Dennis O’Keefe was a popular American actor and screenwriter who appeared in over 100 films and several TV shows from the 1930s to the 1960s. He was known for his roles in comedies, dramas, action, and crime films, as well as his work behind the camera as a writer and director. He died of lung cancer at the age of 60 on August 31, 1968, in Santa Monica, California
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Early Life and Career
Dennis O’Keefe was born Edward Vance Flanagan on March 29, 1908, in Fort Madison, Iowa. His parents were both vaudevillians of Irish descent, and he joined their act as an infant. He later wrote skits for the stage and attended the University of Southern California, but dropped out after his father’s death
He started in films as an extra in 1931, using the name Bud Flanagan. He got his big break in 1937, when Clark Gable recommended him to MGM, which signed him to a contract and renamed him Dennis O’Keefe. He played the lead role in Burn ‘Em Up O’Connor (1939), a racing drama, and co-starred with Wallace Beery in The Bad Man of Brimstone (1938), a western. He left MGM in 1940 and worked as a freelance actor for various studios
Peak of Fame and Versatility
O’Keefe reached the peak of his fame and versatility in the 1940s and 1950s, when he starred in a variety of genres and showed his talent as a comedian, a tough guy, and a romantic lead. He was praised for his performances in the Val Lewton-produced horror film The Leopard Man (1943), the supernatural comedy Topper Returns (1941), and the film noir classics T-Men (1947) and Raw Deal (1948), both directed by Anthony Mann. He also co-wrote the screenplay for T-Men under the pen name Jonathan Rix
He also appeared in several musicals, such as Doll Face (1946) with Carmen Miranda, and Brewster’s Millions (1945), the funniest version of the oft-filmed story. He also ventured into directing and writing, making his debut with Angela (1954), a crime thriller set in Rome. He wrote several mystery stories and scripts for films and TV shows, using the pseudonyms Jonathan Rix and Al Everett Dennis
Television and Final Years
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, O’Keefe focused more on television than films. He starred in his own sitcom, The Dennis O’Keefe Show (1959-1960), playing a widowed newspaper columnist and father of a young boy. He also guest-starred in several TV series, such as Justice, The Ford Show, Studio 57, and Climax!. He also hosted Suspicion, an anthology series produced by Alfred Hitchcock, for two episodes in 1957
His last film appearance was in The Naked Flame (1964), a British crime drama. His last Broadway appearance was in Never Live Over a Pretzel Factory (1964), a comedy. He died four years later, leaving behind his wife, actress Steffi Duna, and two children. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California
Legacy and Influence
Dennis O’Keefe was a versatile and prolific actor who entertained audiences with his charm, humor, and charisma. He was also a talented writer and director who contributed to the film industry with his creativity and vision. He influenced many actors who followed him, such as Jack Lemmon, James Garner, and Steve McQueen. He was also admired by his peers, such as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and Alfred Hitchcock. He was a star who could do it all, and he left a lasting legacy in Hollywood