Quick Facts
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Keene Holbrook Curtis (February 15, 1923 – October 13, 2002) was an American character actor.
Early life and film career
Curtis was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Polley Francella (née Holbrook), a teacher, and Ira Charles Curtis, a railway and civil service employee.
Curtis made his film debut in the 1948 Orson Welles adaptation of Macbeth. Additional film credits included American Hot Wax, Rabbit Test, The Buddy System, I.Q., Heaven Can Wait, Sliver, and Richie Rich's Christmas Wish.
Theatre work
Curtis' theatrical career began in 1955 as a Broadway stage manager. His first appearance as a performer was in a 1965 revival of You Can't Take It with You. In 1971, he was awarded the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for The Rothschilds. Additional Broadway credits included The Cherry Orchard, A Patriot for Me, Via Galactica, Annie, and La Cage aux Folles.
He received an Obie Award nomination for his role as Bradley in the A. R. Gurney play, The Cocktail Hour.
Television work
Curtis had a recurring role playing John Allen Hill, the owner of Melville's Restaurant in Cheers and as a wealthy snob on Amanda's. His many television credits include The Magician as quirky columnist Max Pomeroy opposite Bill Bixby, Gypsy and appearances on:
- Dark Shadows
- Hawaii Five-O
- Star Trek Voyager
- M*A*S*H
- Sanford and Son
- The Jeffersons
- Quincy, M.E.
- Eight Is Enough
- The San Pedro Beach Bums
- Three's Company
- Lou Grant
- Hart to Hart
- Benson
- Newhart
- Knight Rider
- Murder, She Wrote
- Touched by an Angel
- Ally McBeal
- Party of Five
- Brotherly Love
- The Smurfs
- Stargate SG-1
- The Pretender
- Wonder Woman
- Night Court
- Trapper John, M.D.
- Full House
- ER
- Caroline in the City
- Matt Houston
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
- Coach
- Cheers
- Beverly Hills, 90210
- Modesty Blaise
- Logan's Run
- Baretta
- Lambada
- Partners in Crime
- Hope and Gloria
- Ned & Stacey
- The Drew Carey Show
- Men Behaving Badly
- Private Benjamin
- Ellery Queen
- Karen
- The Wizard
- Sunset Beach
- The Pirates of Dark Water (in 21 episodes).
Animation work
For the animated series SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, he voiced the character the Pastmaster. He also provided the voice of Grand Moff Tarkin for the first Star Wars radio drama, but may have been best known for voicing "Lord Balthazar" of The Smurfs from 1981-89.
He has also done voice talents for other cartoon shows including The Little Mermaid, The Dukes, The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures, Trollkins, The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda, The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible, Denver, the Last Dinosaur, The Snorks, The Jetsons, Space Stars, Adventures from the Book of Virtues, The Herculoids, Fantastic Max, Paddington Bear, The Centurions, Kissyfur, Mother Goose and Grimm, The Hot Rod Dogs and Cool Car Cats and Bonkers.
Death
Curtis died from complications from Alzheimer's disease in a Bountiful, Utah nursing home, aged 79, and was buried there at Bountiful Memorial Park.