Dennis O'Keefe (March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. He was the son of Irish vaudevillians working in the United States. As a small child he joined his parents' act and later wrote skits for the stage.
O'Keefe started in films as an extra in the early 1930s. After a small but impressive role in Saratoga, Clark Gable recommended O'Keefe to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which signed him to a contract in 1937. His film roles were bigger after that, starting with The Bad Man of Brimstone and Burn 'Em Up O'Connor.
O'Keefe left MGM around 1940 but continued to work in mostly lower budget productions. In the 1950s he did some directing, wrote mystery stories and by the mid-1950s found work on television shows such as Justice, The Martha Raye Show, The Ford Show as well as his own series The Dennis O'Keefe Show.
Known For
Top Hat
(1935)
Elevator Passenger / Hotel Guest / Dancer (uncredited)
Scarface
(1932)
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Theatregoer (uncredited)
T-Men
(1947)
Dennis O'Brien / Vannie Harrigan
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Burke's Party Guest (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
San Francisco
(1936)
New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
Blonde Venus
(1932)
(uncredited)
Libeled Lady
(1936)
Barker at Charity Affair (uncredited)
42nd Street
(1933)
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
The Fighting Seabees
(1944)
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
Fury
(1936)
Reporter (uncredited)
Cimarron
(1931)
(uncredited)
Duck Soup
(1933)
Bridegroom at Firefly's Reception (uncredited)
Woman on the Run
(1950)
Dan Legget
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
(1932)
Café Chateau Dancer (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
Reaching for the Moon
(1930)
Ship's Party Guest (uncredited)
Honeymoon Trio
(1931)
Wedding Guest
Cimarron
(1931)
(uncredited)
Laugh and Get Rich
(1931)
Young Man at Dance (uncredited)
The Miracle Woman
(1931)
Man in Audience (uncredited)
Working Girls
(1931)
Dance Extra
Love Affair
(1932)
One of Carol's Friends at Party (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
(1932)
Café Chateau Dancer (uncredited)
Central Park
(1932)
Casino Diner (uncredited)
Huddle
(1932)
Dancer (uncredited)
Blonde Venus
(1932)
(uncredited)
The Man from Yesterday
(1932)
Cafe Patron
Merrily We Go to Hell
(1932)
Wedding Usher (uncredited)
Scarface
(1932)
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
The Cabin in the Cotton
(1932)
Dance Floor Extra at Madge's Party (uncredited)
Big City Blues
(1932)
Dice Spectator (uncredited)
Under Eighteen
(1932)
Penthouse Party Guest (uncredited)
A Bill of Divorcement
(1932)
Party Guest
Night After Night
(1932)
Drunk Sleeping on a Table (uncredited)
Bachelor's Affairs
(1932)
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
The Eagle and the Hawk
(1933)
Flier (uncredited)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
(1933)
Nightclub Dance Extra
Too Much Harmony
(1933)
Cafe Patron
The Prizefighter and the Lady
(1933)
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Hello, Everybody!
(1933)
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Torch Singer
(1933)
Nightclub Patron
Lady Killer
(1933)
Bombshell
(1933)
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Duck Soup
(1933)
Bridegroom at Firefly's Reception (uncredited)
Blood Money
(1933)
Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
42nd Street
(1933)
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
The Phantom of the Air
(1933)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
(1933)
Theatregoer (uncredited)
I'm No Angel
(1933)
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
Only Yesterday
(1933)
New Year's Eve Reveler (Uncredited)
Girl Missing
(1933)
Casino Patron (Uncredited)
She Had to Say Yes
(1933)
Cabaret Patron (uncredited)
From Hell to Heaven
(1933)
Louie - Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
Imitation of Life
(1934)
Party Guest (uncredited)
All of Me
(1934)
Policeman (uncredited)
Wonder Bar
(1934)
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Broadway Bill
(1934)
(uncredited)
Everything's Ducky
(1934)
Party Guest
Jimmy the Gent
(1934)
Chester Coote (uncredited)
Fog Over Frisco
(1934)
Van Brugh, Reporter (Uncredited)
Coming Out Party
(1934)
Party Guest
We're Rich Again
(1934)
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Two Heads on a Pillow
(1934)
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Smarty
(1934)
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
He Was Her Man
(1934)
Man Leaving Courtroom
College Rhythm
(1934)
Department Store Doorman
A Lost Lady
(1934)
Dance Extra (uncredited)
Desirable
(1934)
Party Guest
Lady by Choice
(1934)
Dance Extra (uncredited)
The Red Rider
(1934)
Minor Role
Kid Millions
(1934)
Chorus Boy in Ship's Show (uncredited)
Gift of Gab
(1934)
Dancer (uncredited)
Top Hat
(1935)
Elevator Passenger / Hotel Guest / Dancer (uncredited)
The Daring Young Man
(1935)
Wedding Participant
The Wedding Night
(1935)
Party Guest (uncredited)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
(1935)
Dancer (uncredited)
Here Comes the Band
(1935)
Party Guest at Reunion (uncredited)
The Gilded Lily
(1935)
Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Broadway Hostess
(1935)
Donald Ross - Ronnie's Friend (uncredited)
Baby Face Harrington
(1935)
Country Club Patron
The Misses Stooge
(1935)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Every Night at Eight
(1935)
Huxley Employee (uncredited)
Doubting Thomas
(1935)
Member of Audience
A Feather in Her Hat
(1935)
Theatergoer (uncredited)
One New York Night
(1935)
Extra
It's in the Air
(1935)
Announcer / Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Personal Maid's Secret
(1935)
Dinner Guest
Theodora Goes Wild
(1936)
Man (uncredited)
Piccadilly Jim
(1936)
Petie McGregor (uncredited)
Libeled Lady
(1936)
Barker at Charity Affair (uncredited)
Great Guy
(1936)
Party Guest (Uncredited)
Love Before Breakfast
(1936)
College Boy (uncredited)
The Accusing Finger
(1936)
Reporter
Show Boat
(1936)
Rhythm on the Range
(1936)
Sidewalk Heckler
Sinner Take All
(1936)
Night Club Guest (uncredited)
Rose Bowl
(1936)
Jones
13 Hours by Air
(1936)
Baker-Co-Pilot
San Francisco
(1936)
New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)
Private Number
(1936)
Gambler (Uncredited)
Three Smart Girls
(1936)
Nightclub Extra
The Big Broadcast of 1937
(1936)
Sound Technician (uncredited)
Beloved Enemy
(1936)
Reception Guest (Uncredited)
Colleen
(1936)
Extra on Dance Floor (uncredited)
Strike Me Pink
(1936)
Club Lido Patron (uncredited)
Sworn Enemy
(1936)
Bandleader (uncredited)
The Singing Kid
(1936)
Bud (uncredited)
Small Town Girl
(1936)
Man Dancing in Tavern (uncredited)
Burning Gold
(1936)
Derrick Worker
Fury
(1936)
Reporter (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Courtroom Reporter (uncredited)
The Bad Man of Brimstone
(1937)
Jeffrey Burton
Riding on Air
(1937)
Radium Plane 23 Co-Pilot (uncredited)
Easy Living
(1937)
Office Manager (uncredited)
Champagne Waltz
(1937)
Dance Extra at Blue Danube Room
One Mile from Heaven
(1937)
Party Guest
Mama Steps Out
(1937)
Dance Extra
Vogues of 1938
(1937)
Nightclub Patron
Swing High, Swing Low
(1937)
Purser (uncredited)
The Great Gambini
(1937)
Nightclub Patron
The Girl from Scotland Yard
(1937)
John
Captains Courageous
(1937)
Bit Role (uncredited)
Make Way for Tomorrow
(1937)
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Top of the Town
(1937)
Frank
The Firefly
(1937)
French Soldier Admirer (uncredited)
Saratoga
(1937)
Party guest
History Is Made at Night
(1937)
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Burke's Party Guest (uncredited)
The Chaser
(1938)
Tom Brandon
Vacation from Love
(1938)
Bill Blair
Hold That Kiss
(1938)
Tommy Bradford
A Yank at Oxford
(1938)
Racetrack Handler (uncredited)
Unexpected Father
(1939)
Jimmy Hanley
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
(1939)
Jerry O'Connor
The Kid From Texas
(1939)
William Quincy
That's Right - You're Wrong
(1939)
Chuck Deems
Girl from Havana
(1940)
Woody Davis
Alias the Deacon
(1940)
Johnny Sloan
Bowery Boy
(1940)
Dr. Tom O'Hara
Pop Always Pays
(1940)
Jeff Thompson
Arise, My Love
(1940)
Joe 'Shep' Shepard
You'll Find Out
(1940)
Chuck Deems
La Conga Nights
(1940)
Steve Collins
I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now
(1940)
Tod Lowell
Weekend for Three
(1941)
Jim 'Jimbo' Craig
Mr. District Attorney
(1941)
P. Cadwallader Jones
Broadway Limited
(1941)
Dr. Harvey North
Lady Scarface
(1941)
Lieutenant Bill Mason
Topper Returns
(1941)
Bob
Moonlight Masquerade
(1942)
John Bennett Jr.
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine
(1942)
Mike Jason
Good Morning, Judge
(1943)
David Barton
Tahiti Honey
(1943)
Mickey Monroe
The Leopard Man
(1943)
Jerry Manning
Hangmen Also Die!
(1943)
Jan Horak
Hi Diddle Diddle
(1943)
Sonny Phyffe
Sensations of 1945
(1944)
Junior Crane
Abroad with Two Yanks
(1944)
Jeff Reardon
Up in Mabel's Room
(1944)
Boris
The Story of Dr. Wassell
(1944)
Benjamin 'Hoppy' Hopkins
The Fighting Seabees
(1944)
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
Getting Gertie's Garter
(1945)
Kenneth B. Ford
Doll Face
(1945)
Michael Francis 'Mike' Hannegan
The Affairs of Susan
(1945)
Bill Anthony
Earl Carroll Vanities
(1945)
Danny Baldwin
Brewster's Millions
(1945)
Montague L. 'Monty' Brewster
Her Adventurous Night
(1946)
Bill Fry
Mr. District Attorney
(1947)
Steve Bennett
T-Men
(1947)
Dennis O'Brien / Vannie Harrigan
Dishonored Lady
(1947)
Dr. David Cousins
Walk a Crooked Mile
(1948)
Daniel F. O'Hara
Raw Deal
(1948)
Joe Sullivan
The Great Dan Patch
(1949)
David Palmer
Cover Up
(1949)
Sam Donovan
Abandoned
(1949)
Mark Sitko
Siren of Atlantis
(1949)
Jean Morhange
The Eagle and the Hawk
(1950)
Whitney Randolph
Woman on the Run
(1950)
Dan Legget
Follow the Sun
(1951)
Chuck Williams
Passage West
(1951)
Jacob Karns
The Company She Keeps
(1951)
Larry Collins
Everything I Have Is Yours
(1952)
Alec Tacksbury
One Big Affair
(1952)
Jimmy Donovan
The Lady Wants Mink
(1953)
Jim Connors
The Fake
(1953)
Paul Mitchell
Angela
(1954)
Steve Catlett
Drums of Tahiti
(1954)
Mike Macklin
The Diamond Wizard
(1954)
Joe Dennison
Chicago Syndicate
(1955)
Barry Amsterdam
Las Vegas Shakedown
(1955)
Joe Barnes
Inside Detroit
(1956)
Blair Vickers
Sail Into Danger
(1957)
Steve Ryman
Lady of Vengeance
(1957)
William T. Marshall
Dragoon Wells Massacre
(1957)
Capt. Matt Riordan
All Hands on Deck
(1961)
Brian O'Gara
The Naked Flame
(1964)
Paul Ashley
Writing
The Kid Comes Back
(1938)
Story
Cover Up
(1949)
Screenplay
Angela
(1954)
Screenplay
The Black Knight
(1954)
Dialogue
The Naked Flame
(1964)
Writer
Directing