Biography
A legendary stage actor and musical star who has also won Emmy awards for his TV work, Richard Kiley had one of the best "voices" in the business--mellifluous and warmly authoritarian--which complemented his wide acting range. He began his career in his native Chicago, performing juvenile role on radio soap operas such as the famed "Ma Perkins" and "The Guiding Light". After military service, Kiley settled in NYC to pursue a stage career. His …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
| Narrated "Search for Lost Worlds" series for the Discovery Channel | ||
| Reprised his role of Joe Gardner in the NBC spin-off series "A Year in the Life"; won Emmy Award | ||
| Understudied Anthony Quinn and later played Stanley Kowalski in road company of "A Streetcar Named Desire" | ||
| Was gunnery instructor in the US Navy | ||
1941 | Played juvenile in radio soap operas, "Ma Perkins" and "The Guiding Light" | |
1947 | Off-Broadway debut, "The Trojan Women" | |
1951 | Film debut, "The Mob" | |
1953 | Broadway debut, "Misalliance" | |
1953 | First musical role, "Kismet" | |
1953 | TV debut, "U.S. Steel Hour" | |
1959 | Starred as Tom Baxter in "Redhead" on Broadway; won Tony Award | |
1965 | Created signature role as Don Quixote/Miguel Cervantes in "Man of La Mancha" on Broadway; won second Tony Award; appeared with the show for its five year run, playing over 2,000 performances in the role | |
1972 | Headlined a revival of "Man of La Mancha" | |
1974 | Played the Pilot in the film musical "The Little Prince" | |
1977 | Co-starred as Mr. Dunn, Diane Keaton's father, in "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" | |
1977 | Once again played his signature role in yet another revival of "Man of La Mancha" | |
1981 | Appeared as Martin Hewitt's father in "Endless Love" | |
1982 | Portrayed the patriarch of the Cleary family in the ABC miniseries "The Thorn Birds"; earned an Emmy Award | |
1985 | Portrayed the husband of Joanne Woodward in "Do You Remember Love?", a drama about a married couple facing Alzheimer's disease | |
1986 | Created role of widower patriarch Joe Gardner in the NBC miniseries "A Year in the Life" | |
1987 | Portrayed lead role of Joe Keller in Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons"; marked final Broadway appearance | |
1992 | First played role of Hayden Langston, father of Jill Brock (Kathy Baker) in "Picket Fences" (CBS); teleplay by David E Kelley | |
1993 | Provided the voice of the tour guide in "Jurassic Park" | |
1994 | Reprised guest role as Hayden Langston in an episode of "Picket Fences" scripted by Kelley; received Emmy Award | |
1998 | Final film appearance, as a doctor in the hit "Patch Adams" | |
1998 | Last TV acting role before his death, portrayed a painter in an episode of "Ally McBeal" (Fox), written by David E Kelley | |
1999 | Final acting role, as Sharon Lawrence's restarauteur father in the CBS movie "Blue Moon" | |
Awards
1959 | Tony Award for Actor (Musical) |
1966 | Tony Award for Actor (Musical) |
1983 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in The Thorn Birds |
1983 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor In a Limited Series or a Special in The Thorn Birds |
1985 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In a Limited Series or a Special in Do You Remember Love |
1987 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in A Year in the Life |
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in A Year in the Life |
1991 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Separate But Equal |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor In a Miniseries or Special in Separate But Equal |
1992 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in The Ray Bradbury Theater |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Drama Series in Picket Fences |
1994 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Drama Series in Picket Fences |
1995 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Special in 30 Years of National Geographic Specials |