- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRolland Keith Richey
- Height5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
- Robert Keith was an American character actor who appeared in a number of prominent films and was the father of actor Brian Keith. A native of Indiana, Keith joined a stock company as a teenager and developed skills as a writer and actor. He appeared in dozens of plays around the country and on Broadway.
He came to the attention of Hollywood as a writer after his play "The Tightwad" appeared in New York in 1927. He was contracted to write dialog for pictures and managed to act in several as well. He returned to Broadway as a playwright in 1932 and continued to act on the stage in a number of legendary theatre productions including "Yellow Jack", "The Children's Hour" and "Mr. Roberts" (as Doc).
In the late 1940s he returned to film work full-time and became a familiar and respected performer in films of the period. His son Brian, by his second wife, Helena Shipman, appeared with him in several silent films as a child, long before becoming a star in his own right. Robert Keith died in 1966.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
- SpousesDorothy Tierney(May 10, 1930 - December 23, 1966) (his death)Peg Entwistle(April 18, 1927 - May 2, 1929) (divorced)Helena Shipman(June 7, 1922 - January 15, 1926) (divorced, 1 child)Laura Corinne Jackson(July 18, 1918 - ?) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenLaura Corinne Richey
- ParentsJames Haughey RicheyMary Della Snyder
- Father of the actor Brian Keith.
- He married the highly regarded and successful Theater Guild actress Peg Entwistle. They married on April 18, 1927 while she was the female lead in the Broadway hit, "Tommy". The marriage was a civil affair and took place in the New York City Municipal Building in Manhattan. Actor Frank Allworth and Keith's mother, Mary D. Robinson, were the witnesses. Entwistle later achieved her greatest fame posthumously in 1932, when she committed suicide by jumping to her death from the top of the letter "H" in the famous Hollywood Sign.
- Originated the role of "Doc" in the Broadway production of "Mr. Roberts." The film version featured William Powell in the role. Later starred in a remake of My Man Godfrey (1936), which was originally featured Powell as the title character.
- Twice played a policeman pitted against a bad boy played by Marlon Brando: in The Wild One (1953) and Guys and Dolls (1955).
- Robert Keith is often best remembered today for his final acting role on television in an episode of " The Twilight Zone " with the title " The Masks "which first aired on March 20, 1964. It is one of the most popular episodes when in reruns.
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