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Dennis O'Keefe

Actor

Dennis O'Keefe

Born March 29, 1908 in Fort Madison, Iowa, USADied August 31, 1968192 films

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.

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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.

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The best way into Dennis O'Keefe's work
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town posterFirst watchMr. Deeds Goes to Town19367.5as Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)Longfellow Deeds lives in a small town, leading a small town kind of life. When a relative dies and leaves Deeds a fortune, Longfellow moves to the big city where he becomes an instant…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Duck Soup poster7.3Duck Soup1933Scarface poster7.4Scarface1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang poster7.8I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang1932Top Hat poster7.2Top Hat1935Fury poster7.5Fury1936Make Way for Tomorrow poster7.5Make Way for Tomorrow1937A Star Is Born poster7.2A Star Is Born1937Captains Courageous poster7.4Captains Courageous1937

Filmography

192 films as actor
  1. 1964The Naked FlamePaul Ashley
  2. 1961All Hands on DeckBrian O'Gara
  3. 1957Sail Into DangerSteve Ryman
  4. 1957Dragoon Wells MassacreCapt. Matt Riordan
  5. 1957Lady of VengeanceWilliam T. Marshall
  6. 1956ConfessionBen Birch
  7. 1955Inside DetroitBlair Vickers
  8. 1955Chicago SyndicateBarry Amsterdam
  9. 1955Las Vegas ShakedownJoe Barnes
  10. 1954AngelaSteve Catlett
  11. 1954Drums of TahitiMike Macklin
  12. 1954The Diamond WizardJoe Dennison
  13. 1953The FakePaul Mitchell
  14. 1953The Lady Wants MinkJim Connors
  15. 1952Everything I Have Is YoursAlec Tacksbury
  16. 1952One Big AffairJimmy Donovan
  17. 1951Passage WestJacob Karns
  18. 1951Follow the SunChuck Williams
  19. 1951The Company She KeepsLarry
  20. 1950Woman on the RunDan Legget
  21. 1950The Eagle and the HawkWhitney Randolph
  22. 1949AbandonedMark Sitko
  23. 1949The Great Dan PatchDavid Palmer
  24. 1949Cover UpSam Donovan
  25. 1949Siren of AtlantisJean Morhange
  26. 1948Walk a Crooked MileDaniel F. O'Hara
  27. 1948Raw DealJoe Sullivan
  28. 1947T-MenDennis O'Brien / Vannie Harrigan
  29. 1947Dishonored LadyDr. David Cousins
  30. 1947Mr. District AttorneySteve Bennett
  31. 1946Her Adventurous NightBill Fry
  32. 1945Doll FaceMichael Francis 'Mike' Hannegan
  33. 1945Getting Gertie's GarterKenneth B. Ford
  34. 1945The Affairs of SusanBill Anthony
  35. 1945Brewster's MillionsMontague L. 'Monty' Brewster
  36. 1945Earl Carroll VanitiesDanny Baldwin
  37. 1944Up in Mabel's RoomBoris
  38. 1944Abroad with Two YanksJeff Reardon
  39. 1944The Story of Dr. WassellBenjamin 'Hoppy' Hopkins
  40. 1944Sensations of 1945Junior Crane
  41. 1944The Fighting SeabeesLt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
  42. 1943Hi Diddle DiddleSonny Phyffe
  43. 1943The Leopard ManJerry Manning
  44. 1943Good Morning, JudgeDavid Barton
  45. 1943Tahiti HoneyMickey Monroe
  46. 1943Hangmen Also Die!Jan Horak
  47. 1942Moonlight MasqueradeJohn Bennett Jr.
  48. 1942The Affairs of Jimmy ValentineMike Jason
  49. 1941Weekend for ThreeJim 'Jimbo' Craig
  50. 1941Lady ScarfaceLieutenant Bill Mason
  51. 1941Broadway LimitedDr. Harvey North
  52. 1941Mr. District AttorneyP. Cadwallader Jones
  53. 1941Topper ReturnsBob
  54. 1940Bowery BoyDr. Tom O'Hara
  55. 1940You'll Find OutChuck Deems
  56. 1940Arise, My LoveShep
  57. 1940I'm Nobody's Sweetheart NowTod Lowell
  58. 1940Girl from HavanaWoody Davis
  59. 1940Pop Always PaysJeff Thompson
  60. 1940La Conga NightsSteve Collins
  61. 1940Alias the DeaconJohnny Sloan
  62. 1939That's Right – You're WrongChuck Deems
  63. 1939Unexpected FatherJimmy Hanley
  64. 1939The Kid From TexasWilliam Quincy
  65. 1939Burn 'Em Up O'ConnorJerry O'Connor
  66. 1938Vacation from LoveBill Blair
  67. 1938The ChaserTom Brandon
  68. 1938Hold That KissTommy Bradford
  69. 1938A Yank at OxfordRacetrack Handler (uncredited)
  70. 1937The Bad Man of BrimstoneJeffrey Burton
  71. 1937The FireflyFrench Soldier Admirer (uncredited)
  72. 1937Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938Nightclub Patron
  73. 1937One Mile from HeavenParty Guest
  74. 1937SaratogaParty guest
  75. 1937Easy LivingOffice Manager (uncredited)
  76. 1937Captains CourageousBit Role (uncredited)
  77. 1937The Great GambiniNightclub Patron
  78. 1937Riding on AirRadium Plane 23 Co-Pilot (uncredited)
  79. 1937The Girl from Scotland YardJohn
  80. 1937Make Way for TomorrowNightclub Patron (uncredited)
  81. 1937A Star Is BornBurke's Party Guest (uncredited)
  82. 1937Top of the TownFrank
  83. 1937Swing High, Swing LowPurser (uncredited)
  84. 1937History Is Made at NightRestaurant Patron (uncredited)
  85. 1937Mama Steps OutDance Extra
  86. 1937Champagne WaltzDance Extra at Blue Danube Room
  87. 1936Beloved EnemyReception Guest (Uncredited)
  88. 1936Three Smart GirlsNightclub Extra
  89. 1936Sinner Take AllNight Club Guest (uncredited)
  90. 1936Great GuyParty Guest (Uncredited)
  91. 1936Rose BowlJones
  92. 1936The Accusing FingerReporter
  93. 1936Theodora Goes WildMan (uncredited)
  94. 1936Libeled LadyBarker at Charity Affair (uncredited)
  95. 1936The Big Broadcast of 1937Sound Technician (uncredited)
  96. 1936Sworn EnemyBandleader (uncredited)
  97. 1936Piccadilly JimPetie McGregor (uncredited)
  98. 1936Yours for the AskingMan (uncredited)
  99. 1936Rhythm on the RangeSidewalk Heckler
  100. 1936San FranciscoNew Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
  101. 1936FuryReporter (uncredited)
  102. 1936Private NumberGambler (Uncredited)
  103. 1936Burning GoldDerrick Worker
  104. 1936Show Boat
  105. 193613 Hours by AirBaker-Co-Pilot
  106. 1936Small Town GirlMan Dancing in Tavern (uncredited)
  107. 1936The Singing KidBud (uncredited)
  108. 1936Mr. Deeds Goes to TownCourtroom Reporter (uncredited)
  109. 1936ColleenExtra on Dance Floor (uncredited)
  110. 1936Love Before BreakfastCollege Boy (uncredited)
  111. 1936Strike Me PinkClub Lido Patron (uncredited)
  112. 1935White LiesDinner Guest (uncredited)
  113. 1935Broadway HostessDonald Ross - Ronnie's Friend (uncredited)
  114. 1935Personal Maid's SecretDinner Guest
  115. 1935A Feather in Her HatTheatergoer (uncredited)
  116. 1935It's in the AirAnnouncer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
  117. 1935Here Comes the BandParty Guest at Reunion (uncredited)
  118. 1935Top HatElevator Passenger / Hotel Guest / Dancer (uncredited)
  119. 1935Every Night at EightHuxley Employee (uncredited)
  120. 1935The Daring Young ManWedding Participant