Howard Keel

Biography

Known for his rich bass-baritone voice, Howard Keel became a leading star of MGM musicals in the 1950s. Born in Gillespie, Illinois, he made his first public appearance in 1941 in Handel's oratorio Saul and his Broadway debut in 1945, eventually taking the role of Curly in Oklahoma!. MGM signed him in 1949, and his first musical film, Annie Get Your Gun (1950), was a hit that made him a star. He followed with Show Boat (1951), Calamity Jane (1953), Kiss Me Kate (1953) and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). After leaving MGM, he appeared in thrillers and Westerns, including The Day of the Triffids (1963) and The War Wagon (1967), and played Clayton Farlow on Dallas from 1981 to 1991. His later concert and recording work included the album And I Love You So, and he received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960.

85years old at death

Born April 13, 1919Gillespie
Died November 7, 2004Palm Desert
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Harold Clifford Keel (birth name)Also credited as Harold Keel

Movie Career

Films: 12
Career span: 44 years1950 to 1994

Genres

Musical58%, 7 films
Comedy50%, 6 films
Western33%, 4 films
Drama25%, 3 films
Romance25%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
In 1950, Keel played Frank Butler in the film version of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, sharing the screen with Betty Hutton. That musical film debut became a big hit and made him a star.
A first
In 1947, Keel joined the London production of Oklahoma!, the first American postwar musical to travel there. At the Drury Lane Theatre on April 30, 1947, the audience, including the future Queen Elizabeth II, demanded 14 encores.

Howard Keel movies on Netflix

That's Entertainment! III1994IMDb rating 7.5as Self - Host
The War Wagon1967IMDb rating 6.8as Levi Walking Bear
The Day of the Triffids1963IMDb rating 6.1as Bill Masen
Rose Marie1954IMDb rating 5.8as Capt. Mike Malone
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers1954IMDb rating 7.3as Adam Pontipee
Calamity Jane1953IMDb rating 7.2as Wild Bill Hickok
Kiss Me Kate1953IMDb rating 7.0as Fred Graham, "Petruchio"
Ride, Vaquero!1953IMDb rating 6.1as King Cameron
Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2as Narrator (voice)
Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6as Stretch Barnes / Smoky Callaway
Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8as Gaylord Ravenal
Annie Get Your Gun1950IMDb rating 6.8as Frank Butler

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers1954 Comedy, Drama, Musicalas Adam Pontipee
IMDb rating 7.328K votes
The Day of the Triffids1963 Horror, Sci-Fias Bill Masen
IMDb rating 6.19.9K votes
Calamity Jane1953as Wild Bill Hickok
IMDb rating 7.212K votes
The War Wagon1967as Levi Walking Bear
IMDb rating 6.812K votes
Kiss Me Kate1953as Fred Graham, "Petruchio"
IMDb rating 7.07.4K votes
Annie Get Your Gun1950as Frank Butler
IMDb rating 6.85.8K votes
Show Boat1951as Gaylord Ravenal
IMDb rating 6.85.8K votes
Ride, Vaquero!1953as King Cameron
IMDb rating 6.11.3K votes

Most often with

George Sidney directed three of these films. Keenan Wynn appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Keenan Wynn

Bess Flowers

Chet Brandenburg

Clark Gable

Douglas Fowley

J. Carrol Naish

George SidneyDirector, 3 films

Films together

Keenan Wynn3 films together, 1950 to 1967
Keenan Wynn's page
- The War Wagon1967IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Levi Walking BearWynn as Wes Fletcher
- Kiss Me Kate1953IMDb rating 7.0Keel as Fred Graham, "Petruchio"Wynn as Lippy
- Annie Get Your Gun1950IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Frank ButlerWynn as Charlie Davenport
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1951 to 1953
Bess Flowers's page
- Calamity Jane1953IMDb rating 7.2Keel as Wild Bill HickokFlowers as Officer's Wife in Reception Line
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Gaylord RavenalFlowers as Racetrack Spectator
Chet Brandenburg2 films together, 1951 to 1953
Chet Brandenburg's page
- Ride, Vaquero!1953IMDb rating 6.1Keel as King CameronBrandenburg as Townsman
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Gaylord RavenalBrandenburg as Man at New Years Celebration
Clark Gable2 films together, 1951
Clark Gable's page
- Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2Keel as NarratorvoiceGable as Flint Mitchell
- Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6Keel as Stretch Barnes / Smoky CallawayGable as Clark Gable
Douglas Fowley2 films together, 1951
Douglas Fowley's page
- Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2Keel as NarratorvoiceFowley as Tin Cup Owens
- Callaway Went Thataway1951IMDb rating 6.6Keel as Stretch Barnes / Smoky CallawayFowley as Gaffer
J. Carrol Naish2 films together, 1950 to 1951
J. Carrol Naish's page
- Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2Keel as NarratorvoiceNaish as Looking Glass
- Annie Get Your Gun1950IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Frank ButlerNaish as Chief Sitting Bull
George SidneyDirector, 3 films, 1950 to 1953
All films by George Sidney
- Kiss Me Kate1953IMDb rating 7.0Keel as Fred Graham, "Petruchio"
- Show Boat1951IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Gaylord Ravenal
- Annie Get Your Gun1950IMDb rating 6.8Keel as Frank Butler
Also two films together6 more actors
- Ava GardnerRide, Vaquero! (1953) and Show Boat (1951)
- Kurt KasznarKiss Me Kate (1953) and Ride, Vaquero! (1953)
- Ann MillerThat's Entertainment! III (1994) and Kiss Me Kate (1953)
- Kathryn GraysonKiss Me Kate (1953) and Show Boat (1951)
- Bette ArlenShow Boat (1951) and Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
- Tommy RallSeven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Kiss Me Kate (1953)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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Howard Keel's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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