1951
Fourteen Hours
Fourteen Hours as Paul E. Cosick
{"id":68372,"title":"Here Comes the Groom","year":"1951","character":"George Degnan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/here-comes-the-groom","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68372.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68372.jpg"},"released":1}
Here Comes the Groom
Here Comes the Groom as George Degnan
{"id":68330,"title":"I Want You","year":"1951","character":"Thomas Greer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/i-want-you-1951","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68330.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68330.jpg"},"released":1}
I Want You
I Want You as Thomas Greer
{"id":103834779,"title":"The Philco Television Playhouse","year":1951,"character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-philco-television-playhouse","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834779.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834779.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":68741,"title":"My Foolish Heart","year":"1950","character":"Henry Winters","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/my-foolish-heart","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68741.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68741.jpg"},"released":1}
1950
My Foolish Heart
My Foolish Heart as Henry Winters
{"id":68627,"title":"Branded","year":"1950","character":"T. Jefferson Leffingwell","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/branded-1950","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68627.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68627.jpg"},"released":1}
Branded
Branded as T. Jefferson Leffingwell
{"id":82759,"title":"Woman on the Run","year":"1950","character":"Inspector Martin Ferris","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/woman-on-the-run","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82759.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82759.jpg"},"released":1}
Woman on the Run
Woman on the Run as Inspector Martin Ferris
{"id":94968,"title":"Edge of Doom","year":"1950","character":"Mandel","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/edge-of-doom","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_94968.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_94968.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":174571,"title":"The Reformer and the Redhead","year":"1950","character":"Tim Harveigh","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-reformer-and-the-redhead","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174571.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174571.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":69585,"title":"Boomerang!","year":"1947","character":"'Mac' McCreery","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/boomerang-1947","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69585.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69585.jpg"},"released":1}
1947
Boomerang!
Boomerang! as 'Mac' McCreery
{"id":74629,"title":"The Shadow Laughs","year":"1933","character":"George Hackett","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-shadow-laughs","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_74629.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_74629.jpg"},"released":1}
1933
The Shadow Laughs
The Shadow Laughs as George Hackett
{"id":12190,"title":"Abraham Lincoln","year":"1930","character":"Union Courier (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/abraham-lincoln","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_12190.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_12190.jpg"},"released":1}
1930
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln as Union Courier (uncredited)