Tom Keene

Tom Keene (born George Duryea; December 30, 1896 – August 4, 1963 ) was an American actor known mostly for his roles in B Westerns. During his almost 40-year career in motion pictures Tom Keene worked under three different names. From 1923, when he made his first picture, until 1930 he worked under his birth name, George Duryea. The last film he made under this name was Pardon My Gun. Beginning with the 1930 film Tol'able David, he used Tom Keene as his moniker. This name he used until 1944 when he changed it to Richard Powers. The first film he used this name in was Up in Arms. He continued to primarily use this name for the rest of his film career, though still used Tom Keene on occasion.

Early life and career Born George Duryea (no known relation to fellow actor Dan Duryea despite a resemblance) 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) and 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 Ed Wood's cult film Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957 ). 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.

Filmography

Later in his career (after 1944), Keene was often credited as Richard Powers, and once as Dick Powers. Year Title Role Notes 1928 The Godless Girl Bob Hathaway Credited as George Duryea Marked Money Clyde 1929 Tide of Empire Dermod D'Arcy Honky Tonk Freddie Gilmore Thunder Jim In Old California Lt. Tony Hopkins 1930 Beau Bandit W.S. "Bill" Howard The Dude Wrangler Wally McCann Night Work Harvey Vanderman Pardon My Gun Ted Duncan Tol'able David Alan Kinemon 1931 Sundown Trail Buck Sawyer Freighters of Destiny Steve Macey Suicide Fleet Lt. James Keene Uncredited 1932 Partners Dick Barstow The Saddle Buster Montana ("Monty") Ghost Valley Jerry Long Beyond the Rockies Blackjack Come On Danger! Larry Madden, Texas Ranger Renegades of the West Tom Bagby 1933 The Cheyenne Kid Tom Larkin Scarlet River Tom Baxter Son of the Border Tom Owens Sunset Pass Jack Rock / Jim Collins Cross Fire Tom 'Jack' Allen 1934 Our Daily Bread John Sims Alternative title: Hell's Crossroads 1935 Hong Kong Nights Himself 1936 Timothy's Quest David Masters Drift Fence Jim Travis Desert Gold Randolph Gale The Glory TrailCaptain John Carroll Rebellion 1937 Battle of Greed John Storm Old Louisiana John Colfax Under Strange Flags Tom Kenyon The Law Commands Dr. Keith Kenton Drums of Destiny Capt. Jerry Crawford Raw Timber Tom Corbin God's Country and the Man Jim Reid Where Trails Divide Tom Allen Romance of the Rockies Dr. Tom Foster 1938 The Painted Trail Tom Gray posing as the Pecos Kid 1941 Wanderers of the West Tom Mallory posing as The Arizona Kid Dynamite Canyon Marshal Tom Evans Posing as Ed 'Trigger' Jones The Drifin' Kid Tom Sterling Riding the Sunset Trail Lone Star Law Men 1942 Western Mail Tom Allen Arizona Roundup Tom Kenyon Where Trails End 1944 Up in Arms Ashley's Aide Credited as Richard Powers The Navy Way Steve Appleby The Great Alaskan Mystery Burger Serial [Ch. 11], Credited as Richard Powers Jungle Woman Joe - Fingerprint Man Credited as Richard Powers Goodnight, Sweetheart Reporter Uncredited The Port of 40 Thieves Scott Barton Credited as Richard Powers San Diego, I Love You Reporter Uncredited Lights of Old Santa Fe Frank Madden Credited as Richard Powers Sergeant Mike Reed 1945 Dangerous Intruder Curtis Credited as Richard Powers Girls of the Big House Barton Sturgis 1946 San Quentin Hal Schaeffer, Robbery Detail Credited as Richard Powers 1947 Dick Tracy's Dilemma Fred Credited as Richard Powers Seven Keys to Baldpate Steve Bland Thunder Mountain Johnny Blue Crossfire Detective Under the Tonto Rim John Dennison Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome Dr. Frankey Uncredited Wild Horse Mesa Hod Slack Credited as Richard Powers 1948 The Judge Steps Out Mrs. Winthrop's Attorney Uncredited Western Heritage Spade Thorne Credited as Richard Powers Berlin Express Major Race Street Al Return of the Bad Men Jim Younger Blood on the Moon Ted Elser Indian Agent Monty Hutchins 1949 Brothers in the Saddle Nash Prescott Credited as Richard Powers 1950 Storm over Wyoming Tug Caldwell Credited as Richard Powers Desperadoes of the West Ward Gordon Serial, Credited as Richard Powers The Milkman Duzik Uncredited Trail of Robin Hood Himself Credited as Tom Keene 1951 Texans Never Cry Tracy Wyatt Credited as Richard Powers The Fat Man Mac Uncredited Home Town Story Abbott, Bob's campaign manager Uncredited 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 episodesCredited as Richard Powers 1953 The Moonlighter Sheriff Credited as Richard Powers The Abbott and Costello Show Joe 2 episodesCredited as Richard Powers General Electric Theater Slocum Episode: "Woman's World"Credited as Richard Powers Crossroad Avenger The Tucson Kid TV MovieCredited as Tom Keene1954 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 Wetbacks Highway Patrol Inspector Credited as Richard Powers Tension at Table Rock Man Killed by Sam Uncredited 1957 Plan 9 from Outer Space Col. Tom Edwards Credited as Tom Keene 1958 Once Upon a Horse... Himself Credited as Tom Keene 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