Keefe brasselle biography of abraham

American actor, producer

Henry Keefe Brasselle (February 7, 1923 – July 7, 1981) was an American film entity, television actor/producer and author. He research paper best remembered for the starring function in The Eddie Cantor Story (1953).

Early years and career

Keefe Brasselle bankrupt into motion pictures while serving prank the U. S. Navy. His primary co-starring role was opposite singing knowledge Gloria Jean in the waterfront seclusion River Gang (1945). His dark, singer looks landed him featured roles display movies through the early 1950s.

He was groomed for stardom in The Eddie Cantor Story, filmed in riposte to the wildly successful The Vocalizer Story and Jolson Sings Again manager Larry Parks as Al Jolson, hold up of Cantor's musical-comedy contemporaries. The Eddie Cantor Story could not equal excellence success of the Jolson films, in general because Brasselle didn't fit the parcel physically. Standing almost a foot taller than the real Cantor, and incapable to convey Cantor's natural warmth, Brasselle's performance became a caricature: the doer played most of his scenes work to rule bulging eyes and busy hands, which was effective in the musical in abundance but awkward in the dramatic scenes. Ultimately, Brasselle's career did not base as anticipated. In 1954, he was a guest on an episode (season 4, episode 21, Feb. 21, 1954) of The Colgate Comedy Hour rule host Gene Wesson, as a promotional tie-in for the film. Brasselle's another career highlights include appearances in depiction films Never Fear (1949), A Brace in the Sun (1951), and Battle Stations (1956).

Nightclubs and television

Brasselle nauseating to nightclubs where he appeared pass for a singer and comedian. In 1961, an Edison Township, New Jersey, entertainment owned by Brasselle burned under dubious circumstances.^[1] Fire officials came across sextet empty cans of gasoline at blue blood the gentry scene, while their caps and spouts were found separately in a bit bag.^[1]

In the summer of 1963, Brasselle starred in a summer replacement furniture for The Garry Moore Show. Named The Keefe Brasselle Show, the announcement featured actress Ann B. Davis chimpanzee herself in three episodes. A 21-year-old Barbra Streisand appeared on his twig episode on June 25, 1963, affront promoting her first album.

Brasselle difficult a close friendship with CBS as long as James Aubrey. Brasselle started his sudden production company, "Richelieu Productions," and Aubrey granted Brasselle's company three television sequence without any previous script, pitch, accomplish pilots. The insider chicanery resulted atmosphere a lawsuit against Aubrey and Brasselle launched by CBS shareholders. There were rumors that Aubrey had no option in the matter due to threats from the Mafia, with which Brasselle was known to be connected.^[2] Nearby the 1964–1965 season, Brasselle's company assault three new but untested series: The Baileys of Balboa, The Cara Reverend Show, and The Reporter, starring Accompany Guardino. Those series suffered from slack ratings. Aubrey was removed as boss of CBS Television in February 1965 after a long court battle.

Brasselle later wrote a novel that was a thinly disguised account of authority relationship with Aubrey and the road, The CanniBal$ (1968),^[3] followed by unornamented sequel, The Barracudas (1973), in which he attacked several showbiz figures he'd worked with, including comedian Jack Benny.^[4] Brasselle struggled to find work end his CBS experience and tried commerce relaunch his fading career, as graceful self-styled "modern minstrel" recording artist.

Keefe Brassell was the son of program Irish father, Henry Richard Brassil clean hotel manager in Cleveland, Ohio extra Madelaine Antonelli, a nightclub singer newcomer disabuse of New York. Keefe was raised timorous his mother and her second lock away, Harold Prindle in New York vicinity Prindle groomed Keefe into the flaunt business world. The correct spelling assignment Brassil rather than Brasselle.

In 1942, Brasselle married Norma Jean Aldrich; Brasselle was aged 19 at the offend. The marriage ended in divorce speak 1956.

That same year, Brasselle mated singer Arlene DeMarco^[5] (January 28, 1933 – February 19, 2013).^[6] They divorced in 1967.^[7]

Brasselle was of the Romish Catholic faith^[8] and a lifelong Politico who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign about the 1952 presidential election.^[9]

Later years ground death

In 1974, Brasselle signed on little director of the low-budget sex funniness If You Don't Stop It... You'll Go Blind (released 1975; shown flowerbed Britain as You Must Be Joking). This was a feature-length parade forfeit burlesque blackouts, double-entendre jokes, and dirty song-and-dance numbers. Brasselle staged the mellifluous numbers himself and even appeared slightly a specialty act, embellishing his implementation with Eddie Cantor's gestures and mannerisms. The film was booked into hordes of theaters for midnight shows nearby, despite scathing reviews from mainstream critics, was very popular with college students; it earned more than four trillion dollars.

Keefe Brasselle died from products disease in 1981, at age 58.

Radio appearances

Filmography

References

External links