Brian Keith was also capable of displaying a surprising gentleness, particularly in "The Parent Trap", "The Loneliest Runner" and "Family Affair". "The Parent Trap" is a wonderful story about the complications of love found and lost and found again.. The "Loneliest Runner" was based on Michael Landon's unhappy childhood. Michael later confided that only Brian could play the gentle role of his father and make it believable. Michael considered his father his greatest hero. I think that is the greatest complement Brian ever received and it was from Michael's heart..
I can remember an episode of Family Affair, in which "Buffy", "Jody" and "Cissy" have returned to Indiana with Uncle Bill and are visiting their parent's High School. The focus of the scene is on "Jody", because he has asked "Uncle Bill" if it would be OK to call him Dad. "Jody" says that he can't even remember his real parents anymore. Thus the purpose for the trip. While "Jody" and "Cissy" are talking to the school principal about their parents, Brian and Anissa are off-center and almost out of frame, but they are what attracted my attention. First, Brian is looking down at Anissa and is smiling at her. I think Anissa accidentally walked into a trophycase which totally obscures her in the scene. But it is what happens next that I will always remember; almost out of frame, Brian has put his hand on Anissa's shoulder, and then starts to gently rub her neck, and Anissa smiles. Just like a real parent would. I don't think that was scripted either. I think that was completely natural and shows how Brian and Anissa really felt about each other.
Sir Laurance Olivier once said there were two kinds of actors. The first kind of actor was someone you always knew was acting. he numbered himself in this group. He said the truly great actors were the second kind. They became the character and you believed they were who they were portraying. He used Paul Scofield in "A Man For All Seasons" as an example. Paul Scofield took Saint Thomas More and and made a human being out of him.I agree with Lord Olivier. "Larry" actually preferred to be called Sir Laurance, but then again who am I to argue with the Queen.
Brian belongs to this second group. When you can be as gruff and or as gentle as necessity dictates, and make both portrayals believable, then you truly are a great actor. Brian Keith was a great actor. Reflections from a friend and namesake....
