Howard Keel

format_quote As long as I can sing halfway decent, I'd rather sing than act. There's nothing like being in good voice, feeling good, having good numbers to do and having a fine orchestra.

stars  Producers approached Howard Keel for the role of Jock Ewing on Dallas (1978) after Jim Davis's death but out of respect for Davis, Keel turned them down and remained in the role of Clayton Farlow.

stars  Was the original choice to play the lead in Singin' in the Rain (1952). The part went to Gene Kelly instead.

stars  Due to his huge size, many of his petite leading ladies had to stand on boxes to be in the same frame.

stars  In the 1950s, while he was at MGM, a mistake in the publicity department started the rumor that Howard's birth name was Harold Leek. The rumor soon became regarded as fact, though it annoyed Howard very much. His true birth name was Harry Clifford Keel.

stars  First wife, Rosemary Cooper, was an actress and second wife, Helen Anderson, was a dancer. Third wife & widow, Judy Keel, was a one-time flight attendant.