Robert Keith

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).

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.

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.

Twice played a policeman pitted against a bad boy played by Marlon Brando: in The Wild One (1953) and Guys and Dolls (1955).

Played Dorothy Malone's character's father twice on film: in Young at Heart (1954) and Written on the Wind (1956).