Keene Curtis

Biography: Beloved by television audiences for his endearingly snippy portrayal of upstairs restaurant owner John Allen Hill on Cheers, Tony-winning stage actor Keene Curtis endeared himself to Broadway audiences as Annie's Daddy Warbucks before embarking on a successful career in television and film. Born in Salt Lake City, UT, and raised in nearby Bountiful, Curtis first realized his love for the stage while a student at the University of Utah. Though a three-year stint in the Navy put a brief halt to his education, Curtis returned to the University to study for his bachelor's and master's degrees and was subsequently discovered by Orson Welles when Welles directed a 1947 college production of Macbeth. So impressed with Curtis' performance was Welles that the popular filmmaker cast the burgeoning actor in a professional production of Macbeth the following year. With his stage career kicking into full gear, Curtis would pursue acting while simultaneously working as a stage manager at theBeloved by television audiences for his endearingly snippy portrayal of upstairs restaurant owner John Allen Hill on Cheers, Tony-winning stage actor Keene Curtis endeared himself to Broadway audiences as Annie's Daddy Warbucks before embarking on a successful career in television and film. Born in Salt Lake City, UT, and raised in nearby Bountiful, Curtis first realized his love for the stage while a student at the University of Utah. Though a three-year stint in the Navy put a brief halt to his education, Curtis returned to the University to study for his bachelor's and master's degrees and was subsequently discovered by Orson Welles when Welles directed a 1947 college production of Macbeth. So impressed with Curtis' performance was Welles that the popular filmmaker cast the burgeoning actor in a professional production of Macbeth the following year. With his stage career kicking into full gear, Curtis would pursue acting while simultaneously working as a stage manager at the Martha Graham Dance Company for the next 12 years. Equally adept in film, television, and the Broadway stage, Curtis also appeared in Welles' film version of Macbeth in addition to roles in such features as Heaven Can Wait (1978), The Buddy System (1984), and I.Q. (1994). Following his memorable performance in Annie, Curtis appeared in such Broadway productions as Twelfth Night, Saint Joan, and Comedians. 1971 found Curtis the recipient of a Tony for his multiple roles in the musical The Rothschilds. Though he was prolific in film and on-stage, it was on television that Curtis made a lasting impression with roles on such popular series as M*A*S*H, Benson, and The Pretender. Curtis also did voice-over work for Scooby and Scrappy-Doo and The Smurfs. Always concerned with helping aspiring actors realize their dreams, Curtis would later endow an acting scholarship, in addition to donating his Tony and other theater memorabilia, to his alma mater. On October 13, 2002, Keene Curtis died of Alzheimer's disease in Bountiful, UT. He was 79. Expand

Keene Curtis' Scores

  • TV
Average career score: 66
Highest Metascore: 80 ER: Season 1
Lowest Metascore: 48 Stargate SG-1: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Negative: 0 out of 4
4 tv reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd The Pretender: Season 3 Oct 17, 1998 Fenigor tbd
tbd Stargate SG-1: Season 2 Jun 26, 1998 Ernest Littlefield (Stock Footage) 7.8
tbd The Pretender: Season 2 Nov 1, 1997 Fenigor tbd
tbd The Drew Carey Show: Season 3 Sep 23, 1997 Rev. Lindemann tbd
tbd Touched by an Angel: Season 4 Sep 21, 1997 Norman tbd
tbd Party of Five: Season 4 Sep 17, 1997 Mr. Bancroft tbd
73 Ally McBeal: Season 1 Sep 8, 1997 Judge Hawk 6.4
48 Stargate SG-1: Season 1 Jul 27, 1997 Ernest Littlefield 8.2
tbd The Jeff Foxworthy Show: Season 2 Sep 23, 1996 Gen. Longstreet tbd
tbd Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Season 4 Sep 22, 1996 William B. Caldwell tbd
63 The Drew Carey Show: Season 1 Sep 13, 1995 Rev. Lindemann 8.3
80 ER: Season 1 Sep 19, 1994 Gilbert 8.3
tbd Coach: Season 7 Sep 12, 1994 David tbd
tbd Full House: Season 7 Sep 14, 1993 Keene Curtis / Lou Bond 8.3
tbd Cheers: Season 11 Sep 24, 1992 John Allen Hill / John Allen Hill / John Hill 9.5
tbd Murder, She Wrote: Season 9 Sep 20, 1992 Jerome Mueller tbd
tbd Cheers: Season 10 Sep 19, 1991 John Allen Hill / John Allen Hill / John Hill 9.3
tbd Beverly Hills, 90210: Season 2 Jul 11, 1991 Actor 8.5
tbd Cheers: Season 9 Sep 20, 1990 John Allen Hill / John Allen Hill / John Hill tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 9 Sep 9, 1989 Additional Voices / Additional Voices tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 8 Sep 10, 1988 Additional Voices tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 7 Sep 26, 1987 Lord Balthazar tbd
tbd Night Court: Season 5 Sep 17, 1987 Klimmer tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 6 Sep 13, 1986 Lord Balthazar tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 5 Sep 21, 1985 Lord Balthazar tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 4 Sep 15, 1984 Lord Balthazar tbd
tbd Knight Rider (1982): Season 2 Oct 2, 1983 Keene Curtis 7.6
tbd The Smurfs: Season 3 Sep 17, 1983 Lord Balthazar tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 2 Sep 18, 1982 Lord Balthazar tbd
tbd The Smurfs: Season 1 Sep 12, 1981 Balthazar / Lord Balthazar 6.8