Howard Keel
November 7, 2004 (aged 85)
Actor, singer
1943–2002
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Rosemary Cooper(1943–1948)
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Helen Anderson(1949–1970)
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Judy Magamoll(m. 1970)
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Early life[edit]
Keel was born in Gillespie, Illinois,[2][1] the younger of two sons born to Navyman-turned-coalminer Homer Keel and his wife, Grace Margaret (née Osterkamp). Howard's elder brother was Frederick William Keel. After his father's death in 1930, Keel and his mother moved to California, where he graduated from Fallbrook High School at age 17. He worked various odd jobs until settling at Douglas Aircraft Company as a "traveling representative". He was a long haul truck driver.
In the 1950s, the MGM publicity department erroneously stated that Keel's birth name was Harold Leek.[3]
Honors[edit]
Keel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 8 February 1960. It is located at 6253 Hollywood Boulevard.
A Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars was dedicated to him in 1996.[17]
Keel was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats.
In 2019, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Personal life and death[edit]
In 1943, Keel met and married actress Rosemary Cooper. They divorced in 1948. During the London run of Oklahoma! Keel met Helen Anderson, a member of the show's chorus, and they married in January 1949. Keel and Helen divorced in 1970. Keel married airline flight attendant Judy Magamoll in December 1970.[1]
Keel had four children: three with second wife, Helen Anderson (two daughters, Kaija Liane and Kirstine Elizabeth; and a son, Gunnar Louis; one by his third wife of 34 years, Judy (a daughter, Leslie Grace); and 10 grandchildren.[1]
Keel died at his Palm Desert home on November 7, 2004, six weeks after being diagnosed with colon cancer.[18]