Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Porter Ricks, the widowed father of two sons on the NBC television series Flipper, and as Scott Ross in the ABC advernture series Straightaway, with co-star John Ashley.

Spouse(s)

Laura Devon, m. 1966 (divorced)
Valerie Anne Romero, m. 1973

Children

Hallie (b. 1975)
Devin (b. 1980)

Early years

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kelly was the son of Republican former Governor of Michigan Harry F. Kelly and the former Anne O'Brien. Kelly had three sisters and two brothers, one of whom was his identical twin.

Kelly served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. Kelly graduated in 1953 from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He attended the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor for a year before settling on acting. During his college years, Kelly modelled and acted in radio and television commercials in Detroit.

Acting career

Kelly headed to Hollywood in the late fifties after choosing acting as his career. Following minor roles in Adventures in Paradise, The Beverly Hillbillies, and The Rifleman, Kelly starred in two short-lived television series, NBC's 21 Beacon Street (1959), with Dennis Morgan and Joanna Barnes, and ABC's Straightaway (1961-1962) with costar John Ashley.

In 1964, Kelly was chosen to play Porter Ricks, Chief Warden at Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in the family-oriented action and adventure television program Flipper. Kelly is remembered today for his strong and convincing portrayal of a morally responsible single dad. Kelly was quoted at the time as saying that he loved the role because of its family-friendly qualities. The success of Flipper, which was filmed in Miami and the Bahamas, led to a brief movie career, including a lead in Around the World Under the Sea (1966).

In 1970, Kelly sought to change his image by playing the lead role of The Love Machine. During filming he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident which left his right arm and leg paralyzed. John Phillip Law took over the role and wardrobe. Kelly won a legal settlement in the case but the accident ended his acting career. He used the money in the settlement to build homes and then to produce films. He served as executive producer of Blade Runner (1982) and associate producer of Cities of the Wild (1996).

Marriages and death

Kelly married actress Laura Devon in 1962. They were divorced in 1966. In 1972, he married Valerie Ann Romero, with whom he had a daughter Hallie in 1975 and a son Devin in 1980. Kelly died in February 2005 of pneumonia in Voorhees Township in South New Jersey, two days before his 74th birthday.