Dennis O'Keefe

Biography

Dennis O'Keefe (March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. He was the son of Irish vaudevillians working in the United States. As a small child he joined his parents' act and later wrote skits for the stage.

O'Keefe started in films as an extra in the early 1930s. After a small but impressive role in Saratoga, Clark Gable recommended O'Keefe to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which signed him to a contract in 1937. His film roles were bigger after that, starting with The Bad Man of Brimstone and Burn 'Em Up O'Connor.

O'Keefe left MGM around 1940 but continued to work in mostly lower budget productions. In the 1950s he did some directing, wrote mystery stories and by the mid-1950s found work on television shows such as Justice, The Martha Raye Show, The Ford Show as well as his own series The Dennis O'Keefe Show.

Known For

Petticoat Junction 1963 ★ 5.9
Riverboat 1959 ★ 6.5
The Dennis O'Keefe Show 1959 ★ 7.5
Screen Director's Playhouse 1955 ★ 7.0
Climax! 1954 ★ 3.8
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars 1951 ★ 7.2
Robert Montgomery Presents 1950 ★ 6.0
Your Show of Shows 1950 ★ 7.3
Suspense 1949 ★ 5.1
Studio One 1948 ★ 5.4
T-Men 1947 ★ 6.8
Hangmen Also Die! 1943 ★ 6.9
Topper Returns 1941 ★ 6.5
Captains Courageous 1937 ★ 7.4
A Star Is Born 1937 ★ 7.2
Libeled Lady 1936 ★ 7.3
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1936 ★ 7.5
Top Hat 1935 ★ 7.3
Duck Soup 1933 ★ 7.3
42nd Street 1933 ★ 6.9
I'm No Angel 1933 ★ 6.4
Scarface 1932 ★ 7.4
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang 1932 ★ 7.8
Cimarron 1931 ★ 5.5