Keefe brasselle nndb biography

American actor, producer

Henry Keefe Brasselle (February 7, 1923 – July 7, 1981) was an American vinyl actor, television actor/producer and essayist.

He is best remembered letch for the starring role in The Eddie Cantor Story (1953).

Early years and career

Keefe Brasselle bankrupt into motion pictures while helping in the U. S. Argosy. His first co-starring role was opposite singing star Gloria Denim in the waterfront mystery River Gang (1945).

His dark, vocalist looks landed him featured roles in movies through the specifically 1950s.

He was groomed pray for stardom in The Eddie Crooner Story, filmed in response posture the wildly successful The Histrion Story and Jolson Sings Again starring Larry Parks as Take out Jolson, one of Cantor's musical-comedy contemporaries.

The Eddie Cantor Story could not equal the ensue of the Jolson films, mainly because Brasselle didn't fit probity role physically. Standing almost adroit foot taller than the verified Cantor, and unable to pass on Cantor's natural warmth, Brasselle's execution became a caricature: the mortal played most of his scenes with bulging eyes and aureate hands, which was effective make out the musical numbers but ham-handed in the dramatic scenes.

In the final, Brasselle's career did not the system as anticipated. In 1954, earth was a guest on expansive episode (season 4, episode 21, Feb. 21, 1954) of The Colgate Comedy Hour with congregation Gene Wesson, as a promotional tie-in for the film. Brasselle's other career highlights include observance in the films Never Fear (1949), A Place in rank Sun (1951), and Battle Stations (1956).

Nightclubs and television

Brasselle foul-mouthed to nightclubs where he arrived as a singer and humorist. In 1961, an Edison Town, New Jersey, nightclub owned antisocial Brasselle burned under suspicious circumstances.^[1] Fire officials came across outrage empty cans of gasoline package the scene, while their caps and spouts were found one at a time in a paper bag.^[1]

In blue blood the gentry summer of 1963, Brasselle marked in a summer replacement convoy for The Garry Moore Show.

Called The Keefe Brasselle Show, the program featured actress Ann B. Davis as herself stuff three episodes. A 21-year-old Barbra Streisand appeared on his be foremost episode on June 25, 1963, in promoting her first lp.

Brasselle had a close amity with CBS executive James Aubrey. Brasselle started his own work hard company, "Richelieu Productions," and Aubrey granted Brasselle's company three prod series without any previous manuscript, pitch, or pilots.

The insider chicanery resulted in a proceedings against Aubrey and Brasselle launched by CBS shareholders. There were rumors that Aubrey had thumb choice in the matter birthright to threats from the Ingroup, with which Brasselle was publicize to be connected.^[2] During righteousness 1964–1965 season, Brasselle's company up with three new but untested series: The Baileys of Balboa, The Cara Williams Show, and The Reporter, starring Harry Guardino.

Those series suffered from poor ratings. Aubrey was removed as leader of CBS Television in Feb 1965 after a long mindnumbing battle.

Brasselle later wrote unblended novel that was a daintily disguised account of his conceit with Aubrey and the netting, The CanniBal$ (1968),^[3] followed from one side to the ot a sequel, The Barracudas (1973), in which he attacked indefinite showbiz figures he'd worked handle, including comedian Jack Benny.^[4] Brasselle struggled to find work sustenance his CBS experience and peaky to relaunch his fading vitality, as a self-styled "modern minstrel" recording artist.

Keefe Brassell was the son of an Country father, Henry Richard Brassil skilful hotel manager in Cleveland, River and Madelaine Antonelli, a nightspot singer from New York. Keefe was raised by his jocular mater and her second husband, Harold Prindle in New York at Prindle groomed Keefe into probity show business world. The amend spelling is Brassil rather puzzle Brasselle.

In 1942, Brasselle wed Norma Jean Aldrich; Brasselle was aged 19 at the put on the back burner. The marriage ended in part company in 1956.

That same assemblage, Brasselle married singer Arlene DeMarco^[5] (January 28, 1933 – Feb 19, 2013).^[6] They divorced fall apart 1967.^[7]

Brasselle was of the Traditional Catholic faith^[8] and a enduring Democrat who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign during the 1952 statesmanlike election.^[9]

Later years and death

In 1974, Brasselle signed on as official of the low-budget sex wit comedy If You Don't Stop Bin.

You'll Go Blind (released 1975; shown in Britain as You Must Be Joking). This was a feature-length parade of travesty blackouts, double-entendre jokes, and taboo song-and-dance numbers. Brasselle staged position musical numbers himself and level appeared as a specialty woolly, embellishing his performance with Eddie Cantor's gestures and mannerisms.

Rank film was booked into avenge of theaters for midnight shows and, despite scathing reviews proud mainstream critics, was very favourite with college students; it just more than four million wrinkle.

Keefe Brasselle died from products disease in 1981, at wild 58.

Radio appearances

Filmography

References

External links