# Brian Keith > American actor (1921–1997) **Wikidata**: [Q710862](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q710862) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Keith) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/brian-keith # Brian Keith ## Summary Brian Keith (born Robert Alba Keith; November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997) was an American actor, character actor, stage actor, film actor, television actor, and television director. Over a prolific career spanning from 1924 to 1997, he became recognized for his work across multiple entertainment mediums, including significant contributions to the Western genre. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and received the Air Medal for his service during World War II. ## Biography - **Born**: November 14, 1921 - **Died**: June 24, 1997 - **Nationality**: United States - **Also Known As**: Robert Alba Keith - **Education**: E. F. Schreyer (identified via structured property Q5329299) - **Known for**: Multi-decade career as a character actor across film, television, and stage; work in Westerns - **Fields**: Film, Television, Stage, Western genre - **Career Span**: 1924–1997 - **Military Service**: World War II - **Website**: http://www.briankeith.com ## Contributions Brian Keith maintained an active performing and directing career for over seven decades. His work as a character actor involved playing distinctive, often unusual or eccentric roles across dramatic and comic productions. He appeared in films, on television, and in live stage performances. Keith also contributed behind the camera as a television director. His association with the Western genre placed him within one of the most enduring multimedia storytelling traditions of the American Old West. His career began in 1924 and concluded in 1997, the year of his death. ## FAQs **What was Brian Keith's real name?** Brian Keith was born Robert Alba Keith. He used Brian Keith professionally throughout his career. **How long did Brian Keith's entertainment career last?** Keith's career spanned from 1924 to 1997, a period of approximately 73 years, beginning when he was a young child and continuing until his death. **Did Brian Keith serve in the military?** Yes. Keith served during World War II, the global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945. He received the Air Medal, a United States military decoration awarded for meritorious achievement in aerial flight. **What recognitions did Brian Keith receive?** Keith was awarded the Air Medal for his World War II service and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located in Hollywood, California. **In what genres and formats did Brian Keith work?** Keith worked as a film actor, television actor, stage actor, and character actor. He also directed television programs. He was notably associated with the Western genre. ## Why They Matter Brian Keith represents a rare example of a performer whose career bridged the early years of Hollywood and the modern television era. Beginning as a child actor in 1924 and working steadily for over seven decades, Keith witnessed and participated in the evolution of American entertainment across stage, film, and television. His versatility as a character actor—capable of portraying eccentric and unusual figures—made him a reliable presence in productions spanning multiple genres and formats. His work in Westerns contributed to a genre that remains central to American cultural identity. Behind the camera, his television directing further extended his influence on the medium. Keith's military service during World War II, recognized with the Air Medal, connects him to the broader generation of entertainers who served during the global conflict before returning to shape postwar American culture. ## Notable For - **Seven-decade career**: Active in entertainment from 1924 to 1997 - **Character acting**: Specialized in portraying unusual, distinctive, and eccentric characters - **Multi-medium performer**: Worked across stage, film, and television - **Television director**: Directed television programs in addition to performing - **Western genre contributor**: Associated with the multimedia genre set in the American Old West - **World War II veteran**: Served during the 1939–1945 global conflict - **Air Medal recipient**: Received the U.S. military decoration established September 11, 1942 - **Hollywood Walk of Fame**: Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - **International cataloging**: Documented across dozens of major databases and library systems worldwide - **Online presence**: Maintained an official website at briankeith.com; referenced in Disney's internal database ## Body ### Early Life and Identity Brian Keith was born Robert Alba Keith on November 14, 1921. He was a human male and citizen of the United States. His career in entertainment began in 1924, when he was approximately three years old, indicating he started as a child performer. ### Military Service Keith served in the United States military during World War II, the global conflict spanning 1939 to 1945. For his service, he was awarded the Air Medal, a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The Air Medal was established on September 11, 1942, and is awarded for heroic achievement or meritorious service in aerial flight. ### Acting Career Keith's professional performing career lasted from 1924 until 1997. His occupations included: - **Actor**: A person who acts in dramatic or comic productions across film, television, theatre, or radio - **Character actor**: An actor who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters - **Stage actor**: An actor who performs live before an in-person audience - **Television actor**: An actor who performs on television - **Film actor**: An actor who appears in films His genre association included Q21590660, linking him to the Western genre—the multimedia genre of stories set primarily in the American Old West. ### Directing Work Beyond performing, Keith worked as a television director, taking on the role of directing television programs. This dual role as both performer and director placed him among versatile entertainment professionals who contributed to productions from multiple perspectives. ### Recognition Keith received two notable recognitions: - **Air Medal**: A United States military decoration for his World War II service - **Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame**: An award located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, United States ### Digital and Institutional Presence Keith is documented extensively across numerous international databases, catalogs, and platforms. Key identifiers include: - **IMDb**: nm0001417 - **Library of Congress**: n85185290 - **Find a Grave**: 4988 - **Hollywood Walk of Fame**: 2447 - **ISNI**: 0000000078389352 - **VIAF**: 2656573 - **GND**: 141156422 - **BNF**: 13895916w - **SUDOC**: 156561921 - **Freebase**: /m/02zyq6 - **Wikidata sitelinks**: 30 connected pages - **Wikipedia**: Listed under the title "Brian Keith" Additional cataloging spans BNE (XX1518400), NTA (073110272), MusicBrainz (multiple IDs: 47306, 75722, 77310), VIAF alternatives, and numerous entertainment industry databases including AllMovie (p37385), FilmAffinity (52834), and Rotten Tomatoes (23989). He is also referenced in Disney's internal database (disney:Brian_Keith). ### Educational Background Keith's structured data indicates an education connection to entity Q5329299, identified as E. F. Schreyer. ### Timeline - **1921**: Born November 14 as Robert Alba Keith - **1924**: Career begins in entertainment - **1939–1945**: Serves during World War II; receives Air Medal - **1997**: Career concludes; dies June 24 ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. Integrated Authority File 3. datos.bne.es 4. Virtual International Authority File 5. SNAC 6. Internet Broadway Database 7. Find a Grave 8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 9. CONOR.SI 10. Library of Congress Control Number 11. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data 12. The Movie Database