Dennis O'Keefe

Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer.

Early years

Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevillians working in the United States. As a small child, he joined his parents' act and later wrote skits for the stage. He attended the University of Southern California but left midway through his sophomore year after his father died.

Career

O'Keefe continued his father's vaudeville act for several years after the father's death. He started in films as an extra in 1931 and appeared in numerous films under the name Bud Flanagan. After a small but impressive role in '' Saratoga'' (1937), Clark Gable recommended O'Keefe to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which signed him to a contract in 1937 and renamed him Dennis O'Keefe. His film roles were bigger after that, starting with ''The Bad Man of Brimstone'' (1938) opposite Wallace Beery, and the lead role in ''Burn 'Em Up O'Connor'' (1939).

O'Keefe left MGM around 1940 but continued to work in mostly lower budget productions. He often played the tough guy in action and crime dramas, but was also known as a comic actor as well as a dramatic lead.

He gained great attention with a showy role in '' The Story of Dr Wassell'' and became a comedy star. He expressed interest in expanding into direction.

In the mid-1940s, he was under a five-year contract to Edward Small. O'Keefe starred in film-noir classics such as ''T-Men'' and '' Raw Deal'', both directed by Anthony Mann.

In a 1946 newsreel following Howard Hughes' calamitous plane wreck into a neighbor's Beverly Hills house, O'Keefe can be seen walking through the home inspecting the damage.

In 1950, O'Keefe starred in the radio program ''T-Man'' on CBS. Also in the 1950s, he did some directing and wrote mystery stories. During the 1950s, O'Keefe made guest appearances as himself, or in acting roles, on a episodes of a number of television series, such as the legal drama ''Justice'', the variety show ''The Ford Show'', '' Studio 57'', the anthology series ''Climax!'' and others. In 1957 he was to be the permanent host of ''Suspicion'', an anthology TV series in which ten episodes were produced by Alfred Hitchcock. After two episodes he left the series and was not replaced. From 1959-1960, he was the star of the CBS Television situation comedy, ''The Dennis O'Keefe Show''.

O'Keefe's Broadway credits include ''Never Live Over a Pretzel Factory'' (1964) and ''Never Too Late''.

O'Keefe wrote under the pen name Jonathan Ricks. His ''Don't Pull Your Punches'' was produced by Warner Bros. In 1947, he was working on plans to co-produce and act in ''Drawn Sabers'', another of his stories. He also wrote and directed '' Angela''.

Personal life

O'Keefe had a brief marriage to Louise Stanley, an actress; they married in 1937 and divorced in 1938.

O'Keefe was married in 1940 to Steffi Duna, an actress and dancer. They had two children, Juliena and James.

O'Keefe was a Roman Catholic. He was also a registered Democrat who supported the campaign of Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 presidential election.''Motion Picture and Television Magazine'', November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers

Death

A heavy cigarette smoker, O'Keefe died of lung cancer in 1968 at the age of 60 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California and was buried at Wee Kirk O' the Heather, Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale).

Selected filmography

*''Check and Double Check'' (1930) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' The Silver Horde'' (1930) as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
*'' Reaching for the Moon'' (1930) as Ship's Party Guest (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*'' Cimarron'' (1931) (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*''Laugh and Get Rich'' (1931) as Young Man at Dance (uncredited)
*''The Miracle Woman'' (1931) as Man in Audience (uncredited)
*'' Smart Woman'' (1931) as Passenger Departing Ship (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*'' West of Broadway'' (1931) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*'' Working Girls'' (1931) as Dance Extra (uncredited)
*''Under Eighteen'' (1931) as Penthouse Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' Love Affair'' (1932) as One of Carol's Friends at Party (uncredited)
*''Devil's Lottery'' (1932) as Derbied Extra at Track (uncredited)
*''The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood'' (1932) as Man at Dance (uncredited)
*'' Scarface'' (1932) as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
*''Huddle'' (1932) as Dinner Dance Guest (uncredited)
*''Merrily We Go to Hell'' (1932) as Wedding Usher (uncredited)
*''Week Ends Only'' (1932) as Gambling Club Extra at Bar (uncredited)
*'' The Man from Yesterday'' (1932) as Cafe Patron (uncredited)
*''Hollywood Speaks'' (1932) as Seated at 2nd Level Table in Night Club (uncredited)
*'' Bachelor's Affairs'' (1932) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Skyscraper Souls'' (1932) as Stock Brokerage Clerk (uncredited)
*''Crooner'' (1932) as Nightclub Dance Patron (uncredited)
*'' Two Against the World'' (1932) as Party Guest / Reporter (uncredited)
*'' Big City Blues'' (1932) as Dice Spectator (uncredited)
*''Blonde Venus'' (1932) as Minor Role (uncredited)
*''The Cabin in the Cotton'' (1932) as Dance Floor Guest at Madge's Party (uncredited)
*'' A Bill of Divorcement'' (1932) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' Hat Check Girl'' (1932) as A Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' Night After Night'' (1932) as Drunk Sleeping on a Table (uncredited)
*''I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang'' (1932) as Café Chateau Dancer (uncredited)
*'' Tess of the Storm Country'' (1932) as Dance Extra at Party (uncredited)
*''Central Park'' (1932) as Casino Diner (uncredited)
*''Hot Pepper'' (1933) as Montmartre Cafe Patron (uncredited)
*''The Woman Accused'' (1933) as Party Extra (uncredited)
*''Hello, Everybody!'' (1933) as Casino Patron (uncredited)
*''Grand Slam'' (1933) as Elevator Rider / Liederkranz Club Patron (uncredited)
*''42nd Street'' (1933) as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
*''From Hell to Heaven'' (1933) as Louie - Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
*''Girl Missing'' (1933) as Casino Patron (uncredited)
*''A Bedtime Story'' (1933) as A Friend (uncredited)
*'' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1933) as Flier (uncredited)
*''The Phantom of the Air'' (1933, Serial) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*''Gold Diggers of 1933'' (1933) as Theatregoer (uncredited)
*'' Cocktail Hour'' (1933) as Party Guest (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*''Ann Carver's Profession'' (1933) as Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' College Humor'' (1933) as Student (uncredited)
*''She Had to Say Yes'' (1933) as Cabaret Patron (uncredited)
*''Midnight Club'' (1933) as Dance Extra (uncredited)
*''Torch Singer'' (1933) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Too Much Harmony'' (1933) as Cafe Patron (uncredited)
*''I'm No Angel'' (1933) as Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
*'' Bombshell'' (1933) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*'' Only Yesterday'' (1933) as New Year's Eve Reveler (uncredited)
*''Broadway Thru a Keyhole'' (1933) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''The Prizefighter and the Lady'' (1933) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*'' Duck Soup'' (1933) as Bridegroom at Firefly's Reception (uncredited)
*''Blood Money'' (1933) as Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
*''The House on 56th Street'' (1933) as Gambler (uncredited)
*'' Lady Killer'' (1933) as Casino Patron (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*'' The Meanest Gal in Town'' (1934) as Minor Role (uncredited)
*'' All of Me'' (1934) (uncredited)
*''Wonder Bar'' (1934) as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
*''Coming Out Party'' (1934) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' Jimmy the Gent'' (1934) as Chester Coote (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*''Registered Nurse'' (1934) as Interne (uncredited)
*'' Upper World'' (1934) as Photographer (uncredited)
*''Twenty Million Sweethearts'' (1934) as Reporter / Woodcliff Inn Patron (uncredited)
*''Murder at the Vanities'' (1934) as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
*''He Was Her Man'' (1934) as Man Leaving Courtroom (uncredited)
*''Smarty'' (1934) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Fog Over Frisco'' (1934) as Van Brugh - Reporter (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*'' Madame Du Barry'' (1934) as King's Attendant with Robe (uncredited)
*'' We're Rich Again'' (1934) as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
*''Paris Interlude'' (1934) as Charles Lindbergh (uncredited)
*''The Girl from Missouri'' (1934) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' The Man with Two Faces'' (1934) as Theatregoer (uncredited)
*'' Gift of Gab'' (1934) as Dancer (uncredited)
*'' Desirable'' (1934) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*''Death on the Diamond'' (1934) as Game Radio Announcer (uncredited)
*'' Young and Beautiful'' (1934) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''A Lost Lady'' (1934) as Dance Extra (uncredited)
*''Two Heads on a Pillow'' (1934) as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
*''Lady by Choice'' (1934) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*'' Imitation of Life'' (1934) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*''Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round'' (1934) as Passenger Watching Revue (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*''Kid Millions'' (1934) as Chorus Boy in Ship's Show (uncredited)
*''College Rhythm'' (1934) as Department Store Doorman (uncredited)
*'' Broadway Bill'' (1934) (uncredited)
*'' 365 Nights in Hollywood'' (1934) as Dancing Boy (uncredited)
*'' White Lies'' (1934) as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
*''Biography of a Bachelor Girl'' (1935) (uncredited)
*'' The Gilded Lily'' (1935) as Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
*''Rumba'' (1935) as Man in Diana's Party at Theatre (uncredited)
*''Devil Dogs of the Air'' (1935) as Student (uncredited)
*''One New York Night'' (1935) as Extra (uncredited)
*''The Wedding Night'' (1935) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*''Gold Diggers of 1935'' (1935) as Newspaper Reporter / Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
*''Mississippi'' (1935) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*''Baby Face Harrington'' (1935) as Country Club Patron (uncredited)
*''Let 'Em Have It'' (1935) as Trainee (uncredited)
*''Doubting Thomas'' (1935) as Member of Audience (uncredited)
*''The Daring Young Man'' (1935) as Wedding Participant (uncredited)
*''Dante's Inferno'' (1935) as Ship Passenger (uncredited)
*''Every Night at Eight'' (1935) as Huxley Employee (uncredited)
*''Top Hat'' (1935) as Elevator Passenger / Hotel Guest (uncredited)
*''Here Comes the Band'' (1935) as Party Guest at Reunion (uncredited)
*''Anna Karenina'' (1935) as Best Man at Wedding (uncredited)
*''The Girl Friend'' (1935) as Soldier in Play (uncredited)
*'' It's in the Air'' (1935) as Announcer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Shipmates Forever'' (1935) as Trainee (uncredited)
*''Personal Maid's Secret'' (1935) as Dinner Guest (uncredited)
*''A Feather in Her Hat'' (1935) as Theatregoer (uncredited)
*''Mary Burns, Fugitive'' (1935) (uncredited)
*'' The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo'' (1935) as Onlooker at Casino (uncredited)
*'' In Person'' (1935) as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
*''Broadway Hostess'' (1935) as Donald Ross - Ronnie's Friend (uncredited)
*'' Strike Me Pink'' (1936) as Club Lido Patron (uncredited)
*''Anything Goes'' (1936) as Party Boy with Reno (uncredited)
*''Love Before Breakfast'' (1936) as College Boy (uncredited)
*'' Colleen'' (1936) as Extra on Dance Floor (uncredited)
*''The Great Ziegfeld'' (1936) as Dancer (uncredited)
*''The Singing Kid'' (1936) as Bud (uncredited)
*'' Till We Meet Again'' (1936) as Viennese Cafe Patron (uncredited)
*''Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936) as Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
*'' Small Town Girl'' (1936) as Man Dancing in Tavern (uncredited)
*''Thirteen Hours by Air'' (1936) as Baker - Co-Pilot (as Bud Flannagan)
*''And So They Were Married'' (1936) as Drunk in Car (uncredited)
*''Show Boat'' (1936) as Blackface Dancer (uncredited)
*'' Burning Gold'' (1936) as Derrick Worker (as Bud Flanagan)
*'' Nobody's Fool'' (1936) as Young Man (uncredited)
*'' Private Number'' (1936) as Gambler (uncredited)
*'' Fury'' (1936) as Reporter (uncredited)
*'' The Last Outlaw'' (1936) as Reporter (uncredited)
*'' The Return of Sophie Lang'' (1936) as S.S. Niantic Passenger (uncredited)
*''San Francisco'' (1936) as New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
*''Rhythm on the Range'' (1936) as Sidewalk Heckler (uncredited)
*'' Public Enemy's Wife'' (1936) as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
*''The Bride Walks Out'' (1936) as New Year's Eve Night Club Celebrant (uncredited)
*''Yours for the Asking'' (1936) as Man (uncredited)
*''Piccadilly Jim'' (1936) as Petie McGregor (uncredited)
*''Swing Time'' (1936) as Dancer in 'The Way You Look Tonight' Number (uncredited)
*''Sworn Enemy'' (1936) as Bandleader (uncredited)
*''The Big Broadcast of 1937'' (1936) as Sound Technician (uncredited)
*''Libeled Lady'' (1936) as Barker at Charity Affair (uncredited)
*'' Rose Bowl'' (1936) as Jones (uncredited)
*''Legion of Terror'' (1936) as New Postal Inspector (uncredited)
*''Theodora Goes Wild'' (1936) as Man (uncredited)
*''The Plainsman'' (1936) as Man #2 (uncredited)
*''The Accusing Finger'' (1936) as Reporter (uncredited)
*''Born to Dance'' (1936) as Spectator at Lonely Hearts Club (uncredited)
*'' Hats Off'' (1936) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Sinner Take All'' (1936) as Night Club Guest (uncredited)
*''Three Smart Girls'' (1936) as Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
*''Beloved Enemy'' (1936) as Reception Guest (uncredited)
*''Great Guy'' (1936) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' Champagne Waltz'' (1937) as Dance Extra at Blue Danube Room (uncredited)
*''They Wanted to Marry'' (1937) as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
*''When's Your Birthday?'' (1937) as Nightclub Extra / Party Extra / Fight Spectator (uncredited)
*'' History Is Made at Night'' (1937) as Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
*'' Parole Racket'' (1937) as Thompson, Reporter (uncredited)
*'' Swing High, Swing Low'' (1937) as Purser (uncredited)
*'' Top of the Town'' (1937) as Frank (uncredited)
*'' A Star Is Born'' (1937) as Burke's Party Guest (uncredited)
*'' Nobody's Baby'' (1937) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Make Way for Tomorrow'' (1937) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Captains Courageous'' (1937) as Minor Role (uncredited)
*''The Girl from Scotland Yard'' (1937) as John (as Bud Flanagan)
*'' Riding on Air'' (1937) as Radium Plane 23 Copilot (uncredited)
*''Married Before Breakfast'' (1937) as Salesman (uncredited)
*''The Great Gambini'' (1937) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*''Blazing Barriers'' (1937) as Club Manager (uncredited)
*'' Easy Living'' (1937) as Office Manager (uncredited)
*'' Between Two Women'' (1937) as Patricia's Friend (uncredited)
*''The Lady Escapes'' (1937) as Minor Role (uncredited)
*'' Saratoga'' (1937) as Second Bidder / Dancer at party (uncredited) (as Bud Flanagan)
*''One Mile from Heaven'' (1937) as Party Guest (uncredited)
*''Double or Nothing'' (1937) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*'' The Firefly'' (1937) as French Soldier Admirer (uncredited)
*''Double or Nothing'' (1937) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
*'' Big City'' (1937) as Stanley - Independent Cab Driver (uncredited)
*''Life Begins with Love'' (1937) as Musician (uncredited)
*''Conquest'' (1937) as Jan Walewska (uncredited)
*''The Bad Man of Brimstone'' (1937) as Jeffrey Burton
*''A Yank at Oxford'' (1938) as Racetrack Handler (uncredited)
*''Hold That Kiss'' (1938) as Tommy Bradford
*''The Chaser'' (1938) as Thomas Z. 'Tom' Brandon
*''Vacation from Love'' (1938) as W.D. 'Bill' Blair
*''Burn 'Em Up O'Connor'' (1939) as Jerry O'Connor
*''The Kid From Texas'' (1939) as William Quincy
*''Unexpected Father'' (1939) as Jimmy Hanley
*'' That's Right—You're Wrong'' (1939) as Chuck Deems - the Band Manager
*''Alias the Deacon'' (1940) as Johnny Sloan
*'' La Conga Nights'' (1940) as Steve Collins
*''Pop Always Pays'' (1940) as Jeff Thompson
*'' Girl from Havana'' (1940) as Woody Davis
*''Arise, My Love'' (1940) as Shep
*'' I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now'' (1940) as Tod Lowell
*'' You'll Find Out'' (1940) as Chuck Deems
*'' Bowery Boy'' (1940) as Dr. Tom O'Hara
*''Topper Returns'' (1941) as Bob
*''Mr. District Attorney'' (1941) as P. Cadwallader Jones
*''Broadway Limited'' (1941) as Dr. Harvey North
*''Lady Scarface'' (1941) as Lt. Bill Mason
*''Weekend for Three'' (1941) as Jim Craig
*'' The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine'' (1942) as Mike Jason
*''Moonlight Masquerade'' (1942) as John Bennett Jr.
*''Hangmen Also Die!'' (1943) as Jan Horak
*''Tahiti Honey'' (1943) as Mickey Monroe
*'' Good Morning, Judge'' (1943) as David Barton
*''The Leopard Man'' (1943) as Jerry Manning
*''Hi Diddle Diddle'' (1943) as Sonny Phyffe
*''The Fighting Seabees'' (1944) as Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
*'' Up in Mabel's Room'' (1944) as Gary Ainsworth
*'' The Story of Dr. Wassell'' (1944) as Benjamin 'Hoppy' Hopkins
*''Sensations of 1945'' (1944) as Junior Crane
*''Abroad with Two Yanks'' (1944) as Jeff Reardon
*''The Affairs of Susan'' (1945) as Bill Anthony
*''Earl Carroll Vanities'' (1945) as Danny Baldwin
*'' Brewster's Millions'' (1945) as Montague L. 'Monty' Brewster
*'' Getting Gertie's Garter'' (1945) as Dr. Kenneth B. Ford
*''Doll Face'' (1945) as Michael Francis 'Mike' Hannegan
*'' Her Adventurous Night'' (1946) as Bill Fry
*''Mr. District Attorney'' (1947) as Steve Bennett
*''Dishonored Lady'' (1947) as Dr. David S. Cousins
*''T-Men'' (1947) as Dennis O'Brien - aka Vannie Harrigan
*'' Raw Deal'' (1948) as Joe Sullivan
*''Walk a Crooked Mile'' (1948) as Daniel F. O'Hara
*''Siren of Atlantis'' (1949) as Capt. Jean Morhange
*''Cover Up'' (1949) as Sam Donovan
*'' The Great Dan Patch'' (1949) as David Palmer
*''Abandoned'' (1949) as Mark Sitko
*'' The Eagle and the Hawk'' (1950) as Whitney Randolph
*''Woman on the Run'' (1950) as Dan Legget
*''The Company She Keeps'' (1951) as Larry Collins
*'' Follow the Sun'' (1951) as Chuck Williams
*''Passage West'' (1951) as Jacob Karns
*''One Big Affair'' (1952) as Jimmy Donovan
*'' Everything I Have Is Yours'' (1952) as Alec Tacksbury
*''The Lady Wants Mink'' (1953) as Jim Connors
*'' The Fake'' (1953) as Paul Mitchell
*''Drums of Tahiti'' (1954) as Mike Macklin
*'' The Diamond'' (1954, aka ''The Diamond Wizard'') as Joe Dennison
*'' Angela'' (1954) as Steve Catlett
*'' Las Vegas Shakedown'' (1955) as Joe Barnes
*'' Chicago Syndicate'' (1955) as Barry Amsterdam
*''Inside Detroit'' (1956) as Blair Vickers
*''Dragoon Wells Massacre'' (1957) as Capt. Matt Riordan
*'' Lady of Vengeance'' (1957) as William T. Marshall
*''El aventurero'' (1957) as Steve Ryman
*'' All Hands on Deck'' (1961) as Lt. Cmdr. Brian O'Gara
*''The Naked Flame'' (1964) as Paul Ashley

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Okeefe, Dennis
1908 births
1968 deaths
Male actors from Iowa
Deaths from lung cancer in California
American people of Irish descent
Vaudeville performers
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
American Roman Catholics
California Democrats
Iowa Democrats