Brian Keith
Biography
Brian Keith was an American actor who worked in film, television, and theater across a career that lasted six decades. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, he was on Broadway in Mister Roberts in 1948 and made his first feature, the Western Arrowhead, in 1953. Sam Peckinpah's brief series The Westerner brought him acclaim, and Disney cast him as the twins' father in The Parent Trap (1961). His films also included The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! (1966), The Yakuza (1974), and The Wind and the Lion (1975), where his part was President Theodore Roosevelt. On television he starred in Family Affair, The Brian Keith Show, and Hardcastle and McCormick, playing a retired judge. Later credits included The Second Civil War (1997) and Rough Riders (1997), as William McKinley. He died in 1997.
75years old at death
- Born Bayonne
- Died Malibu
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Robert Alba Keith
Movie Career
- Films
- 41
- Career span
- 50 years1947 to 1997
Genres
First and latest
Share
Did you know?!
Languages
Because he could speak Russian fluently, Keith was cast in two Russian parts: a Soviet scientist in the 1979 film Meteor and the Soviet premier in NBC's 1982 miniseries World War III.
A role that slipped away
Keith was supposed to appear alongside Joan Crawford in Queen Bee, but he was not in the final version of the film.
Behind the camera
In June 1956, Keith said he had started a company of his own, Michael Productions, and had taken an option on a story called Cairo, written by Robert Blees.
Brian Keith movies on Netflix
Rough Ridersas President William McKinley
The Second Civil Waras General Buford
Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Storyas Cardinal
The Gambler Returns: The Luck Of The Drawas The Westerner
Young Gunsas Buckshot Roberts
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Gloryas Colonel Davy Crockett
The B.R.A.T. Patrolas General Newmeyer
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queenas Police Chief Baxter
Sharky's Machineas Papa
The Mountain Menas Henry Frapp
Meteoras Dr. Dubov
Hooperas Jocko Doyle
Nickelodeonas H.H. Cobb
The Wind and the Lionas Theodore Roosevelt
The Yakuzaas George Tanner
Something Bigas Col. Morgan
Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?as Officer Michael M. Nace
The McKenzie Breakas Capt. Jack Connor
Krakatoa, East of Javaas Connerly
With Six You Get Eggrollas Jake Iverson
Reflections in a Golden Eyeas Lt. Col. Morris Langdon
Nevada Smithas Jonas Cord
The Rare Breedas Bowen
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!as Police Chief Link Mattocks
Way... Way Outas Gen. 'Howling Bull' Hallenby
The Hallelujah Trailas Frank Wallingham
Those Callowaysas Cam Calloway
Savage Samas Uncle Beck Coates
Moon Pilotas Maj. Gen. John M. Vanneman
The Deadly Companionsas Yellowleg
The Parent Trapas Mitch Evers
The Young Philadelphiansas Mike Flanagan
Fort Dobbsas Clett
Run of the Arrowas Captain Clark
Nightfallas John
Storm Centeras Paul Duncan
5 Against the Houseas Brick
The Violent Menas Cole Wilkison
Tight Spotas Vince Striker
Arrowheadas Capt. Bill North
Boomerang!as Man in Mob Behind Courthouse
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!1966as Police Chief Link Mattocks
IMDb rating 7.011K votes
Most often with
John Milius directed two of these films, Andrew V. McLaglen two and Phil Karlson two. Seven actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Burt Reynolds3 films together, 1976 to 1981
Burt Reynolds's page Sharky's Machine1981IMDb rating 6.3Keith as PapaReynolds as Sgt. Tom Sharky
Hooper1978IMDb rating 6.4Keith as Jocko DoyleReynolds as Sonny Hooper
Nickelodeon1976IMDb rating 6.2Keith as H.H. CobbReynolds as Buck Greenway
Martin Landau3 films together, 1965 to 1979
Martin Landau's page Meteor1979IMDb rating 5.1Keith as Dr. DubovLandau as General Adlon
Nevada Smith1966IMDb rating 6.9Keith as Jonas CordLandau as Jesse Coe
The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4Keith as Frank WallinghamLandau as Chief Walks-Stooped-Over
Karl Malden3 films together, 1947 to 1979
Karl Malden's page Meteor1979IMDb rating 5.1Keith as Dr. DubovMalden as Harry Sherwood
Nevada Smith1966IMDb rating 6.9Keith as Jonas CordMalden as Tom Fitch
Boomerang!1947IMDb rating 7.2Keith as Man in Mob Behind CourthouseMalden as Det. Lt. White
Val Avery3 films together, 1965 to 1981
Val Avery's page Sharky's Machine1981IMDb rating 6.3Keith as PapaAvery as Manny
Nevada Smith1966IMDb rating 6.9Keith as Jonas CordAvery as Buck Mason
The Hallelujah Trail1965IMDb rating 6.4Keith as Frank WallinghamAvery as Bartender
Maureen O'Hara3 films together, 1961 to 1966
Maureen O'Hara's page The Rare Breed1966IMDb rating 6.4Keith as BowenO'Hara as Martha Price
The Deadly Companions1961IMDb rating 6.0Keith as YellowlegO'Hara as Kit Tilden
The Parent Trap1961IMDb rating 7.2Keith as Mitch EversO'Hara as Margaret 'Maggie' McKendrick
Frank DeKova3 films together, 1953 to 1964
Frank DeKova's page Those Calloways1964IMDb rating 6.5Keith as Cam CallowayDeKova as Nigosh
Run of the Arrow1957IMDb rating 6.6Keith as Captain ClarkDeKova as Red Cloud
Arrowhead1953IMDb rating 5.9Keith as Capt. Bill NorthDeKova as Chief Chattez
John MiliusDirector, 2 films, 1975 to 1997
All films by John Milius Rough Riders1997IMDb rating 7.3Keith as President William McKinley
The Wind and the Lion1975IMDb rating 6.8Keith as Theodore Roosevelt
Andrew V. McLaglenDirector, 2 films, 1966 to 1971
All films by Andrew V. McLaglen Something Big1971IMDb rating 5.8Keith as Col. Morgan
The Rare Breed1966IMDb rating 6.4Keith as Bowen
Phil KarlsonDirector, 2 films, 1955
All films by Phil Karlson 5 Against the House1955IMDb rating 5.9Keith as Brick
Tight Spot1955IMDb rating 6.6Keith as Vince Striker
Also three films together1 more actor
- Kathryn GrantStorm Center (1956), 5 Against the House (1955) and Tight Spot (1955)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Brian Keith's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$218 million
10 of the 41 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 41 films: 10 worldwide figure; 6 us gross only; 5 never in cinemas; 20 figure not found.
- 10Worldwide figure
- 6US gross only
- 5Never in cinemas
- 20Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$78M35.7% of the total
- 2$45M20.5% of the total
- 3$36M16.3% of the total
- 4$30M13.6% of the total
- 5$13M5.8% of the total
- 6$9.2M4.2% of the total
- 7$4.0M1.8% of the total
- 8$2.2M1.0% of the total
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Air Medal | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










