James Keane (actor)

James Keane
James Keane in The Optimist
Born (1952-09-26) September 26, 1952 (age 72)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
EducationAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts (BA)
Occupation(s)Film and television actor
Years active1975–2016
Known forThe Paper Chase

James Keane (born September 26,[1] 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.[2]

Early life and education

Keane was born in Buffalo, New York.[3] He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[4]

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.[4] Keane thought that he might get a role in The Godfather Part II until he realized that shooting was to be in Sicily.[4]

In 1978 Keane joined the cast of the new CBS drama television series The Paper Chase as the law student Willis Thomas Bell.[4] 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.[4] 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.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1975 Three Days of the Condor Store Clerk
1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Radio Telescope Team
1978 Zero to Sixty Girlie Bar Bartender
1978 Uncle Joe Shannon Jeels
1979 Love and Bullets Doctor
1979 Apocalypse Now Kilgore's Gunner
1979 The Rose Dealer
1980 Brubaker Pinky
1982 Cannery Row Eddie
1982 48 Hrs. Vanzant
1983 10 to Midnight Jerry
1984 Buckaroo Banzai Duck Hunter Bubba
1986 Let's Get Harry Al King
1989 New York Stories Jimmy
1990 Dick Tracy Pat Patton
1991 Talent for the Game Ray Coffey
1991 The Last Boy Scout Garage Patrolman
1993 Falling Down Detective Keene
1993 Coneheads Harv
1995 Murder in the First Alcatraz Guard
1995 One Night Stand Single Jim at Bar
1995 Angus Coach
1996 Phenomenon Pete the Cop
1997 Journey Beneath the Sea Rick
1997 The Fanatics Veteran Cop
1998 Bulworth American Politics Director
1998 Todd McFarlane's Spawn 2 Sam Burke
1998 Pleasantville Police Chief Dan
1999 Todd McFarlane's Spawn 3: The Ultimate Battle Sam Burke
2001 Bill's Gun Shop Delbert
2002 Don't Let Go Wes
2002 Hey Arnold!: The Movie Marty Green / Riot Cop
2002 Assassination Tango Whitey
2003 The Low Budget Time Machine Professor Staplejoy
2003 Seabiscuit Car Customer
2005 Silent Partner Senator Banner
2008 The Grift Lost Traveler
2009 For Sale by Owner Loman
2009 Crazy Heart Manager
2011 Water for Elephants Chaplain
2014 Miss Meadows Father Peter
2016 Rules Don't Apply Tom

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Intimate Strangers Rusty Fenton Television film
1977 Sunshine Christmas Hugh Bob
1978 Night Cries Charlie
1978–1986 The Paper Chase Willis Bell 58 episodes
1979 Roots: The Next Generations Night Dispatcher Episode: "Part III"
1979 Ike Corporal Episode: "Part I"
1979 M*A*S*H Cpl. Shaw Episode: "Mr. and Mrs. Who?"
1980 Great Performances Mr. Ealer Episode: "Life on the Mississippi"
1981 Hart to Hart Carl Episode: "Harts Under Glass"
1982 The Ambush Murders Lambert Television film
1982 Pray TV Fats
1982 In Security Rudy DeMayo
1982 St. Elsewhere Lawyer Episode: "Legionnaires: Part 1"
1983 The Optimist The Father Episode: "Kid's Stuff"
1986 Hill Street Blues Officer James Sanders Episode: "I Come on My Knees:
1987 What's Happening Now!! Jake Episode: "Opening Day"
1987, 1989 The Tracey Ullman Show Scott Supinger / Alan 2 episodes
1988 Throb Mark Episode: "Only the Lonely"
1989 Mancuso, F.B.I. Morrie Episode: "Little Saigon"
1990, 1991 Designing Women Wildman #1 / Loud Tourist 2 episodes
1991 Get a Life Uncle Milt Episode: "Chris vs. Donald"
1992 Evening Shade Charlie Episode: "The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort Of"
1992, 1994 Love & War Husband / Man at Bar 2 episodes
1993 Jack's Place Milt Episode: "Faithful Henry"
1993, 1996 Murphy Brown Burrito Buddy 2 episodes
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Man Episode: "Lily"
1994 Days of Our Lives Flower Store Clerk 2 episodes
1995 Weird Science Policeman Episode: "Lucky Suit"
1995 Letter to My Killer Ray Television film
1995 Runway One 2nd Man
1995 ER Workman Episode: "Welcome Back Carter!"
1995 Here Come the Munsters Maitre d' Television film
1996–2000 Hey Arnold! Various voices 14 episodes
1997 Spicy City Lem / Flaxson 2 episodes
1997 Don King: Only in America Reporter #3 Television film
1997–1999 Todd McFarlane's Spawn Sam Burke / Tony Twist 17 episodes
1998 Timecop Sheriff Episode: "Alternate World"
2000 M.Y.O.B. Principal Turk Episode: "Bad Seed"
2000–2004 7th Heaven Pete 4 episodes
2002 The West Wing Registrar of Voters Episode: "Hartsfield's Landing"
2002 NYPD Blue Noel Thomas Episode: "Guns & Hoses"
2002 The Practice Michael Hallbrenner Episode: "Of Thee I Sing"
2003 Becker Mr. Loman Episode: "Spontaneous Combustion"
2005 Annie's Point Doug Gordon Television film
2005 Everybody Hates Chris Boss Episode: "Everybody Hates Sausage"
2005 Close to Home Fred Martins Episode: "Baseball Murder"
2006 Hidden Places Mr. Jennings Television film
2007 Boston Legal Joe Gordon Episode: "Son of the Defender"
2007 Mad Men Night Manager Episode: "The Wheel"
2007 Without a Trace Dick Garver Episode: "Run"
2008 October Road Sully 5 episodes
2008 A Gunfighter's Pledge Preacher Television film
2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation George Anderson Episode: "Neverland"
2011 The Protector Eddie Episode: "Affairs"
2011 Love's Christmas Journey Mr. Peters Television film
2012 Harry's Law Joshua Episode: "Class War"
2013 Raising Hope Doctor Walters Episode: "Hi-Def"
2013, 2014 Betrayal Lou Mrozek 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ "Birthdays". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. September 26, 2000. p. 2. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  2. ^ "James Keane Is Billboard". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. January 26, 1979. p. 31. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  3. ^ a b Pergament, Alan (June 13, 1990). "Buffalo Actor Could Have Had His 'Tracy' Part 7 Years Ago". The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Beck, Andee (February 4, 1979). "James Keane of 'Paper Chase'". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. p. 80. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon