Howard Keel

Keel starred with Kathryn Grayson in Showboat, Lovely to Look At and Kiss Me Kate. He paired with Doris Day in Calamity Jane and with Ann Blyth in Rose Marie and Kismet. He romanced Esther Williams in Pagan Love Song, Texas Carnival and Jupiter's Darling. And he courted Jane Powell in his favorite film, the rousing 1954 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Aging and graying gracefully, Keel seemed a natural to replace the original strong father figure Jock Ewing on Dallas after actor Jim Davis died of cancer in 1981. Keel easily took on the role of Clayton Farlow, an elder statesman capable of standing up to Larry Hagman's slimy J.R. Ewing while romancing the character's kindly mother, Miss Ellie.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 13, 2004
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