Brian Kelly (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Brian Kelly


imagesize = 250px
caption = Brian Kelly as Porter Ricks in "Flipper".
bgcolour = silver
birthname = Brian Kelly
birthdate = birth date|1931|2|14|mf=y
location = Detroit, Michigan, USA
deathdate = death date and age|2005|2|12|1931|2|14|mf=y
deathplace = Voorhees, New Jersey, USA
yearsactive = 1962 - 1996
spouse = Laura Devon, m. 1966, (divorced) Valerie Anne Romero, m. 1973
children = Hallie (b. 1975) Devin (b. 1980)
emmyawards =

Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the widowed father of two sons on the NBC television series "Flipper".

Birth and early years

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kelly was the son of former Governor of Michigan Harry F. Kelly and Anne O'Brien Kelly. Kelly had two brothers and two sisters, one brother being his twin.

Kelly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. Kelly graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1953. He also attended the University of Michigan Law School for a year before settling on acting. During his college days, Kelly modelled and acted in radio and tv commercials in Detroit.

Acting career

Kelly headed to Hollywood in the late fifties after choosing acting as his career. Following minor roles in "Adventures in Paradise", "The Beverly Hillbillies", and "The Rifleman", Kelly starred in two short-lived television series, "21 Beacon Street" (1959), and ABC's "Straightaway" (1961–1962) with costar John Ashley.

In 1964, Kelly was chosen to play Porter Ricks, Chief Warden at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in the family-oriented action and adventure television program "Flipper". Kelly is remembered today for his strong and convincing portrayal of a morally responsible single dad. Kelly was quoted at the time as saying that he loved the role because of its family-friendly qualities. The success of "Flipper", which was filmed in Miami and the Bahamas, led to a brief movie career, including a lead in "Around the World Under the Sea" (1966).

In 1970, Kelly was involved in a motorcycle accident which left his right arm and leg paralyzed. He won a legal settlement in the case but the accident ended his acting career. He used the money in the settlement to build homes and then to produce films. He served as executive producer of "Blade Runner" (1982) and associate producer of "Cities of the Wild" (1996).

Marriages and death

Kelly was married twice and divorced from actresses Laura Devon in 1966, and Valerie Ann Romero in 1972, with whom he had a daughter Hallie in 1975 and a son Devin "DJ Adlib" in 1980. Kelly died of pneumonia in Voorhees, New Jersey, two days before his 74th birthday.

Filmography

Actor:
*"Drive Hard, Drive Fast" (1973) (TV) .... Mark Driscoll
*"Berlin Affair" (1970) (TV) .... Paul Strand
*"Company of Killers" (1970) (TV) .... Nick Andros
*"Spara, Gringo, spara" (1968) .... Chad Stark
*"Around the World Under the Sea" (1966) .... Dr. Craig Mosby
*"Flipper" (1964-1967) (TV) .... Porter Ricks
*"Flipper's New Adventure" (1964) .... Porter Ricks
*"Thunder Island" (1963) .... Vincent Dodge
*"The Beverly Hillbillies" (1963) (TV) .... (2 episodes)
*"Straightaway" (1961-1962) (TV) .... Scott Ross (24 episodes)
*"Adventures in Paradise" (1959) (TV) .... Captain Rivers (1 episode)
*"21 Beacon Street" (1959) (TV) .... Brian (unknown episodes)
*"Panic!" (1958) (TV) .... Randy Burke (1 episode)
*"Flight" (TV) .... (1 episode)
*"Waterfront" (TV) .... (1 episode) Producer:
*"Cities of the Wild" (1996) .... (associate producer)
*"Blade Runner" (1982) .... (executive producer)

Director:
*"Flipper" (1964) (TV) .... (unknown episodes)

Self:
*"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" .... Himself (2 episodes, 1964-1970)
*"Dateline: Hollywood" .... Himself (1 episode, 1967)
*"The Hollywood Squares" .... Guest Appearance (1 episode, 1967)
*"Today" .... Himself (1 episode, 1964)

Archive Footage:
*"50 Greatest TV Animals" (2003) (TV) (uncredited) .... Porter Ricks

External links

*imdb name|id=0446223|name=Brian Kelly
* [http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/8175/bk.htm Brian Kelly Fan Club]