Howard Keel gained instant stardom as Betty Hutton's singing cowboy love interest in "Annie Get Your Gun" (1950) and subsequently enjoyed half a decade of musical stardom, mostly at MGM, breaking in feisty female fillies in a number of lavish and tuneful comedy-dramas. Tall, rugged and barrel-chested, with a zestful confidence ideal for cheerful braggadocio and a stirring baritone voice to go with it, Keel appeared in a host of other musicals through 1955. Especially notable was "Kiss Me Kate" (1953), the best of his several vehicles opposite soprano Kathryn Grayson, whom at one point Keel was called upon to spank. An even better film was "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954), in which Keel tamed Jane Powell. His good-humored robustness also aided him in similar chastising duties opposite tomboyish Doris Day while on loan to Warner Brothers for "Calamity Jane" (1953).
When traditional song-and-dance musicals were no longer produced regularly by the studio system, Keel's film career declined somewhat in status and in the volume of his output. He had, however, played in several nonmusical adventure films during his peak, and, after a shot at St. Peter in Frank Borzage's "The Big Fisherman" (1959), moved into action leads for the next decade. His most memorable effort in this phase of his career was the science-fiction flick, "Day of the Triffids" (1962) but he also starred in a handful of minor Westerns including "Waco" (1966) and "Red Tomahawk" (1967). He later performed live, singing in nightclubs, on the Broadway and London stages (in "Ambassador"), and on tour in many musical shows. In 1981, Keel, mustachioed and attractively silver-haired, returned to a wide popular audience for over a decade when he began playing Clayton Farlow, second husband to Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) on the popular CBS primetime soap "Dallas".
Family
DAUGHTER: Leslie Keel. Mother Judy Keel.
Companion
WIFE: Helen Anderson. Dancer. Divorced.
WIFE: Judy Keel.
Milestone
1933: Moved to Southern California at age 16 (date approximate)
Worked as a singing busboy in a Los Angeles cafe
Worked for Douglas Aircraft as a manufacturing representative travelling among various company plants; work included singing; won a first prize award at the Mississippi Valley while on the road; also won an award at the Chicago Music Festival
Began singing career with the American Music Theatre in Pasadena, California
Chosen by Oscar Hammerstein II to perform on Broadway in "Carousel"; succeeded John Raitt in the leading role of Billy Bigelow; also took over the leading role of Curly in "Oklahoma"
1947: Recreated the role of Curly when he opened the London stage production of "Oklahoma"
1948: Made feature film debut in a non-singing supporting role in the British crime drama, "The Small Voice"
1950: Signed by MGM; became instant star as the male lead of "Annie Get Your Gun"
1951: Provided the offscreen narration for the Western saga, "Across the Wide Missouri", starring Clark Gable
1951: First film opposite Kathryn Grayson, "Show Boat"
1952: First leading role in a non-musical, "Desperate Search"
1954: Made best-remembered film, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers"
1955: Last musical starring roles, and last musicals for MGM, "Jupiter's Darling" and "Kismet"
1958: Went to Britain to play the leading role in the action drama, "Floods of Fear"
1967: Last leading role, "Red Tomahawk"
1968: Last feature film appearance for over 20 years, "Arizona Bushwhackers"
Starred on the London stage in the musical "Ambassador"; later brought the role to Broadway (date approximate)
Toured the nightclub circuit, sometimes teaming up with his co-star from three MGM musicals of the 1950s, Kathryn Grayson
Toured in stage productions of musicals and comedies including "Camelot", "Man of La Mancha", "Paint Your Wagon", "I Do! I Do!", "Plaza Suite", "Gigi", "Show Boat", "Kismet", "The Most Happy Fella" and "The Fantasticks"
1977: Teamed with Jane Powell on record-breaking national theater tour of "South Pacific"
1978: Reprised screen role of eldest brother Adam in a touring stage version of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", opposite original screen co-star Jane Powell
Joined the cast of the CBS primetime serial drama, "Dallas", which had premiered in 1978; played Clayton Farlow
1983: Recorded first solo album, "And I Love You So"
1994: Was one of the hosts of the feature compilation documentary, "That's Entertainment III", revisiting the MGM musical from the coming of sound through the late 1950s
Bibliography
"Howard Keel: A Bio-Bibliography" Bruce R Leiby 1995
Discography
"And I Love You So" - first solo album, recorded in 1983; certified gold in Great Britain
"Christmas with Howard Keel"
"Dallas" - recorded the novelty song, "J.R., Who Do You Think You Are?" on the soundtrack album from the CBS drama series
"Kiss Me Kate" - soundtrack album from the 1953 MGM film version of the Cole Porter musical
"Lovely to Look At" - soundtrack album from the 1952 MGM musical
"Rose Marie" - soundtrack album from the 1954 MGM film version of the stage operetta
"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" - soundtrack album from the 1954 MGM musical
"Show Boat" - soundtrack album from the 1951 MGM film version of the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II musical
"With Love/Howard Keel--For Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"
Karen
The Man for Everything
Howard Keel embodies everything one looks for in an actor. His talent and performances speak for themselves. Whenever I ...
More>>
jan marcus
I met him
I worked in Palm Springs, CA at Time Warner cable. I was in our lobby one day and saw ...
More>>
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.