| Keefe Brasselle | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Brasselli February 7, 1923 Elyria, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 7, 1981 (aged 58) Downey, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
Keefe Brasselle (February 7, 1923 – July 7, 1981) was a film actor, television actor/producer and author. He first made a name for himself playing the role of Eddie Cantor in a Hollywood biography. Later, he became known for producing several failed television shows.
His friendship with CBS executive James Aubrey led to the opportunity to produce several TV programs. In the summer of 1963 he starred in a brief summer replacement series for Garry Moore called The Keefe Brasselle Show. During the 1964-65 season, under his "Richelieu Productions" banner, he produced three new but untested series: The Baileys of Balboa, The Cara Williams Show and The Reporter. Those series suffered from poor ratings and eventually contributed to Aubrey's removal as president of CBS Television in February 1965. Brasselle later wrote a novel that was a thinly disguised account of his relationship with Aubrey and the network, "The CanniBalS" (1968), followed by a sequel, "The Barricudas" (1973).
Other career highlights include appearances in the films A Place in the Sun and The Streets of Sin. Brasselle struggled to find work after his CBS experience. He died from liver disease at the age of 58.
His daughter, Melissa Brasselle, also pursued a film acting career.