Keith Andes(1920-2005)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
1950s and 60s second lead actor Keith Andes fits into the tall, handsome, strapping and highly virile mold that encompassed the likes of
George Nader,
Guy Madison, and
Jeffrey Hunter. Although he may
not be as well remembered as the aforementioned, he managed to maintain
a reliable career on radio (from age 12), stage, TV and films for over
three decades.
Born John Charles Andes on July 12, 1920, in Ocean City,
New Jersey, Keith found work on radio singing and acting throughout his
high school years. While serving with the Air Force during WWII, he
performed in the patriotic 1943 Broadway stage show "Winged Victory"
and, after being seen by studio mogul
Darryl F. Zanuck, was given a minor
part in the film version the following year.
Keith returned to
Hollywood in the post-war years and won the role of one of
Loretta Young's brothers (the others being
Lex Barker and
James Arness) in the classic film
The Farmer's Daughter (1947).
His enviable physique and photogenic good looks made the blond looker
an obvious choice to continue in both rugged adventures and beefcake
drama but his output was fairly minimal. In
Clash by Night (1952), one of his
best roles, he dallied hot and heavy with a young
Marilyn Monroe and, in
Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952),
he demonstrated some expert swashbuckling skills.
Meanwhile on the
musical front, Keith proved he had a resilient baritone. He won a
Theatre World Award for "The Chocolate Soldier" in 1947 and,
subsequently, starred in "Kiss Me Kate" with
Anne Jeffreys of TV's
Topper (1953) fame. More notably, he
appeared opposite Lucille Ball in her only
Broadway musical "Wildcat" in 1960, winding things up playing "Don
Quixote" for over 400 performances in "Man of La Mancha" in 1968. Ironically, the movie studios did not take advantage of Keith's musical
prowess, appearing in a bland role with
Jane Powell and singing one musical
number in
The Girl Most Likely (1957).
Beside numerous episodic appearances on such popular 60's and 70's shows as "Have Gun, Will Travel," "The Rifleman," "77 Sunset Strip," "Perry Mason," "The Outer Limits," "Daniel Boone," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Star Trek," "I Spy," "Petticoat Junction," "Gunsmoke," "Cannon" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," Keith co-starred in two television
series:
This Man Dawson (1959) and
the sitcom Glynis (1963), the latter
starring popular Brit actress Glynis Johns.
Both were short-lived. He occasionally found voiceover work.
After a minor part in the film And Justice for All (1979), Keith made his final appearance as Father Adam in the TV movie drama Blinded by the Light (1980) ). He then retired, bought and lived on a boat and ran charters on trips to Catalina and Mexico. Twice married and divorced, Keith had two children (Mark and Matt) by first wife, Jean Alice Cotton. Mark Andes became a rock musician. Keith's second wife was actress/dancer/choreographer Shelah Hackett.
Sadly, his final years were marred by extreme ill health, including bladder
cancer, and he committed suicide in his Santa Clarita, California home
at age 85.
George Nader,
Guy Madison, and
Jeffrey Hunter. Although he may
not be as well remembered as the aforementioned, he managed to maintain
a reliable career on radio (from age 12), stage, TV and films for over
three decades.
Born John Charles Andes on July 12, 1920, in Ocean City,
New Jersey, Keith found work on radio singing and acting throughout his
high school years. While serving with the Air Force during WWII, he
performed in the patriotic 1943 Broadway stage show "Winged Victory"
and, after being seen by studio mogul
Darryl F. Zanuck, was given a minor
part in the film version the following year.
Keith returned to
Hollywood in the post-war years and won the role of one of
Loretta Young's brothers (the others being
Lex Barker and
James Arness) in the classic film
The Farmer's Daughter (1947).
His enviable physique and photogenic good looks made the blond looker
an obvious choice to continue in both rugged adventures and beefcake
drama but his output was fairly minimal. In
Clash by Night (1952), one of his
best roles, he dallied hot and heavy with a young
Marilyn Monroe and, in
Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952),
he demonstrated some expert swashbuckling skills.
Meanwhile on the
musical front, Keith proved he had a resilient baritone. He won a
Theatre World Award for "The Chocolate Soldier" in 1947 and,
subsequently, starred in "Kiss Me Kate" with
Anne Jeffreys of TV's
Topper (1953) fame. More notably, he
appeared opposite Lucille Ball in her only
Broadway musical "Wildcat" in 1960, winding things up playing "Don
Quixote" for over 400 performances in "Man of La Mancha" in 1968. Ironically, the movie studios did not take advantage of Keith's musical
prowess, appearing in a bland role with
Jane Powell and singing one musical
number in
The Girl Most Likely (1957).
Beside numerous episodic appearances on such popular 60's and 70's shows as "Have Gun, Will Travel," "The Rifleman," "77 Sunset Strip," "Perry Mason," "The Outer Limits," "Daniel Boone," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Star Trek," "I Spy," "Petticoat Junction," "Gunsmoke," "Cannon" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," Keith co-starred in two television
series:
This Man Dawson (1959) and
the sitcom Glynis (1963), the latter
starring popular Brit actress Glynis Johns.
Both were short-lived. He occasionally found voiceover work.
After a minor part in the film And Justice for All (1979), Keith made his final appearance as Father Adam in the TV movie drama Blinded by the Light (1980) ). He then retired, bought and lived on a boat and ran charters on trips to Catalina and Mexico. Twice married and divorced, Keith had two children (Mark and Matt) by first wife, Jean Alice Cotton. Mark Andes became a rock musician. Keith's second wife was actress/dancer/choreographer Shelah Hackett.
Sadly, his final years were marred by extreme ill health, including bladder
cancer, and he committed suicide in his Santa Clarita, California home
at age 85.