HOWARD KEEL

April 13, 1919

Harold Clifford Keel, known professionally as Howard Keel, was born in Gillespie, Illinois.  It was stated that Keel’s birth name was Harold Leek. After his father’s death in 1930, Keel and his mother moved to California, where he graduated from high school at age 17. He worked various odd jobs until settling at Douglas Aircraft Company as a traveling representative.  At age 20, Keel was overheard singing by his landlady and was encouraged to take vocal lessons. His first public performance took place in the summer of 1941. 

In 1945, he briefly understudied for John Raitt in the Broadway hit Carousel before being assigned to Oklahoma! both by Rodgers and Hammerstein. He once performed the leads in both shows on the same day. 

While performing on stage in England, Keel made his film debut in The Small Voice (1948), released in the United States as The Hideout.  His first American role was playing Frank Butler in the film version of Annie Get Your Gun. From then on Keel was showcased in several of MGM’s biggest extravaganzas, with Show Boat (1951), Calamity Jane (1953), Kiss Me Kate (1953) and (reportedly his favorite) Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954). This film was also mentioned on “I Love Lucy” in “Lucy in the Swiss Alps” (ILL S5;E21). 

Keel’s television debut featured Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz: “MGM’s 30th Anniversary Tribute” on February 14, 1954.  In addition to appearing live, clips of Keel in his MGM films were included. Lucy and Desi were there to promote The Long, Long Trailer. 

His only acting appearance with Lucille Ball was on a 1969 episode of “Here’s Lucy” titled “Lucy’s Safari” (HL S1;E22), where he played a big game hunter named Stanley Livingston. 

According to the Unique Employment Agency’s file card on Livingston, he is 6’4” tall, 220 lbs, dark hair, blue eyes, and single. He has spent many years living in Africa.

Later in his career he played Clayton Farlow on “Dallas” (1981-91). 

His final screen role was in the film My Father’s House (2002). 

He died on November 7, 2004, of colon cancer. He was 85 years old. 

Keel was married four times: Judy Keel (1970–2004), Helen Anderson (1949–1970), and Rosemary Cooper (1943–1948). He had four children.