35 Facts About Howard Keel

1.

Harold Clifford Keel, known professionally as Howard Keel, was an American actor and singer, known for his rich bass-baritone singing voice.

2.

Howard Keel starred in a number of MGM musicals in the 1950s and in the CBS television series Dallas from 1981 to 1991.

3.

Howard Keel was the younger of the couple's children, after elder son Frederick William Howard Keel.

4.

Howard Keel worked various odd jobs until settling at Douglas Aircraft Company as a "traveling representative".

5.

At age 20, Howard Keel was overheard singing by his landlady, Mom Rider, and was encouraged to take vocal lessons.

6.

Howard Keel later remarked that learning that his own voice was a basso cantante was one of the greatest disappointments of his life.

7.

Howard Keel made his film debut as Harold Howard Keel at the British Lion studio in Elstree, in The Small Voice, released in the United States as The Hideout.

8.

Howard Keel played an escaped convict holding a playwright and his wife hostage in their English country cottage.

9.

Howard Keel appeared at The Muny in St Louis as Adam in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers ; Emile de Becque in South Pacific ; and as General Waverly in White Christmas.

10.

From London's West End, Howard Keel went to Hollywood in 1949 where he was engaged by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio.

11.

Howard Keel made his musical film debut as Frank Butler in the film version of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, co-starring with Betty Hutton.

12.

Howard Keel had a third hit in a row with the comedy Three Guys Named Mike, supporting Van Johnson and Jane Wyman.

13.

Howard Keel had his first flop at MGM with the comedy Callaway Went Thataway co-starring Fred MacMurray and Dorothy McGuire.

14.

Howard Keel was one of many guest stars in Deep in My Heart.

15.

Kismet with Blyth lost over two million dollars, and Howard Keel was released from his MGM contract.

16.

Howard Keel returned to Hollywood to play Simon-Peter in a Biblical epic, The Big Fisherman.

17.

Howard Keel went to Europe to make a low budget war film, Armored Command.

18.

Howard Keel replaced Richard Kiley on Broadway in No Strings.

19.

Howard Keel had a supporting part in a John Wayne Western, The War Wagon.

20.

In early 1970, Howard Keel met Judy Magamoll, who was twenty-five years his junior and knew nothing about his stardom.

21.

Years later, Howard Keel called the relationship love at first sight, but the age difference bothered him tremendously.

22.

Howard Keel resumed his routine of nightclub, cabaret and summer stock jobs with his new wife at his side.

23.

From 1971 to 1972, Howard Keel appeared briefly in the West End and Broadway productions of the musical Ambassador, which flopped.

24.

In 1974, Howard Keel became a father for the fourth time with the birth of his daughter, Leslie Grace.

25.

Howard Keel continued to tour with his wife and daughter in tow, but by 1980 had decided to make his life change.

26.

Howard Keel moved his family to Oklahoma with the intention of joining an oil company.

27.

The family had barely settled down when Howard Keel was called back to California to appear with Jane Powell on an episode of The Love Boat.

28.

In 1981, after several guest appearances, Howard Keel joined the show permanently as the dignified but hot-tempered oil baron Clayton Farlow.

29.

Howard Keel released an album in 1984, With Love, which sold poorly.

30.

Howard Keel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 8 February 1960.

31.

Howard Keel was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats.

32.

Howard Keel met Helen Anderson, a member of the show's chorus, and they married in January 1949.

33.

Howard Keel married airline flight attendant Judy Magamoll in December 1970.

34.

Howard Keel died at his Palm Desert home on November 7,2004, six weeks after being diagnosed with colon cancer.

35.

Howard Keel was cremated and his ashes scattered at three favourite places: Mere Golf Club, Cheshire, England; John Lennon Airport, Liverpool, England; and Tuscany, Italy.