Brian Kelly (actor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brian Kelly | |
|---|---|
 Brian Kelly as Porter Ricks in Flipper. |
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| Born | Brian Kelly February 14, 1931 Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Died | February 12, 2005 (aged 73) Voorhees, New Jersey, USA |
| Years active | 1962 - 1996 |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Devon, m. 1966, (divorced) Valerie Anne Romero, m. 1973 |
Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the father of two sons on the television series Flipper.
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[edit] Birth and early years
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kelly was the son of former Governor of Michigan Harry F. Kelly and Anne O'Brien Kelly. Kelly had two brothers and two sisters, one brother being his twin.
Kelly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. Kelly graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1953. He also attended the University of Michigan Law School for a year before settling on acting. During his college days, Kelly modelled and acted in radio and tv commercials in Detroit.
[edit] Acting career
Kelly headed to Hollywood in the late fifties after choosing acting as his career. Following minor roles in Adventures in Paradise, The Beverly Hillbillies, and The Rifleman, Kelly starred in two short-lived television series, 21 Beacon Street (1959), and Straightaway (1961).
In 1964, Kelly was chosen to play Porter Ricks, Chief Warden at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in the family-oriented action and adventure television program Flipper. Kelly is remembered today for his strong and convincing portrayal of a morally responsible single dad. Kelly was quoted at the time as saying that he loved the role because of its family-friendly qualities. The success of Flipper, which was filmed in Miami and the Bahamas, led to a brief movie career, including a lead in Around the World Under the Sea (1966).
In 1970, Kelly was involved in a motorcycle accident which left his right arm and leg paralyzed. He won a legal settlement in the case but the accident ended his acting career. He used the money in the settlement to build homes and then to produce films. He served as executive producer of Blade Runner (1982) and associate producer of Cities of the Wild (1996).
[edit] Marriages and death
Kelly was married twice and divorced from actresses Laura Devon in 1966, and Valerie Ann Romero in 1972, with whom he had a daughter Hallie in 1975 and a son Devin "DJ Adlib" in 1980. Kelly died of pneumonia in Voorhees, New Jersey February 12, 2005.
[edit] Filmography
Actor:
- Drive Hard, Drive Fast (1973) (TV) .... Mark Driscoll
- Berlin Affair (1970) (TV) .... Paul Strand
- Company of Killers (1970) (TV) .... Nick Andros
- Spara, Gringo, spara (1968) .... Chad Stark
- Around the World Under the Sea (1966) .... Dr. Craig Mosby
- Flipper (1964-1967) (TV) .... Porter Ricks
- Flipper's New Adventure (1964) .... Porter Ricks
- Thunder Island (1963) .... Vincent Dodge
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1963) (TV) .... (2 episodes)
- Straightaway (1961-1962) (TV) .... Scott Ross (24 episodes)
- Adventures in Paradise (1959) (TV) .... Captain Rivers (1 episode)
- 21 Beacon Street (1959) (TV) .... Brian (unknown episodes)
- Panic! (1958) (TV) .... Randy Burke (1 episode)
- Flight (TV) .... (1 episode)
- Waterfront (TV) .... (1 episode)
Producer:
- Cities of the Wild (1996) .... (associate producer)
- Blade Runner (1982) .... (executive producer)
Director:
- Flipper (1964) (TV) .... (unknown episodes)
Self:
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson .... Himself (2 episodes, 1964-1970)
- Dateline: Hollywood .... Himself (1 episode, 1967)
- The Hollywood Squares .... Guest Appearance (1 episode, 1967)
- Today .... Himself (1 episode, 1964)
Archive Footage:
- 50 Greatest TV Animals (2003) (TV) (uncredited) .... Porter Ricks
