Date of Birth

13 April 1919, Gillespie, Illinois, USA

Date of Death

7 November 2004, Palm Desert, California, USA

He was the John Wayne, Errol Flynn and Clark Gable of movie musicals. With his barrel-chested swagger and cocky, confident air, not to mention his lusty handsomeness and obvious athleticism, 6'3" brawny baritone Howard Keel had MGM's finest songbirds swooning helplessly for over a decade in what would be the finest musicals cinema ever produced. Born Harold Clifford Keel in Gillespie, IL, in 1919, his childhood was admittedly unhappy, his father being a hard-drinking coal miner and his mother a stern, repressed Methodist homemaker. When Keel was 11 his father died, and the family moved to California. He later earned his living as a car mechanic, then found work during WWII at Douglas Aircraft in Los Angeles. His naturally untrained voice was discovered by the staff of his aircraft company and soon he was performing at various entertainments for the company's clients. He was inspired to sing professionally one day while attending a Hollywood Bowl concert. He quickly advanced through the musical ranks from singing waiter to music festival contest winner to guest recitalist. In 1946 Oscar Hammerstein II "discovered" him during John Raitt's understudy auditions for the role of Billy Bigelow in Broadway's "Carousel." He was cast on sight and the die was cast. Keel managed to understudy Alfred Drake as Curly in "Oklahoma!" as well, and in 1947 took over the rustic lead in the London production, with great success. British audiences took to the charismatic singer and he remained there as a concertist while making his non-singing film debut in the British crime drama The Small Voice (1948) (aka "Hideout"). MGM, which was looking for an answer to Warner Bros.' Gordon MacRae, clamored for him, and he returned to the US. Changing his stage moniker to Howard Keel, he became a star with his first role, as sharpshooter Frank Butler opposite Betty Hutton's Annie Oakley in the popular tunefest Annie Get Your Gun (1950). From then on he would be showcased in many of MGM's biggest and most classic extravaganzas, such as Show Boat (1951), Calamity Jane (1953), Kiss Me Kate (1953) and (his favorite) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) at the top of the list. Kismet (1955) opposite Ann Blyth would be his last, as the passion for movie musicals ran its course. The robust Keel moved effortlessly into rugged (if routine) action fare and appeared in such films as Armored Command (1961), Waco (1966), Red Tomahawk (1967) and The War Wagon (1967), the last one starring John Wayne and featuring Keel as a wisecracking Indian, of all things. In the 1970s he kept his singing voice alive by returning full force to his musical roots. Some of his summer stock and tour productions, which included "Camelot," "South Pacific," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Man of La Mancha," and "Show Boat," reunited him often with such former MGM leading ladies as Kathryn Grayson and Jane Powell. He also worked up a Las Vegas nightclub act with Grayson in the 1970s. Keel became an unexpected TV household name when he replaced Jim Davis as the upstanding family patriarch of the nighttime soap drama "Dallas" (1978) after Davis' untimely death. As Clayton Farlow, Miss Ellie's second husband, he enjoyed a decade of steady work. In later years he continued to appear in concerts. As a result of this renewed fame, he landed his first solo recording contract with "And I Love You So" in 1983. Married three times, he died in 2004 of colon cancer, survived by his third wife, three daughters and one son.

From 1971-1992 he was the father-in-law of actor Edward James Olmos through Olmos' marriage to Keel's daughter Kaija Keel.

Worked as a representative for the Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Southern California before embarking on his singing and acting career

Enjoyed golf

President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1958-1959]

During the shooting of Annie Get Your Gun (1950), he broke his leg when his horse fell on him. He was laid up for six weeks.

Portrayed Curly in the original London cast of "Oklahoma", Fred Graham in "Kiss Me Kate" (1953), and Hajj in "Kismet" (1955). Baritone Alfred Drake originated all three roles on Broadway.

Children with Helen: Kaija Keel (born January 14, 1950), Kirstine Keel (born June 21, 1952) and Gunnar Keel (born June 3, 1955).

Esther Williams gave his daughter, Kaija Keel, swimming lessons.

His third wife was 25 years younger than him.

Daughter with third wife, Judy Keel: Leslie Keel, was born September 1, 1974.

Grandfather of Mico Olmos and Bodie Olmos.

Has some Irish heritage. A lot of his distant family reside in Ireland.

The producers of Kiss Me Kate (1953) signed Kathryn Grayson immediately for the femme lead but actually wanted Laurence Olivier in the Petruchio role with plans to dub his singing voice. Director George Sidney, however, was able to promote Keel enough for him to get the part.

Originally scheduled to portray Franklin Delano Roosevelt in "Sunrise at Campobello," a case of pneumonia forced him to abandon the role before it got to Broadway. Ralph Bellamy replaced him and won numerous awards, including the Tony. Keel played the role eventually on tour.

First wife, Rosemary Cooper, was an actress and second wife, Helen Anderson, was a dancer. Third wife & widow, Judy Keel, was a one-time flight attendant.

In the 1950s, while he was at MGM, a mistake in the publicity department started the rumor that Howard's birth name was Harold Leek. The rumor soon became regarded as fact, though it annoyed Howard very much. His true birth name was Harry Clifford Keel.

Due to his huge size, many of his petite leading ladies had to stand on boxes to be in the same frame.

Was the original choice to play the lead in Singin' in the Rain (1952). The part went to Gene Kelly instead.

Shares birthday with Ron Perlman.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 294-296. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.

Producers approached Howard Keel for the role of Jock Ewing on Dallas (1978) after Jim Davis's death but out of respect for Davis, Keel turned them down and remained in the role of Clayton Farlow.

Before he was a successful actor, he also worked as a singing busboy.

His hobbies included: singing, dancing, watching movies, listening to opera, fishing, golfing, spending time with his family.

Was cremated and his ashes scattered at various favorite places including Mere Golf Club, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, and in Tuscany, Italy.

Survived by ten grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.

Before he was a successful stage actor and singer, he used to work as a traveling representative.

Remained good friends with Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy during and after "Dallas" (1978).

Began his career as a contract player at MGM in 1950.

Was best/good friends with: Ann Miller, Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse, Jack Elam, Keenan Wynn and George Sidney.

After his father's death, he and his mother moved to San Diego, California, in 1930.

Had grown up in a strict Christian environment.

Met Judy Keel on a blind date, who never even heard of her. Judy was 26, Howard was 51.

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