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I just wanted to honor Howard Keel...of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Showboat fame, who has recently died of colon cancer at age 85. I always loved hearing his rich baritone voice...whether he was singing or speaking. He exuded a manly charm in all his roles that were instantly likeable and made me wanting to see more of him.
My favorite of all his roles was in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers as the thick headed Adam Pontipee...the man who always got what he wanted if he set his mind to getting it. He will always be my “Bless Your Beautiful Hide” man. Rest in peace Mr. Keel.
Here’s a listing of his films from IMDB and Howard trivia (copy and pasted).
My favorite roles with him are in bold.
Films
My Father's House (2002) as Roy Mardis
Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is (1994) (TV) as Capt. Jack
Irving Berlin's America (1986)
"Dallas" (1978) TV Series as Clayton Farlow (1981-1991)
Arizona Bushwhackers (1968) as Lee Travis
The War Wagon (1967) as Levi Walking Bear
Red Tomahawk (1967) as Capt. Tom York
Waco (1966) as 'Waco'
The Man from Button Willow (1965) (voice) as Offscreen singer of title song
The Day of the Triffids (1962) as Bill Masen
Armored Command (1961) as Col. Devlin
The Big Fisherman (1959) as Simon Peter
Floods of Fear (1959) as Donovan
Kismet (1955) as The Poet
Jupiter's Darling (1955) as Hannibal
Deep in My Heart (1954) as Specialty in 'My Maryland'
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) as Adam Pontipee
Rose Marie (1954) as Capt. Mike Malone
Kiss Me Kate (1953) as Fred Graham 'Petruchio'
Calamity Jane (1953) as Wild Bill Hickok
Desperate Search (1952) as Vince Heldon
Lovely to Look at (1952) as Tony Naylor
Callaway Went Thataway (1951) as Stretch' Barnes/'Smoky Callaway
Texas Carnival (1951) as Slim Shelby
Across the Wide Missouri (1951) (uncredited) as Narrator
Show Boat (1951) as Gaylord Ravenal
Three Guys Named Mike (1951) as Mike Jamison
Pagan Love Song (1950) as Hazard Endicott
Annie Get Your Gun (1950) as Frank Butler
Trivia
• He worked as a representative for the Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Southern California before embarking on his singing and acting career.
• He was President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1958-1959]
• He Lost the film lead in "South Pacific" because he couldn't get out of his MGM contract.
• During the shooting of Annie Get Your Gun (1950), he broke his leg when his horse fell on him. He was laid up for six weeks.
• Portrayed Curly in the Original London cast of Oklahoma, Fred Graham in Kiss Me Kate (1953), and Hajj in Kismet (1955). Baritone Alfred Drake originated all three roles on Broadway.
