Youth
O'Keeffe was born in Ripley, Tennessee, Ripley, Tennessee. A star American football, football athlete, he attended the United States Air Force Academy and played halfback (American football), halfback on the freshman football team in 1972. However, in 1973 he transferred to Mississippi State University under a football scholarship, playing as an offensive lineman. During this time, he bulked up to . Subsequently, he transferred to University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and became a small college All-American playing both tight end and linebacker. After studying political science and psychology, O'Keeffe became a prison counselor in the Tennessee penal system for a year or two where he became manager of playground activities and inmate weightlifting programs. He left for California to play in a semi-professional Rugby football, rugby team before becoming involved with Cinema of the United States, Hollywood.Acting career
Although O'Keeffe is known for his big break as Tarzan, he is also remembered for his performances in the title role of the first three ''Ator'' sword and sorcery films produced in Europe in the 1980s. The series gained attention in 1991 after a re-edited version of the second installment, released as ''Ator 2 - L'invincibile Orion, Cave Dwellers'', was lampooned on the television series ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (''MST3K''). The episode, which soon became immensely popular among fans, included one of the most-quoted quips in the show's history: "How much Keeffe is in this movie anyway?" "''Miles'' O'Keeffe!" Unlike some of ''MST3K's'' subjects (such as Sandy Frank), O'Keeffe is considered to be a "good sport" and is a fan of the series. He enjoyed the ''MST3K'' treatment of the film so much that he requested a copy of the episode. O'Keeffe gained cult following, cult status in the United Kingdom, UK between 1999 and 2002 as a result of being targeted by chat show host Graham Norton for prank calls, eventually appearing on the show ''So Graham Norton'' to great acclaim.Selected filmography
*''Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981 film), Tarzan, the Ape Man'' (1981), as Tarzan *''Ator l'invincibile, Ator, The Fighting Eagle'' (1982) *''S.A.S. à San Salvador'' (1983), as Malko Linge *''Ator 2 - L'invincibile Orion, The Blade Master'' (a.k.a. ''Ator 2 - L'invincibile Orion'', a.k.a. ''Cave Dwellers'') (1984) *''Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' (1984) *''The Bengal Lancers!'' (1984, unfinished) *''Lone Runner'' (1986) *''Iron Warrior'' (a.k.a. ''Ator 3'') (1987) *''Double Target'' (1987) *''Campus Man'' (1987) *''Waxwork (1988 film), Waxwork'' (1988) *''The Drifter (1988 film), The Drifter'' (1988) *''Phantom Raiders'' (1988), as Python *''Dead On: Relentless II'' (1992) *''Zero Tolerance (1995 film), Zero Tolerance'' (1995) *''Millennium Day'' (1995) *''Silent Hunter'' (1995) *''Pocahontas: The Legend'' (1995), as John Smith (explorer), Captain John Smith *''Marked Man'' (1996) *''Tiger'' (1997) *''True Vengeance'' (1997) *''Dead Tides'' (1997) *''Diamondbacks'' (1999) *''Unconditional Love'' (1999) *''Moving Targets'' (1999) *''Blood and Honor'' (2000) *''Out of the Black'' (2001) *''The Unknown'' (a.k.a. ''Clawed: The Legend of Bigfoot, Sasquatch'') (2005)References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Okeeffe, Miles American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Tennessee 1954 births Living people People from Ripley, Tennessee