Don O'Kelly

Don O'Kelly ( Donald Patrick Kelly; March 17, 1924 – October 2, 1966) was an American actor prominent in the 1950s and 1960s mostly on television. Though credited as "Don Kelly" in earlier performances, his billing was changed to "Don O'Kelly" in 1960.

Background

Donald Patrick Kelly was born in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York to Robert Kelly, an Irish-American father (Robert J. Kelly) and Norwegian-American mother (Rachel Marie Knudsen).

Kelly enlisted in the United States Navy on June 17, 1941 just prior to World War II and saw active duty aboard the and . He saw convoy duty at San Juan, Puerto Rico, Iceland, England, Scotland, North Africa, and Italy. He served four years, three months, and 17 days of active duty. Kelly received an honorable discharge after the war and upon separation joined his cousin's ice skating show. O'Kelly used his GI Bill of Rights to study acting with the Strasberg company in Hollywood, California.

Career Don O'Kelly began his career starring in Tank Battalion with Marjorie Hellen (later Leslie Parrish). O'Kelly was a familiar face to series television fans during the 1950s and 1960s. His last starring role was in The Hostage, made in 1966 and released in 1967, for which he received very favorable reviews.

TV and film credits

The Hostage (1967) ... Bull Shoot Out at Big Sag (1962) ... Fargo Frontier Uprising (1961) ... Kilpatrick Tank Battalion (1958) ... Sgt Brad Dunne aka Korean Attack The Notorious Mr. Monks (1958) ... Dan Flynn Bombers B-52 (1957) ... Master Sergeant Darren McKind aka No Sleep Till Dawn (UK) The Crooked Circle (1957) ... Joe Kelly The Big Land (1957)... Billy Tyler aka Stampeded (UK) The Wild Wild West (1965) episode The Night of a Thousand Eyes ... Peavey Gunsmoke (1965) episode Eliab's Aim ... Dealer Ben Casey (1964) episode One Nation Indivisible ... George Zybsko Bonanza (1964) episode The Lila Conrad Story The Virginian (1963) episode The Evil That Men Do ... Deke The Dakotas (1963) episode Fargo ... Paul Young The Gallant Men (1963)episode The Leathernecks ... Captain Barlow 77 Sunset Strip (1963) episode Crashout ... Arnie Martin The Gallant Men (1962) episode One Moderately Peaceful Sunday 77 Sunset Strip (1962) episode Terror in a Small Town ... Sheriff Farger The Beachcomber (1962) episode The Fugitive ... Womack Ripcord (1961) episode High Jeopardy ... Johnny Grimes 77 Sunset Strip (1961) episode The Turning Point ... Nate Minton Bat Masterson (1961) episode Meeting at Mimbers ... Green River Tom Smith Riverboat (1960) episode Zigzag ... Clyde Bat Masterson (1960) episode The Elusive Baguette as “Reed Morgan” The Deputy (1960) episode Lady for a Hanging ... Hunter Bat Masterson (1960) episode The Last of the Night Raiders ... Jack Doolin Tombstone Territory" (1960) episode Girl From Philadelphia" ... as outlaw Ben Quade The Twilight Zone (1960) episode The Mighty Casey ... Monk Overland Trail (1960) episode Fire in the Hole ... Red 77 Sunset Strip (1960) episode Vacation with Pay ... Adams Bourbon Street Beat (1960) episode Neon Nightmare ... George Johnson Lawman (1960) episode The Truce M Squad (1960) episode Race to Death ... Joe Calhoun Laramie (1960) episode Duel at Alta Mesa The Alaskans (1960) episode The Trial of Reno McKee ... Carl The Alaskans (1960) episode Black Sand Have Gun – Will Travel (1960) episode The Day of the Bad Man ... Amos Saint Bonanza (1960) episode El Toro Grande The Restless Gun (1959) episode A Very Special Inspector ... Blair Weeks Tales of Wells Fargo (1959) episode The Daltons ...Bob Dalton Black Saddle (1959) episode Client: Reynolds ... Harry Briggs Lawman (1959) episode The Souvenir ... Virgil Carey Disneyland (6 March 1959) episode The Slaughter Trail ... Jed Texas John Slaughter (1959) episode (#1.5) The Slaughter Trail ... Jed Disneyland (20 March 1959) episode Man from Bitter Creek ... Jed Texas John Slaughter" (1959) (#1.6) Man from Bitter Creek" ... Jed Sugarfoot (1959) episode The Giant Killer ... Tracy The Texan (1959) episode A Quart of Law Maverick (1958) episode Holiday at Hollow Rock ... Ira Swain 77 Sunset Strip (1958) episode The Court Martial of Johnny Murdo ... Sergeant Bannock Lawman (1958) episode The Oath ... Lou Menke Broken Arrow (1958) episode War Trail ... Captain Baker Have Gun – Will Travel (1958) episode The Teacher ... Coley Maverick (1958) episode Trail West to Fury ... Jett Wire Service (1957) episode Misfire Frontier (1956) episode A Somewhere Voice ... Jim Death Valley Days (1956) episode The Sinbuster Frontier (1956) episode The Well ... Jim