biography

Keith Andes Born John Andes on July 12, 1920, in Ocean City, New Jersey, character actor Keith Andes was a graduate of Temple University. With the U.S. entry into World War II, Andes joined the Air Force where he did duty in wartime stage productions. Following the war, Andes headed for the stage, where he often starred in musicals. He soon found success on Broadway and off, touring in The Chocolate Soldier with Billy Gilbert in 1947 and 1948, for which Andes was given the 1947 Theatre World Award. Between plays, he made occasional film appearances in The Farmer's Daughter (1947; with Loretta Young) and Project X (1949; with Jack Lord). In 1949, Andes took over the role of Fred Graham (originated by Alfred Drake) in the Broadway production of Kiss Me, Kate, running through mid 1950.

In the early 1950s, Andes signed with RKO for several pictures, beginning with the film noir thriller Clash By Night (1952; with Barbara Stanwyck and Marilyn Monroe) and the adventure Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952; with Linda Darnell). In 1953, he left RKO and freelanced until signing with Universal-International in 1954. Although Andes had spent years in musical theater, he was cast in just a few musical films, including The Second Greatest Sex (1955; with George Nader and Mamie Van Doren) and The Girl Most Likely (1957; with Jane Powell, Cliff Robertson, and Kaye Ballard).

Keith Andes With Universal-International's dismissal of nearly all its contract players in the late 1950s, Andes' film career began to slide. After starring in the short-lived syndicated detective series This Man Dawson during the 1959-1960 season, Andes returned to Broadway, starring in the musical Wildcat with Lucille Ball from late 1960 to mid 1961. At about the same time, following a divorce from his first wife, Andes married fellow Broadway performer Shelah Hackett. Throughout the 1960s Andes worked in stage productions and television. He starred in the series Glynis (1963-1964) and Paradise Bay (1965-1966) and in addition made numerous guest appearances on such television series as Perry Mason, The Outer Limits, Star Trek, and I Spy. He was also a voice coach for a number of actors, including Aron Kincaid.

the films of keith andes

Clash By Night (1952)

Keith Andes and Marilyn MonroeKeith Andes and Marilyn MonroeKeith Andes and Marilyn Monroe

With Marilyn Monroe in RKO's noir thriller Clash By Night

Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952)

Keith AndesKeith AndesLinda Darnell and Keith Andes

LEFT: As Edward Maynard in the RKO adventure Blackbeard, the Pirate. RIGHT: With Linda Darnell

The Second Greatest Sex (1955)

Keith Andes

As Reverend Maxwell in Universal's musical The Second Greatest Sex

Away All Boats (1956)

Keith Andes, Richard Boone, Jeff Chandler, Charles McGraw, George Nader, and Lex BarkerJeff Chandler, Keith Andes, and George NaderKeith Andes, Jeff Chandler, and George Nader

LEFT: With Richard Boone, Jeff Chandler, Charles McGraw, George Nader, and Lex Barker in Universal's war drama Away All Boats. CENTER and RIGHT: With Jeff Chandler and George Nader

Pillars of the Sky (1956)

Keith Andes, Jeff Chandler, and Dorothy MaloneKeith Andes and Jeff Chandler

From the Universal western Pillars of the Sky. LEFT: With Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone. RIGHT: With Jeff Chandler

The Girl Most Likely (1957)

Keith AndesKelly Brown, Kaye Ballard, Frank Cady, Tommy Noonan, Judy Nugent, Una Merkel, Jane Powell, Keith Andes, and Cliff Robertson

LEFT: Promotional photo from the musical comedy The Girl Most Likely. This film was released by Universal-International and was produced by RKO. RIGHT: With Kelly Brown, Kaye Ballard, Frank Cady, Tommy Noonan, Judy Nugent, Una Merkel, Jane Powell, and Cliff Robertson

Damn Citizen (1958)

Keith Andes

Promotional photo from Universal's noir Damn Citizen. This film's plot--a chief of police charged with ridding his department of corruption--was the inspiration for Andes' 1959 TV series This Man Dawson

This Man Dawson (1958)

Keith Andes

Promotional materials for Andes' 1959 syndicated series This Man Dawson

Model for Murder (1959)

Hazel Court and Keith AndesKeith Andes and Hazel Court

With Hazel Court in the British Lion film noir release Model for Murder

Follow the Sun (1961-1962 ABC TV Series)

Rhonda Fleming and Keith Andes

With Rhonda Fleming in an episode of Follow the Sun titled Marine of the Month, which originally aired March 4, 1962

Paradise Bay (1965-1966 NBC TV Series)

Keith Andes

From Andes' 1965-1966 NBC TV series Paradise Bay

later years

On a personal front, Andes was married to first wife, Jean, from 1946 to 1960. His second wife was Broadway actress Shelah Hackett, but this union was short-lived. In the 1960s, Andes worked extensively on and off-Broadway, in addition to prolific television work. In the 1970s he returned to films, acting in the low-budget Al Adamson biker flick Hell's Bloody Devils (1970; with Scott Brady) and the big budget Al Pacino drama ...And Justice for All (1979). Andes retired from acting in the early 1980s. After a bout with cancer and other ailments, Andes committed suicide on November 11, 2005, at the age of 85. He was survived by two sons, Mark and Matt, from his first marriage and three grandchildren.

Keith Andes' son Mark Andes (b. 1948) has enjoyed a career in music as a bass player for the bands Spirit, Canned Heat, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and others from the mid 1960s through the present.

filmography

FILM
Blinded by the Light (1980) with Jimmy McNichol, Kristy McNichol, and Grace Zabriskie
...And Justice for All (1979) with Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe, and Lee Strasberg
The Ultimate Impostor (1979) with Erin Gray and John Van Dreelen
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) with Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten, E.G. Marshall, James Whitmore, Jason Robards, Wesley Addy, and Frank Aletter
Hell's Bloody Devils (1970) with Broderick Crawford, Scott Brady, Kent Taylor, Robert Dix, John Carradine, Jack Starrett, and Vicki Volante; directed by Al Adamson
Surrender - Hell! (1959) with Susan Cabot
Model for Murder (1959) with Hazel Court
Damn Citizen (1958) with Maggie Hayes, Lynn Bari, Edward Platt, and Ann Robinson
The Girl Most Likely (1957) with Cliff Robertson, Jane Powell, Kaye Ballard, Tommy Noonan, and Una Merkel
Interlude (1957) with June Allyson, Rossano Brazzi, Frances Bergen, and Jane Wyatt
Pillars of the Sky (1956) with Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Malone, Martin Milner, Ward Bond, Lee Marvin, and Sydney Chaplin
Back from Eternity (1956) with Robert Ryan, Anita Ekberg, Rod Steiger, Phyllis Kirk, Gene Barry, Fred Clark, Jesse White, and Adele Mara
Away All Boats (1956) with Jeff Chandler, George Nader, Lex Barker, Julie Adams, Jock Mahoney, and William Reynolds
The Great Waltz (1955) with Bert Lahr
The Second Greatest Sex (1955) with George Nader, Mamie Van Doren, Jeanne Crain, Bert Lahr, and Kitty Kallen
A Life at Stake (1954) with Angela Lansbury, Claudia Barrett, and Jane Darwell
Split Second (1953) with Stephen McNally, Jan Sterling, Alexis Smith, and Richard Egan
Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) with Linda Darnell, Robert Newton, Richard Egan, William Bendix, Irene Ryan, and Alan Mowbray
Clash by Night (1952) with Marilyn Monroe, Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan, and J. Carrol Naish
Project X (1949) with Jack Lord
The Farmer's Daughter (1947) with Loretta Young, Joseph Cotten, Ethel Barrymore, and Lex Barker
Winged Victory (1944) with Jeanne Crain, Lee J. Cobb, Lon McCallister, Judy Holliday, Peter Lind Hayes, and George Reeves

TELEVISION SERIES
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio, 1967-1969 NBC TV animated series. Andes voiced the Birdman character. Also lending his vocal talents was Ted Cassidy
Paradise Bay, 1965-1966 NBC TV series. Andes portrayed Jeff Morgan. Also in the series were Marion Ross and Dennis Cole
Glynis, 1963 CBS TV series. Andes portrayed Keith Granville. Also in the series was Glynis Johns
This Man Dawson, 1959-1960 syndicated TV series. Andes had the title role in this 30-minute detective series

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, episode Buck's Duel to the Death, originally aired March 20, 1980
Caribe, episode One Second to Doom, originally aired April 14, 1975
Cannon, episode The Investigator, originally aired February 26, 1975
Cannon, episode Trial by Terror, originally aired November 21, 1973
Gunsmoke, episode Matt's Love Story, originally aired September 24, 1973
Search, episode Moment of Madness, originally aired March 14, 1973
Search, episode Countdown to Panic, originally aired February 7, 1973
Cannon, episode Moving Target, originally aired January 31, 1973
The Streets of San Francisco, episode Act of Duty, originally aired January 18, 1973
Cannon, episode A Deadly Quiet Town, originally aired February 15, 1972
Dan August, episode The Manufactured Man, originally aired March 11, 1971
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, Killer on the Loose, originally aired October 11, 1970
Petticoat Junction, episode No, No, You Can't Take Her Away, originally aired March 28, 1970
I Spy, episode Now You See Her, Now You Don't, originally aired October 23, 1967
Star Trek, episode The Apple, originally aired October 13, 1967
I Spy, episode Laya, originally aired September 25, 1967
The Andy Griffith Show, episode Helen, the Authoress, originally aired February 27, 1967
I Spy, episode A Room with a Rack, originally aired February 8 1967
Daniel Boone, episodes The Williamsburg Cannon: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired January 12 and 19, 1967
Run for Your Life, episode Where Mystery Begins, originally aired October 29, 1965
The Lucy Show, episode Lucy the Stunt Man, originally aired October 18, 1965
The Lucy Show, episode Lucy and Joan, originally aired October 11, 1965
Branded, episode Price of a Name, originally aired May 23, 1965
Death Valley Days, episode Paid in Full, originally aired January 1, 1965
Mickey, episode Goodnight, Whoever You Are, originally aired October 28, 1964
The Outer Limits, episode Expanding Human, originally aired October 10, 1964
The Lucy Show, episode Lucy and the Winter Sports, originally aired October 5, 1964
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Illicit Illusion, originally aired April 9, 1964
77 Sunset Strip, episode The Target, originally aired January 24, 1964
The Lucy Show, episode Lucy Goes Duck Hunting, originally aired November 7, 1963
Vacation Playhouse, episode Hide and Seek, originally aired August 5, 1963
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Skeleton's Closet, originally aired May 2, 1963
G.E. True, episode Firebug, originally aired January 27, 1963
The Rifleman, episode The Debt, originally aired March 5, 1962
Follow the Sun, episode Marine of the Month, originally aired March 4, 1962
Have Gun - Will Travel, episode The Piano, originally aired November 11, 1961
Sea Hunt, episode Crime at Sea, originally aired September 16, 1961
Alcoa Theatre, episode Ten Miles to Doomsday, originally aired April 20, 1959
The Gale Storm Show, episode Don't Give Up the Ship, originally aired December 20, 1958
Goodyear Theatre, episode The Lady Takes the Stand, originally aired May 12, 1958
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode The Doctor Was a Lady, originally aired March 27, 1958
Playhouse 90, episode Homeward Borne, originally aired May 9, 1957
Conflict, episode Blind Drop: Warsaw, originally aired January 22, 1957
Producers' Showcase, episode Bloomer Girl, originally aired February 28, 1956
Letter to Loretta episode The Challenge, originally aired January 15, 1956
The Ford Television Theatre, episode Johnny, Where Are You?, originally aired November 3, 1955
The Ford Television Theatre, episode Pretend You're You, originally aired February 10, 1955

keith andes film now showing

Watch Keith Andes' 1953 noir thriller Split Second
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