Steven Keats

Steven Keats (born Steven Paul Keitz; February 6, 1945 – May 8, 1994) was an American actor who appeared in such films as Death Wish (as Charles Bronson's character's son-in-law), Black Sunday and the Chuck Norris thriller Silent Rage.

Steven Keats
Keats in trailer for The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)
Born
Steven Paul Keitz

(1945-02-06)February 6, 1945
The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 1994(1994-05-08) (aged 49)
Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide
OccupationActor
Years active1970–1994
Children2

Early life and education

Keats was born in the Bronx to Francis (née Rebold) and Daniel David Keitz. His father was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to Polish Jewish parents from Warsaw. His mother was born in New York, also to a Polish Jewish family.[1][2]

He grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York, graduated from the New York School for the Performing Arts (now Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts). After serving a tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Air Force from 1965 to 1966, Keats attended the Yale School of Drama in 1969–1970. He is the father of photographer and actor Thatcher Keats and of Shane Keats.[2]

Career

Keats debuted on Broadway in the second cast of Oh! Calcutta! and appeared in over 80 films and TV shows. He was nominated for an Emmy in 1977 for his role as the ruthless, Great Depression-era entrepreneur Jay Blackman, who clawed his way to the top of the "rag trade", or clothing business, in the 1977 miniseries Seventh Avenue. He also portrayed Thomas Edison on the brink of inventing the electric light bulb in the science fiction TV series Voyagers!.

His film career included roles in The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), Death Wish (1974), The Gambler (1974), The Gumball Rally (1976), The Last Dinosaur (1977), Black Sunday (1977), The Ivory Ape (1980), Hangar 18 (1980), Silent Rage (1982), Turk 182 (1985), Badge of the Assassin (1985), and the 1982 TV movie of the Norman Mailer book The Executioner's Song.[3]

Keats appeared in the 1975 film Hester Street. Set on New York City's Lower East Side of the 1890s, Keats played Jake Podkovnik (late of Russia), an assimilated "Amerikaner". He played a deranged bomber in the 1974 Kojak episode "Therapy in Dynamite", and guest-starred on an episode of The A-Team, "Harder Than It Looks". He played Ed McClain on Another World and guest-starred as Alf Gresham on All My Children.[3] He also played TV reporter Jake Baron on the April 6, 1990 episode of MacGyver, titled "Rush to Judgement".

Death

On May 8, 1994, Keats was found dead in his apartment in Manhattan. His son said that he died by suicide.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1973The Friends of Eddie CoyleJackie Brown
1974Death WishJack Toby
1974The GamblerHowie
1975Hester StreetJake
1975The Dream MakersBarry
1976Sky RidersRudy
1976The Gumball RallyKandinsky - Dodge Team
1977The Last DinosaurChuck Wade
1977Black SundayRobert Moshevsky
1980The American Success CompanyRick Duprez
1980Hangar 18Paul Bannister
1982Silent RageDr. Philip Spires
1985Turk 182Jockamo
1985Badge of the AssassinHarold Skelton, Defense Attorney
1989The SpringMark
1990EternityTax Collector / Harold

References
  1. "The Ladies' Home Journal". Family Media, Incorporated. 1 July 1977. Retrieved 15 October 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. "Steven Keats, 48, Film and TV Actor". Nytimes.com. 18 May 1994. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. Steven Keats at IMDb
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