Robert Keith

Robert Keith (b. Fowler, Indiana, February 6, 1896/8 – d. December 22, 1966) – Actor and writer. As a boy growing up in Indiana, Robert Keith worked as an illustrated-slide singer in movie houses. At age sixteen, he started his stage career and eventually made it to Broadway. After writing the play TheTightward (1927), Keith jumped at the opportunity to write dialogue for the new “talking movies” in Hollywood. Working as both a writer and actor, Keith spent several years alternating between Hollywood and Broadway and eventually established himself as popular character actor on film. Among his best-known roles are Lietenant Brannigan in the movie version of the musical Guys and Dolls and Chief Harry Bleeker in the Wild One (both films starring Marlon Brando). His work for television includes lead roles on episodes of the Alfred Hitchcock Hour and the Twilight Zone. Equally famous is his son Brian Keith, who starred as Uncle Bill on Family Affair (CBS, 1966-71). In addition, Keith’s third wife, struggling actress Peg Entwistle, is notorious for jumping to her death from the “H” in the Hollywood sign on September 16, 1932.