By Nicholas Stix
Brian Keith has to be on the short list of the most underrated actors in the history of recorded performances. He was underrated because he was understated. He also wasn’t much to look at, though I wouldn’t call him homely. In fact, I could see woman going for his mug, because he a charm about him, though I only know him through his acting.
And yet, as underrated as Keith was, in terms of fandom and prizes, he was clearly very respected by Hollywood producers and directors, who made him the star or co-star of no fewer than eight TV vehicles (most of them short-lived), gave him major roles in several other series, miniseries, and TV and theatrical movies, and who were always calling him on the phone offering him guest star gigs, when he wasn’t in a series. One of those series, the comedy A Family Affair, was a huge success, and earned Keith three consecutive Emmy nominations for best lead actor.
Published on Oct 18, 2014 by Sam Peckinpah's The Westerner (1960).
Episodes of The Westerner (1960) previously aired at WEJB/NSU:
“TV Like You’ve Never Seen It! A Foray into Hell: The Premiere Episode of Sam Peckinpah’s The Westerner (1960)”;
“A Lynching: Classic Sam Peckinpah on TV; The Westerner (1960), Episode 2” “School Days”; and
Episode 3: “Brown” (1960), starring Brian Keith and John Dehner.
Of related interest, at WEJB/NSU:
“Ride the High Country: A Christian Western from… Sam Peckinpah?!
“Unforgettable TV Music: Two Themes from The Rifleman, Composed by Herschel Burke Gilbert”;
“Classic TV Western Themes from Bonanza, Rawhide, Wagon Train and The Rifleman, with Pics of Young Clint Eastwood, Michael Landon, Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, Chuck Connors, John McIntire and the Great Ward Bond!”; and
“The Ballad of Paladin from the Classic Richard Boone TV Western, Have Gun Will Travel, Sung by Johnny Western.”
Did you ever see Brian Keith in "Tight Spot" or Nightfall?" These are two examples of Fifties Noir.
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