Dennis O'Keefe

Born: 1908-03-29 in Fort Madison, Iowa, USA

Died: 1968-08-31

Known For: Acting

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.

Filmography

1964

The Naked Flame as Paul Ashley

1963

Petticoat Junction as Walter O'Connor

1961

All Hands on Deck as Brian O'Gara

1959

Riverboat as Dan Muldoon
The Dennis O'Keefe Show as Hal Towne

1957

Suspicion as Self - Host
Dragoon Wells Massacre as Capt. Matt Riordan
Lady of Vengeance as William T. Marshall
Sail Into Danger as Steve Ryman

1956

The Steve Allen Show as Self - Singer
Confession as Ben Birch

1955

Screen Director's Playhouse as Reverend Charles Parker
Inside Detroit as Blair Vickers
Chicago Syndicate as Barry Amsterdam
Las Vegas Shakedown as Joe Barnes

1954

Climax! as Inspector Marney
The Black Knight ... (Dialogue)
Angela as Steve Catlett
The Diamond Wizard as Joe Dennison
Drums of Tahiti as Mike Macklin

1953

The Fake as Paul Mitchell
The Lady Wants Mink as Jim Connors

1952

One Big Affair as Jimmy Donovan
The Gulf Playhouse
Everything I Have Is Yours as Alec Tacksbury

1951

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Prof. Stephen Bolt
The Company She Keeps as Larry
Follow the Sun as Chuck Williams
Passage West as Jacob Karns

1950

Robert Montgomery Presents
Your Show of Shows
Lux Video Theatre as Second Man
Woman on the Run as Dan Legget
The Eagle and the Hawk as Whitney Randolph

1949

Suspense
Cover Up as Sam Donovan
Siren of Atlantis as Jean Morhange
Abandoned as Mark Sitko
The Great Dan Patch as David Palmer

1948

Studio One as Will
Raw Deal as Joe Sullivan
Walk a Crooked Mile as Daniel F. O'Hara

1947

T-Men as Dennis O'Brien / Vannie Harrigan
Dishonored Lady as Dr. David Cousins
Mr. District Attorney as Steve Bennett

1946

Her Adventurous Night as Bill Fry

1945

Doll Face as Michael Francis 'Mike' Hannegan
The Affairs of Susan as Bill Anthony
Brewster's Millions as Montague L. 'Monty' Brewster
Getting Gertie's Garter as Kenneth B. Ford
Earl Carroll Vanities as Danny Baldwin

1944

The Fighting Seabees as Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
The Story of Dr. Wassell as Benjamin 'Hoppy' Hopkins
Sensations of 1945 as Junior Crane
Up in Mabel's Room as Boris
Abroad with Two Yanks as Jeff Reardon

1943

Hangmen Also Die! as Jan Horak
The Leopard Man as Jerry Manning
Hi Diddle Diddle as Sonny Phyffe
Good Morning, Judge as David Barton
Tahiti Honey as Mickey Monroe

1942

Moonlight Masquerade as John Bennett Jr.
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine as Mike Jason

1941

Topper Returns as Bob
Broadway Limited as Dr. Harvey North
Mr. District Attorney as P. Cadwallader Jones
Lady Scarface as Lieutenant Bill Mason
Weekend for Three as Jim 'Jimbo' Craig

1940

Arise, My Love as Shep
Bowery Boy as Dr. Tom O'Hara
You'll Find Out as Chuck Deems
I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now as Tod Lowell
La Conga Nights as Steve Collins
Girl from Havana as Woody Davis
Pop Always Pays as Jeff Thompson
Alias the Deacon as Johnny Sloan

1939

That's Right – You're Wrong as Chuck Deems
The Kid From Texas as William Quincy
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor as Jerry O'Connor
Unexpected Father as Jimmy Hanley

1938

Hold That Kiss as Tommy Bradford
Vacation from Love as Bill Blair
A Yank at Oxford as Racetrack Handler (uncredited)
The Chaser as Tom Brandon
The Kid Comes Back ... (Story)

1937

A Star Is Born as Burke's Party Guest (uncredited)
Captains Courageous as Bit Role (uncredited)
Make Way for Tomorrow as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Saratoga as Party guest
The Firefly as French Soldier Admirer (uncredited)
Easy Living as Office Manager (uncredited)
One Mile from Heaven as Party Guest
Riding on Air as Radium Plane 23 Co-Pilot (uncredited)
History Is Made at Night as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Vogues of 1938 as Nightclub Patron
The Bad Man of Brimstone as Jeffrey Burton
The Great Gambini as Nightclub Patron
Top of the Town as Frank
Swing High, Swing Low as Purser (uncredited)
The Girl from Scotland Yard as John
Mama Steps Out as Dance Extra
Champagne Waltz as Dance Extra at Blue Danube Room

1936

Libeled Lady as Barker at Charity Affair (uncredited)
Fury as Reporter (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town as Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
San Francisco as New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
Show Boat
The Singing Kid as Bud (uncredited)
Small Town Girl as Man Dancing in Tavern (uncredited)
Private Number as Gambler (Uncredited)
Three Smart Girls as Nightclub Extra
Beloved Enemy as Reception Guest (Uncredited)
Great Guy as Party Guest (Uncredited)
Sworn Enemy as Bandleader (uncredited)
Rhythm on the Range as Sidewalk Heckler
The Accusing Finger as Reporter
Sinner Take All as Night Club Guest (uncredited)
Theodora Goes Wild as Man (uncredited)
The Big Broadcast of 1937 as Sound Technician (uncredited)
Strike Me Pink as Club Lido Patron (uncredited)
Piccadilly Jim as Petie McGregor (uncredited)
Yours for the Asking as Man (uncredited)
13 Hours by Air as Baker-Co-Pilot
Colleen as Extra on Dance Floor (uncredited)
Love Before Breakfast as College Boy (uncredited)
Rose Bowl as Jones
Burning Gold as Derrick Worker

1935

Top Hat as Elevator Passenger / Hotel Guest / Dancer (uncredited)
The Gilded Lily as Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
The Wedding Night as Party Guest (uncredited)
It's in the Air as Announcer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Mississippi as Party Guest (uncredited)
One New York Night as Extra
A Feather in Her Hat as Theatergoer (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas as Member of Audience
Personal Maid's Secret as Dinner Guest
The Daring Young Man as Wedding Participant
Baby Face Harrington as Country Club Patron (uncredited)
Broadway Hostess as Donald Ross - Ronnie's Friend (uncredited)
Here Comes the Band as Party Guest at Reunion (uncredited)
White Lies as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
Every Night at Eight as Huxley Employee (uncredited)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl as Dancer (uncredited)
The Misses Stooge as Party Guest (uncredited)

1934

Wonder Bar as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Imitation of Life as Party Guest (uncredited)
Jimmy the Gent as Chester Coote (uncredited)
Broadway Bill as (uncredited)
Fog Over Frisco as Van Brugh, Reporter (Uncredited)
A Lost Lady as Dance Extra (uncredited)
Upperworld as Police Photographer (uncredited)
Gift of Gab as Dancer (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Kid Millions as Chorus Boy in Ship's Show (uncredited)
He Was Her Man as Man Leaving Courtroom
The Red Rider as Minor Role
College Rhythm as Department Store Doorman
Desirable as Party Guest
Smarty as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
All of Me as Policeman (uncredited)
Two Heads on a Pillow as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
We're Rich Again as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Lady by Choice as Dance Extra (uncredited)
Coming Out Party as Party Guest
Everything's Ducky as Party Guest

1933

Duck Soup as Bridegroom at Firefly's Reception (uncredited)
42nd Street as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
I'm No Angel as Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933 as Theatregoer (uncredited)
Hello, Everybody! as Casino Patron (uncredited)
The Eagle and the Hawk as Flier (uncredited)
Ann Carver's Profession as Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)
Blood Money as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
The Woman Accused as Party Extra (uncredited)
Lady Killer as Casino Patron (uncredited)
Only Yesterday as New Year's Eve Reveler (Uncredited)
Bombshell as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Girl Missing as Casino Patron (Uncredited)
Cocktail Hour as Party Guest (uncredited)
Torch Singer as Nightclub Patron
Too Much Harmony as Cafe Patron
From Hell to Heaven as Louie - Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole as Nightclub Dance Extra
She Had to Say Yes as Cabaret Patron (uncredited)
The Prizefighter and the Lady as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Phantom of the Air as Party Guest (uncredited)

1932

Scarface as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Huddle as Dancer (uncredited)
Blonde Venus as (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as Café Chateau Dancer (uncredited)
Skyscraper Souls as Stock Brokerage Clerk (Uncredited)
Merrily We Go to Hell as Wedding Usher (uncredited)
The Cabin in the Cotton as Dance Floor Extra at Madge's Party (uncredited)
Night After Night as Drunk Sleeping on a Table (uncredited)
Under Eighteen as Penthouse Party Guest (uncredited)
Big City Blues as Dice Spectator (uncredited)
A Bill of Divorcement as Party Guest
Central Park as Casino Diner (uncredited)
Love Affair as One of Carol's Friends at Party (uncredited)
Bachelor's Affairs as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Man from Yesterday as Cafe Patron

1931

Working Girls as Dance Extra (uncredited)
Cimarron as (uncredited)
The Miracle Woman as Man in Audience (uncredited)
West of Broadway as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Laugh and Get Rich as Young Man at Dance (uncredited)
Honeymoon Trio as Wedding Guest

1930

Reaching for the Moon as Ship's Party Guest (uncredited)