biography
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). 
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 andesClash By Night (1952)  
With Marilyn Monroe in RKO's noir thriller Clash By NightBlackbeard, the Pirate (1952)The Second Greatest Sex (1955)
As Reverend Maxwell in Universal's musical The Second Greatest SexAway All Boats (1956)  
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 NaderPillars of the Sky (1956) 
From the Universal western Pillars of the Sky. LEFT: With Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone. RIGHT: With Jeff ChandlerThe Girl Most Likely (1957) 
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 RobertsonDamn Citizen (1958)
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 DawsonThis Man Dawson (1958)
Promotional materials for Andes' 1959 syndicated series This Man DawsonModel for Murder (1959)Follow the Sun (1961-1962 ABC TV Series)
With Rhonda Fleming in an episode of Follow the Sun titled Marine of the Month, which originally aired March 4, 1962Paradise Bay (1965-1966 NBC TV Series)
From Andes' 1965-1966 NBC TV series Paradise Baylater yearsOn 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. |
filmographyFILM
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This page premiered October 16, 2003.
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