Tom Keene (actor)

Tom Keene

Publicity photograph of Tom Keene for Our Daily Bread (1934)
Born George Duryea
(1896-12-30)December 30, 1896
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Died August 4, 1963(1963-08-04) (aged 66)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death Cancer
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Other names Dick Powers
Richard Powers
Tom Keen
Occupation Actor
Years active 1923–1959
Spouse(s) Grace Stafford (m. 1919–40)

Tom Keene (December 30, 1896 – August 4, 1963) was an American actor known mostly for his roles in B Westerns.

Early life and career

Born as George Duryea (no relation to fellow actor Dan Duryea) in Rochester, New York, Keene studied at Columbia University and Carnegie Tech before embarking on an acting career. He made his film debut in the 1923 short film The Just a Little Late Club. Keene followed with roles in The Godless Girl (1929) directed by Cecil B. DeMille, Tide of Empire (1929) with Renée Adorée, Thunder with Lon Chaney, Sr., Tol'able David (1930), Sundown Trail (1931). In 1934 King Vidor cast him in the socially conscious Depression oriented classic Our Daily Bread with Karen Morley.

During the 1940s, Keene appeared in the film serial The Great Alaskan Mystery and two Dick Tracy films Dick Tracy's Dilemma and Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947). In the 1950s, he moved on to television with guest roles on The Range Rider, Buffalo Bill, Jr., Fury, Judge Roy Bean, and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Keene's last film role was in the Ed Wood-directed cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959). He retired soon after this and focused on real estate and the insurance business.

Death

Keene died of cancer on August 4, 1963, aged 66. He was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Selected filmography

Later in his career, Keene was often credited as Richard Powers, and once as Dick Powers.

Tom Keene in Plan 9 from Outer Space, his last role.
Year Title Role Notes
1928 Marked Money Clyde Credited as George Duryea
The Godless Girl Bob Hathaway
1929 Honky Tonk Freddie Gilmore
1930 Beau Bandit W.S. "Bill" Howard
1931 Freighters of Destiny Steve Macey
Sundown Trail Buck Sawyer
1932 Partners Dick Barstow
Ghost Valley Jerry Long
Beyond the Rockies Blackjack
The Saddle Buster Montana ("Monty")
Come on Danger! Larry Madden, Texas Ranger
1933 Sunset Pass Jack Rock/Jim Collins
1934 Our Daily Bread John Sims Alternative title: Hell's Crossroads
1935 Hong Kong Nights Tom Keene
1936 Timothy's Quest David Masters
1937 Romance of the Rockies Dr. Tom Foster
1938 The Painted Trail Tom Gray posing as the Pecos Kid
1941 Riding the Sunset Trail Tom Sterling
1942 Western Mail Tom Allen
1944 Port of 40 Thieves Scott Barton Credited as Richard Powers
1945 Dangerous Intruder Curtis
Girls of the Big House Barton Sturgis
1946 San Quentin Hal Schaeffer, Robbery Detail
1947 Thunder Mountain Johnny Blue
1948 Return of the Bad Men Jim Younger
Berlin Express Major Credited as Richard Powers
Western Heritage Saloon Owner Spade Thorne
1949 Brothers in the Saddle Nash Prescott
1950 The Milkman Duzik Uncredited
1951 Home Town Story Abbott, Bob's campaign manager
The Stu Erwin Show Arthur Hale Episode: "The Big Game"
The Range Rider Lang Episode: "The Grand Fleece"
1952 Red Planet Mars Major General George Burdette Uncredited
Sky King Sheriff 2 episodes
Credited as Richard Powers
1953 The Abbott and Costello Show Joe 2 episodes
Credited as Richard Powers
The Moonlighter Sheriff Credited as Richard Powers
General Electric Theater Slocum Episode: "Woman's World"
Credited as Richard Powers
1954 Outlaw's Daughter Bank Manager Uncredited
Hopalong Cassidy Bill Bricker Episode: "Steel Trails West"
Credited as Richard Powers
1955 Dig That Uranium Frank Loomis Credited as Richard Powers
The Millionaire Attorney Marlowe Episode: "The Uncle Robby Story"
1956 Tension at Table Rock Man Killed by Sam Credited as Richard Powers
1958 Casey Jones John Patrick Episode: "The Silk Train"
Credited as Richard Powers
Tales of the Texas Rangers Morgan Thorpe Episode: "Traitor's Gold"
Credited as Richard Powers
1959 Death Valley Days Charlie Duff Episode: "Stagecoach Spy"
Credited as Richard Powers
Plan 9 from Outer Space Col. Tom Edwards
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