Brian Keith (November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997) was a beloved American actor of film, television, and stage, celebrated for his gruff, gravelly voice and his masterful portrayal of curmudgeons with a heart of gold. His four-decade career showcased incredible versatility on the big screen, where he played the warm, beleaguered father in the classic Disney comedy The Parent Trap (1961), the flustered police chief in the Cold War satire The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966), and delivered a powerful, iconic performance as President Theodore Roosevelt in the adventure epic The Wind and the Lion (1975).
Brian Keith also became a household name on television, most famously as the reluctant bachelor guardian “Uncle Bill” Davis in the heartwarming 1960s sitcom Family Affair. He later found a new generation of fans as the tough, retired Judge Milton C. Hardcastle in the popular 1980s action-drama Hardcastle and McCormick.