Keefe Brasselle (February 7, 1923 – July 7, 1981) was an American film actor, television actor/producer and author. He is best remembered for the starring role in The Eddie Cantor Story (1953). The film was a response to the wildly successful The Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again starring Larry Parks. The Eddie Cantor Story, however, could not equal the success of the Jolson films and Brasselle's career did not launch as anticipated. In 1953, Braselle hosted an episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour with comedian/dancer Dick Wesson as a promotional tie-in for the film.
In 1956, Braselle married the singer Arlene DeMarco (28 January 1933 – 19 February 2013). They divorced in 1967.
Brasselle had a close friendship with CBS executive James Aubrey. Brasselle started his own production company and Aubrey granted Brasselle's company three television series without any previous script, pitch or pilots. The insider-chicanery resulted in a lawsuit against Aubrey and Brasselle launched by CBS shareholders. There were rumors that Aubrey had no choice in the matter due to threats from the Mafia, with which Brasselle was known to be connected.
In 1961, an Edison Township, New Jersey nightclub owned by Brasselle burned under suspicious circumstances. Fire officials came across six empty cans of gasoline at the scene, while their caps and spouts were found separately in a paper bag.
In the summer of 1963, Brasselle starred in a summer replacement series for The Garry Moore Show. Called The Keefe Brasselle Show, the program featured actress Ann B. Davis as herself in three episodes. During the 1964-1965 season, Brasselle's "Richelieu Productions" banner produced three new but untested series: The Baileys of Balboa, The Cara Williams Show, and The Reporter, starring Harry Guardino. Those series suffered from poor ratings. Aubrey was removed as president of CBS Television in February 1965 after a long court battle. 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 Barracudas (1973), in which he attacked several showbiz figures he'd worked with, including comedian Jack Benny.
Later years and death
Other career highlights include appearances in the films Never Fear (1949) and A Place in the Sun (1951). Brasselle struggled to find work after his CBS experience.
He died from liver disease in 1981 at age 58.
Filmography
Actor
1975
If You Don't Stop It... You'll Go Blind!!! as
Keefe Brasselle
1973
Adam-12 (TV Series) as
George Baker
- Nightwatch (1973) - George Baker
1972
Black Gunn as
Winman
1965
Karen (TV Series) as
Kent Loggins
- Big Bad Jim (1965) - Kent Loggins
1962
The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) as
Major Tom Webb
- The Go-Between (1962) - Major Tom Webb
1956
The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) as
Mr. Zimba / Sr. Alberto / Musician
- Clem the Private Eye or 77 Moonset Strip (1960) - Mr. Zimba
- Clem in Miami Beach (1959) - Sr. Alberto
- Dance Marathon (1956) - Musician
1959
The David Niven Show (TV Series) as
'Gentry'
- Good Deed (1959) - 'Gentry'
1958
Death Over My Shoulder as
Jack Regan
1958
The Phil Silvers Show (TV Series) as
Sgt. J.J. Covington
- Bilko vs. Covington (1958) - Sgt. J.J. Covington
1958
The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) as
Johnny Roberts
- Conflict (1958) - Johnny Roberts
1957
Matinee Theatre (TV Series)
- A Plumber in Paradise (1957)
1957
The Fighting Wildcats as
Brett Manders
1956
Battle Stations as
Chris Jordan
1954
The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) as
Johnny Bartlett / Johnny Cantrell
- Never Lend Money to a Woman (1956) - Johnny Bartlett
- Shadow of Truth (1954) - Johnny Cantrell
1956
Studio One (TV Series)
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1956)
1955
Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) as
Edward Burton
- Postcard from Barcelona (1955) - Edward Burton
1955
Celebrity Playhouse (TV Series)
- I Never Believed in Miracles (1955)
1955
Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) as
Joe Martini
- The Eyes of Father Tomasino (1955) - Joe Martini
1955
Bring Your Smile Along as
Martin 'Marty' Adams
1955
Mad at the World as
Sam Bennett aka Bill Holland
1955
The Star and the Story (TV Series) as
Ed Fielding
- A Matter of Courage (1955) - Ed Fielding
1954
Three Young Texans as
Tony Ballew
1953
The Eddie Cantor Story as
Eddie Cantor
1952
Skirts Ahoy! as
Dick Hallson
1951
A Letter from a Soldier (Short) as
Maxie Klein
1951
It's a Big Country: An American Anthology as
Sgt. Maxie Klein
1951
The Unknown Man as
Rudi Wallchek
1951
Bannerline as
Mike Perrivale
1951
A Place in the Sun as
Earl Eastman
1950
Dial 1119 as
Skip
1950
Never Fear as
Guy Richards
1949
Not Wanted as
Drew Baxter
1948
The Babe Ruth Story as
Call Boy (uncredited)
1947
T-Men as
Ocean Park Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
1947
Railroaded! as
Cowie Kowalski
1947
Heartaches as
Gus - Prop Boy (uncredited)
1947
Killer at Large as
Copy Boy (uncredited)
1947
Repeat Performance as
Delivery Boy (uncredited)
1947
Bells of San Angelo as
Ignacio (uncredited)
1945
River Gang as
Johnny
1944
Three Little Sisters as
Soldier (uncredited)
1944
Janie as
Soldier (uncredited)
1942
USS VD: Ship of Shame as
Chicken (uncredited)
Producer
1971
The Chicago Teddy Bears (TV Series) (producer - 2 episodes)
- The Auction (1971) - (producer)
- The Big Kisser (1971) - (producer)
1964
The Cara Williams Show (TV Series) (producer - 5 episodes)
- Cara, Girl Genius (1964) - (producer)
- The Wedding Rehearsal (1964) - (producer)
- Cara Fiddles While Her Hero Burns (1964) - (producer)
- Amelia Hofstetter, Please Go Home (1964) - (producer)
- Top Secret Groom (1964) - (producer - uncredited)
1964
The Reporter (TV Series) (executive producer - 1 episode)
- Extension Seven (1964) - (executive producer)
Writer
1964
The Cara Williams Show (TV Series) (developer - 2 episodes)
- Fletcher Succedes in Business Without Really Trying (1965) - (creator)
- Top Secret Groom (1964) - (creator - uncredited)
Soundtrack
1975
If You Don't Stop It... You'll Go Blind!!! (lyrics: "We've Got To Get Back On Our Backs") / (music: "We've Got To Get Back On Our Backs") / (performer: "Don't Fuck Around With Love") / (writer: "Don't Fuck Around With Love")
1955
Bring Your Smile Along (performer: "Italian Mother Song (Mama Mia)", "Side By Side")
1952
Skirts Ahoy! (performer: "I Get a Funny Feeling" - uncredited)
1950
Never Fear (performer: "Why Pretend")
Director
1975
If You Don't Stop It... You'll Go Blind!!!
1957
The Fighting Wildcats
Miscellaneous
1964
The Reporter (TV Series) (developer)
Self
1966
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) as
Self - Actor / Vocalist / Self - Guest / ...
- Episode #12.164 (1973) - Self - Actor / Vocalist
- Episode #7.220 (1968) - Self - Guest
- Episode #6.47 (1966) - Self
1968
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Roger Smith, Ron Carey, Keefe Brasselle, Aliza Kashi, Jimmy Helms (1968) - Self
