Keith Andes (born John Charles Andes, July 12, 1920 – November 11, 2005) was an American actor. He is known for films such as '' Blackbeard the Pirate'' (1952) and '' Clash by Night'' (1952).

Early life

Andes was born to Mr. and Mrs. William G. Andes in Ocean City, New Jersey. By the age of 12, he was featured on the radio. He attended St Edward's School in

Oxford, England Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

, and graduated from

Temple University Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist ministe ...

in Philadelphia in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in education. While at Temple, he was a member of

Sigma Pi Sigma Pi () is a collegiate fraternity in North America. As of 2021, it had more than 5,000 undergraduate members and over 118,000 alumni. The fraternity is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded on February 26, 1897, at Vincennes Uni ...

fraternity, and did not participate in the university's theater program. Instead, he spent his time working as a disc jockey for several Philadelphia-area radio stations, including KYW,

WFIL WFIL (560 AM) is a radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, with a Christian radio format consisting of teaching and talk programs. Owned by Salem Media Group, studios and transmitter facilities are shared with co-owned ...

, and WIP.Keith Andes Ducks Hollywood Social Whirl Scott, John L. ''Los Angeles Times'' 1 Sep 1957: D3.

Career

Early performances

Andes began his acting career while serving in the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He served three years and sang and acted in

United Service Organization The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

shows. He was cast in the play ''Winged Victory'' and then cast by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

in the film ''

Winged Victory The ''Winged Victory of Samothrace'', or the ''Niké of Samothrace'', is a Votive offering, votive monument originally discovered on the island of Samothrace in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Helleni ...

'' (1944). In 1947, Andes received a Theater World Award for his Broadway debut performance in a revival of the operetta '' The Chocolate Soldier''. In 1947, he had a role in the movie '' The Farmer's Daughter'', the film that won

Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Michaela Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1989. She received numerous honors including an Academy Awards ...

her Best Actress Oscar. Andes, Lex Barker and James Arness played the title character's powerfully built and highly protective brothers. Andes's first leading role in a feature film came with '' Project X'' (1949), a low-budget, independent movie. In June 1950, he joined the cast of '' Kiss Me, Kate'' on Broadway, taking over the lead from Alfred Drake, starring in the show for over a year, in New York and on tour. This re-ignited Hollywood's interest in him.Obituary: Keith Andes; Actor and musical star with brooding good looks: irst EditionVallance, Tom. The Independentc24 Dec 2005: 37.

RKO and Universal

Andes appeared as

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

's sweetheart and Barbara Stanwyck's brother in the film '' Clash by Night'' (1952), directed by

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), better known as Fritz Lang (), was an Austrian-born film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety Obituari ...

and co-written by

Clifford Odets Clifford Odets (July 18, 1906 – August 14, 1963) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. In the mid-1930s, he was widely seen as the potential successor to Nobel Prize–winning playwright Eugene O'Neill, as O'Neill began to withd ...

, for RKO. Also for that studio, he played the heroic Lt. Maynard in '' Blackbeard, the Pirate'' (1952) and a supporting role in '' Split Second'' (1953). In 1953, he starred in a short-lived Broadway musical, ''Maggie''. In 1954, he signed a new contract with RKO even though that studio had kept him idle for a year, causing him to miss a part in ''The High and the Mighty''. He was under contract to RKO for three years. He co-starred with Angela Lansbury in the film noir '' A Life at Stake'' (1954) and was one of several male leads in '' The Second Greatest Sex'' (1955) at Universal, where he signed a long-term contract. Andes begin guest starring on TV shows like '' Celebrity Playhouse'', '' The Ford Television Theatre'', '' Matinee Theatre'', ''

The Loretta Young Show ''The Loretta Young Show'' (originally known as ''Letter to Loretta'') is an American anthology drama television series broadcast on Sunday nights from September 2, 1953, to June 4, 1961, on NBC for a total of 165 episodes. The series was hoste ...

'', ''Conflict'' and ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 134 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of t ...

''. He also starred in TV adaptations of '' The Great Waltz'' (playing Johann Strauss, Jr.), ''

Bloomer Girl ''Bloomer Girl'' is a 1944 Broadway theatre, Broadway musical theatre, musical with music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, and a book by Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy, based on an unpublished play by writer Daniel Lewis James and his wife Lili ...

'' (1956) and ''Holiday'' (based on ''The Grand Tour'') (1956). He made two films with Jeff Chandler at Universal, '' Away All Boats'' (1956) and '' Pillars of the Sky'' (1956) and did ''

Back from Eternity ''Back from Eternity'' is a 1956 American Drama (film and television), drama film about a planeload of people stranded in the South American jungle and subsequently menaced by Headhunting, headhunters. The film stars Robert Ryan, Rod Steiger, An ...

'' (1956) at RKO. In 1956, he starred in a pilot for the series ''Doctor Mike'', that was not picked up. At Universal, he had a role in '' Interlude'' (1957), then he appeared in '' The Girl Most Likely'' (1958), the last film made by RKO. Andes guest starred on '' Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre'', '' Goodyear Theatre'', '' Alcoa Theatre'' and '' The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna''. In 1958, Andes starred as crusading former Louisiana State Police Superintendent Francis Grevemberg in the film '' Damn Citizen'' at Universal. He starred in two low-budget features: '' Model for Murder'' (1959) in England and '' Surrender - Hell!'' (1960) in the Philippines.

Television

Andes was cast in a regular series, playing Frank Dawson in the police drama '' This Man Dawson'' (1959–60),Erickson, Hal (1989). ''Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947–1987''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . Pp. 45-46. the story of a former United States Marine Corps colonel who is hired to stop police corruption in a large, unnamed city. On Broadway, Andes starred opposite

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive. She was recognized by ''Time (magazine), Time'' in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for h ...

in the musical ''

Wildcat The wildcat is a species complex comprising two small wild cat species: the European wildcat (''Felis silvestris'') and the African wildcat (''F. lybica''). The European wildcat inhabits forests in Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus, while th ...

'' (1960–61) which ran for 175 performances. When ''Wildcat'' ended Andes resumed his television career, guest starring on '' Sea Hunt'', '' Have Gun - Will Travel'', '' Follow the Sun'', '' Vacation Playhouse'' and ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television series starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show ...

''. In 1963, Andes was cast in the episode "Firebug" of the anthology series '' GE True'', hosted by

Jack Webb John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, Television director, director, and screenwriter, most famous for his role as Joe Friday in the Dragnet (franchise), ''Dragnet'' franchise ...

. In the story line, Victor Buono portrays Charles Colvin, a barber in Los Angeles, who is by night a pyromaniac. The United States Forest Service works to find Colvin before he can set more fires. Later in 1963, Andes was cast in a regular role as the lawyer-husband on the 1963 sitcom '' Glynis'', starring Glynis Johns as his wife, a mystery writer and amateur sleuth. He guest-starred on '' 77 Sunset Strip'', '' Perry Mason'' (in the episodes "The Case of the Skeleton's Closet" and "The Case of the Illicit Illusion"),

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nearly nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last survivi ...

's short-lived sitcom '' Mickey'', '' The Littlest Hobo'', ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'', '' The Outer Limits'', ''

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a Christian martyrs, martyr named Saint Valentine, Valentine, and ...

'', '' Branded'', ''

The Lucy Show ''The Lucy Show'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962 to 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to ''I Love Lucy''. A significant change in cast and premise for the fourth season (1965–1966) divides the program into two distinct ...

'' and '' Run for Your Life''. Andes starred as the manager of a radio station in the serial '' Paradise Bay'', which debuted September 27, 1965. He returned to guest-star roles in ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (, 1734September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyo ...

'', ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The series ...

'' and '' I Spy''. His work included voice acting in the animated '' Birdman and the Galaxy Trio'' (1967) as Birdman.Terrace, Vincent (2011). ''Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 109. In 1967, he toured in a production of '' Man of La Mancha''.

Later career

He appeared as General George C. Marshall in the film '' Tora! Tora! Tora!'' and in the biker movie '' Hell's Bloody Devils'' (1970). He guest-starred on '' Petticoat Junction'', '' The Bold Ones: The New Doctors'', '' Dan August'', '' The Streets of San Francisco'', ''

Search Searching may refer to: Music * "Searchin', Searchin", a 1957 song originally performed by The Coasters * Searching (China Black song), "Searching" (China Black song), a 1991 song by China Black * Searchin' (CeCe Peniston song), "Searchin" (C ...

'', ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', ''

Cannon A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during th ...

'', ''

Caribe Caribe may refer to: * Caribe (Venezuelan TV series), ''Caribe'' (Venezuelan TV series), a Venezuelan telenovela * Caribe (American TV series), ''Caribe'' (American TV series), a 1975 television series produced by Quinn Martin * Caribe, or Cabir ( ...

'' and '' The Magical World of Disney'' ("Twister, Bull from the Sky"). His later appearances included the films '' ...And Justice for All'' (1979) and ''The Ultimate Impostor'' (1979) as well as playing Minister Darius in the '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' episode "Buck's Duel to the Death". Following his final appearance in the TV movie '' Blinded by the Light'' (1980), he retired. He later said "I was divorced, my kids were grown and that is when I bought a boat and lived on it and ran charters on it over to Catalina and down to Mexico and back. I just had a ball."

Personal life

On November 30, 1946, Andes married nurse Jean A. Cotton in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania. The couple divorced in 1961. They had two sons: musicians Mark (in bands Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne,

Firefall Firefall is an American soft rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974. It was founded by Rick Roberts (musician), Rick Roberts, former member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement ...

and

Heart The heart is a muscular Organ (biology), organ found in humans and other animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels together make the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrie ...

) and Matt (also a member of Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne). In 1961, he married Sheila Hackett during a break in ''Wildcat''.

Death

On November 11, 2005, Andes was found dead at his home in

Santa Clarita, California Santa Clarita (; Spanish for "Little St. Clare") is a city in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a 2020 census population of 228,673, it is the third-most populous city in Los Angeles County, the 17th-most popul ...

. He was 85. He had been suffering from

bladder cancer Bladder cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the bladder. These cells can grow to form a tumor, which eventually spreads, damaging the bladder and other organs. Most people with bladder cancer are diagnosed after noticing blood in thei ...

and other ailments (he had been a smoker). His death was ruled as suicide by

asphyxia Asphyxia or asphyxiation is a condition of deficient supply of oxygen to the body which arises from abnormal breathing. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects all the tissues and organs, some more rapidly than others. There are m ...

tion according to a report from the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office.

Filmography

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Andes, Keith 1920 births 2005 deaths 2005 suicides Actors from Cape May County, New Jersey Alumni of the University of Oxford American expatriates in England American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male radio actors American male television actors American male voice actors Male actors from New Jersey Male actors from New York City Male actors from Philadelphia Male actors from Santa Clarita, California Male suicides Military personnel from Cape May County, New Jersey Musicians from Philadelphia People from Newhall, Santa Clarita, California People from Ocean City, New Jersey Sigma Pi members Singers from Pennsylvania Suicides by asphyxiation Suicides in California Temple University College of Education alumni United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers People educated at St Edward's School, Oxford