James Keane (actor)
{{short description|American film and television actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = James Keane
| image = James Keane.png
| caption = James Keane in The Optimist
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|09|26}}
| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.
| known_for = The Paper Chase
| occupation = Film and television actor
| years_active = 1975–present
| education = American Academy of Dramatic Arts (BA)
}}
James Keane (born September 26,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/235893936/|title=Birthdays|work=The Orlando Sentinel|location=Orlando, Florida|date=September 26, 2000|access-date=December 12, 2021|page=2|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Closed access}} 1952) is an American film and television actor. He is known for playing the role of Willis Thomas Bell in the American drama television series The Paper Chase.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/106970794/|title=James Keane Is Billboard|work=The Indianapolis Star|location=Indianapolis, Indiana|date=January 26, 1979|access-date=December 12, 2021|page=31|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Closed access}}
Early life and education
Keane was born in Buffalo, New York.{{Cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/buffalo-actor-could-have-had-his-tracy-part-7-years-ago/article_f8445de2-e602-5b96-9c84-b927f561303f.html|title=Buffalo Actor Could Have Had His 'Tracy' Part 7 Years Ago|work=The Buffalo News|first=Alan|last=Pergament|date=June 13, 1990|access-date=December 12, 2021}} He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/212654957/|title=James Keane of 'Paper Chase'|first=Andee|last=Beck|work=News-Press|location=Fort Myers, Florida|date=February 4, 1979|access-date=December 12, 2021|page=80|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Closed access}}
Career
Keane began his career in 1975, appearing in the film Three Days of the Condor playing a store clerk. Between acting jobs, he was an elevator operator at the Sherry-Netherland hotel in New York, where he met film director, Francis Ford Coppola. Keane thought that he might get a role in The Godfather Part II until he realized that shooting was to be in Sicily.
In 1978 Keane joined the cast of the new CBS drama television series The Paper Chase as the law student Willis Thomas Bell. He also appeared in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, and was hired to overdub some of Marlon Brando’s lines in the television miniseries of The Godfather. Keane appeared in the 1982 film 48 Hrs. (as Detective Van Zant, and the 1990 film Dick Tracy as Dick Tracy's second-in-command Pat Patton.
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1975
|Store Clerk | |
| 1977
|Close Encounters of the Third Kind |Radio Telescope Team | |
| 1978
|Girlie Bar Bartender | |
| 1978
|Jeels | |
| 1979
|Doctor | |
| 1979
|Kilgore's Gunner | |
| 1979
|Dealer | |
| 1980
|Pinky | |
| 1982
|Eddie | |
| 1982
|Vanzant | |
| 1983
|Jerry | |
| 1984
|Duck Hunter Bubba | |
| 1986
|Al King | |
| 1989
|Jimmy | |
| 1990
|Pat Patton | |
| 1991
|Ray Coffey | |
| 1991
|Garage Patrolman | |
| 1993
|Detective Keene | |
| 1993
|Harv | |
| 1995
|Alcatraz Guard | |
| 1995
|One Night Stand |Single Jim at Bar | |
| 1995
|Coach | |
| 1996
|Pete the Cop | |
| 1997
|Journey Beneath the Sea |Rick | |
| 1997
|Veteran Cop | |
| 1998
|American Politics Director | |
| 1998
|Todd McFarlane's Spawn 2 |Sam Burke | |
| 1998
|Police Chief Dan | |
| 1999
|Todd McFarlane's Spawn 3: The Ultimate Battle |Sam Burke | |
| 2001
|Delbert | |
| 2002
|Wes | |
| 2002
|Marty Green / Riot Cop | |
| 2002
|Whitey | |
| 2003
|The Low Budget Time Machine |Professor Staplejoy | |
| 2003
|Car Customer | |
| 2005
|Silent Partner |Senator Banner | |
| 2008
|The Grift |Lost Traveler | |
| 2009
|Loman | |
| 2009
|Manager | |
| 2011
|Chaplain | |
| 2014
|Father Peter | |
| 2016
|Tom | |
| 2024
|Laughing Man | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1977
|Rusty Fenton | rowspan="3" |Television film |
| 1977
|Sunshine Christmas |Hugh Bob |
| 1978
|Night Cries |Charlie |
| 1978–1986
|Willis Bell |58 episodes |
| 1979
|Night Dispatcher |Episode: "Part III" |
| 1979
|Ike |Corporal |Episode: "Part I" |
| 1979
|Cpl. Shaw |Episode: "Mr. and Mrs. Who?" |
| 1980
|Mr. Ealer |Episode: "Life on the Mississippi" |
| 1981
|Carl |Episode: "Harts Under Glass" |
| 1982
|The Ambush Murders |Lambert | rowspan="3" |Television film |
| 1982
|Fats |
| 1982
|In Security |Rudy DeMayo |
| 1982
|Lawyer |Episode: "Legionnaires: Part 1" |
| 1983
|The Father |Episode: "Kid's Stuff" |
| 1986
|Officer James Sanders |Episode: "I Come on My Knees: |
| 1987
|Jake |Episode: "Opening Day" |
| 1987, 1989
|Scott Supinger / Alan |2 episodes |
| 1988
|Mark |Episode: "Only the Lonely" |
| 1989
|Morrie |Episode: "Little Saigon" |
| 1990, 1991
|Wildman #1 / Loud Tourist |2 episodes |
| 1991
|Uncle Milt |Episode: "Chris vs. Donald" |
| 1992
|Charlie |Episode: "The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort Of" |
| 1992, 1994
|Husband / Man at Bar |2 episodes |
| 1993
|Milt |Episode: "Faithful Henry" |
| 1993, 1996
|Burrito Buddy |2 episodes |
| 1994
|Man |Episode: "Lily" |
| 1994
|Flower Store Clerk |2 episodes |
| 1995
|Policeman |Episode: "Lucky Suit" |
| 1995
|Letter to My Killer |Ray | rowspan="2" |Television film |
| 1995
|Runway One |2nd Man |
| 1995
|ER |Workman |Episode: "Welcome Back Carter!" |
| 1995
|Maitre d' |Television film |
| 1996–2000
|Various voices |14 episodes |
| 1997
|Lem / Flaxson |2 episodes |
| 1997
|Reporter #3 |Television film |
| 1997–1999
|Sam Burke / Tony Twist |17 episodes |
| 1998
|Sheriff |Episode: "Alternate World" |
| 2000
|Principal Turk |Episode: "Bad Seed" |
| 2000–2004
|Pete |4 episodes |
| 2002
|Registrar of Voters |Episode: "Hartsfield's Landing" |
| 2002
|Noel Thomas |Episode: "Guns & Hoses" |
| 2002
|Michael Hallbrenner |Episode: "Of Thee I Sing" |
| 2003
|Mr. Loman |Episode: "Spontaneous Combustion" |
| 2005
|Annie's Point |Doug Gordon |Television film |
| 2005
|Boss |Episode: "Everybody Hates Sausage" |
| 2005
|Fred Martins |Episode: "Baseball Murder" |
| 2006
|Hidden Places |Mr. Jennings |Television film |
| 2007
|Joe Gordon |Episode: "Son of the Defender" |
| 2007
|Night Manager |Episode: "The Wheel" |
| 2007
|Dick Garver |Episode: "Run" |
| 2008
|Sully |5 episodes |
| 2008
|Preacher |Television film |
| 2010
|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |George Anderson |Episode: "Neverland" |
| 2011
|Eddie |Episode: "Affairs" |
| 2011
|Mr. Peters |Television film |
| 2012
|Joshua |Episode: "Class War" |
| 2013
|Doctor Walters |Episode: "Hi-Def" |
| 2013, 2014
|Lou Mrozek |2 episodes |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0443856}}
- [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/james_keane/ Rotten Tomatoes profile]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keane, James}}
Category:Actors from Buffalo, New York
Category:Male actors from New York (state)
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors