Keene Curtis

Keene Holbrook Curtis (February 15, 1923 – October 13, 2002) was an American character actor.

Early life 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. He attended Davis High School in Kaysville, Utah, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served three years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor's degree. In 1943, he was recognized by the Theta Alpha Phi national honorary dramatic society as the university's outstanding actor.

Film Curtis made his film debut in Orson Welles' 1948 adaptation of Macbeth.

Theater Curtis' theatrical career began in 1949 as an assistant stage manager for the Martha Graham Dance Company before working on Broadway productions. He was a member of the Stratford Festival of Canada acting company in 1981, playing Sir George Thunder in Wild Oats.

Television Curtis played a recurring role as John Allen Hill, the owner of Melville's Restaurant on Cheers, and as a wealthy banker on the short-lived Bea Arthur vehicle Amanda's. His many television credits include The Magician as quirky columnist Max Pomeroy opposite Bill Bixby, Gypsy starring Bette Midler and two appearances on Three's Company.

Animation For the animated series SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Curtis voiced the character of the Pastmaster. He also provided the voice of Grand Moff Tarkin for the radio adaptation of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope as well as that of Lord Balthazar on The Smurfs from 1981 to 1989.

Death Curtis died from complications from Alzheimer's disease at a Bountiful, Utah nursing home at the age of 79 and was buried at Bountiful Memorial Park. Curtis never married and had no children.