Miles O'Keeffe
Encyclopedia
Miles O'Keeffe is a television and movie actor
. O'Keeffe got his first big break playing the title role
in the 1981 version of Tarzan, the Ape Man.
, Tennessee
. A star football
athlete, he attended the United States Air Force Academy
and played halfback
on the freshman football team in 1972. However, in 1973 he transferred to Mississippi State University
under a football scholarship, playing as an offensive lineman. During this time, he bulked up to 240 lb (108.9 kg). Subsequently, he transferred to University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
and became a small college All-American playing both tight end
and linebacker
.
After studying political science
and psychology
, O'Keeffe became a prison counselor in the Tennessee penal system for a year or two where he became manager of playground activities and inmate weightlifting programs. He left for California
to play in a semi-professional
rugby
team, before becoming involved with Hollywood.
sword and sorcery
films produced in Europe in the 1980s. The series gained notoriety in 1991 after a re-edited version of the second installment, released as Cave Dwellers
, was lampooned on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
(MST3K). The episode, which soon became immensely popular among fans, included one of the most-quoted quips in the show's history: "How much Keeffe is in this movie anyway?" "Miles O'Keeffe!" Unlike some of MST3K's subjects (such as Sandy Frank
), O'Keeffe is considered to be a "good sport" and is a fan of the series. He enjoyed the MST3K treatment of the film so much that he requested a copy of the episode.
O'Keeffe gained cult status
in the UK
between 1999 and 2002 as a result of being targeted by chat show host Graham Norton
for prank calls, eventually appearing on the show So Graham Norton
to great acclaim.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. O'Keeffe got his first big break playing the title role
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
in the 1981 version of Tarzan, the Ape Man.
Early life
O'Keeffe was born in RipleyRipley, Tennessee
Ripley is a city in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,844 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. A star football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
athlete, he attended the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
and played halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
on the freshman football team in 1972. However, in 1973 he transferred to Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
under a football scholarship, playing as an offensive lineman. During this time, he bulked up to 240 lb (108.9 kg). Subsequently, he transferred to University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
and became a small college All-American playing both tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
.
After studying political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, O'Keeffe became a prison counselor in the Tennessee penal system for a year or two where he became manager of playground activities and inmate weightlifting programs. He left for California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to play in a semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team, before becoming involved with Hollywood.
Acting career
Although O'Keeffe is known for his big break as Tarzan, he is also remembered for his performances in the title role of the first three AtorAtor
Ator is a film series of four European movies made in the 1980s created by Italian director Joe D'Amato, under the pseudonym David Hills. D'Amato wrote and directed the first, second, and fourth films in the series, himself disregarding the existence of the third...
sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
films produced in Europe in the 1980s. The series gained notoriety in 1991 after a re-edited version of the second installment, released as Cave Dwellers
Cave Dwellers
Ator l'invincibile 2 is an Italian film that was made in 1984. The movie was written and directed by Joe d'Amato...
, was lampooned on the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
(MST3K). The episode, which soon became immensely popular among fans, included one of the most-quoted quips in the show's history: "How much Keeffe is in this movie anyway?" "Miles O'Keeffe!" Unlike some of MST3K's subjects (such as Sandy Frank
Sandy Frank
Sandy Frank is an American television producer and international TV program distributor as well as a marketer of TV shows to US networks.-Early life and career:...
), O'Keeffe is considered to be a "good sport" and is a fan of the series. He enjoyed the MST3K treatment of the film so much that he requested a copy of the episode.
O'Keeffe gained cult status
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between 1999 and 2002 as a result of being targeted by chat show host Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
for prank calls, eventually appearing on the show So Graham Norton
So Graham Norton
So Graham Norton is a British television programme, hosted by Irish personality Graham Norton. It ran from 3 July 1998 to 1 March 2002.-Theme:...
to great acclaim.
Selected filmography
- Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
- Ator, The Fighting Eagle (1982)
- S.A.S. à San SalvadorS.A.S. à San SalvadorS.A.S. à San Salvador is a French-German film adaptation of Gérard de Villiers' novel of the same name, directed by Raoul Coutard...
(1983) (as Malko LingeMalko LingeSon Altesse Sérénissime is a series of espionage novels created by French author Gérard de Villiers, featuring prince Malko Linge as the lead character...
) - The Blade Master (a.k.a. Ator l'Invincible 2, a.k.a. "Cave Dwellers") (1984)
- Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green KnightSword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green KnightSword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a 1984 film starring Miles O'Keeffe, Cyrielle Claire, Leigh Lawson, and Sean Connery. The film is based on the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written in the late 14th century, but the narrative differs...
(1984) - Iron WarriorIron WarriorIron Warrior is third installation in the Ator film series, and first not to be directed by Joe D'Amato . While Miles O'Keeffe played Ator once again, the character looks and history was drastically changed....
(a.k.a. Ator 3) (1987) - Campus Man (1987)
- WaxworkWaxwork (1988 film)Waxwork is a 1988 horror comedy film starring Zach Galligan and Deborah Foreman.-Plot:In a small suburban town a wax museum appears, seemingly overnight. The owner invites two college students, Sarah and China, to attend that night with four more guests of their choice...
(1988) - The DrifterThe Drifter (1988 film)The Drifter is a 1988 thriller movie starring Kim Delaney, Timothy Bottoms, Al Shannon, Miles O'Keeffe, and Anna Garduno. The film is about a successful single woman who picks up a mysterious hitchhiker on a deserted road....
(1988) - Phantom Raiders (1988) (as Python)
- Dead On: Relentless IIDead On: Relentless IIDead On: Relentless II is a 1992 action thriller directed by Michael Schroeder. The tagline for the movie was: The first killer was unpredictable. This one is unstoppable. The movie was filmed in Los Angeles, California, USA. It is the second installment in the Relentless series.-Plot:L.A...
(1992) - Zero Tolerance (1995)
- Millennium Day (1995)
- Silent Hunter (1995)
- Marked Man (1996)
- Tiger (1997)
- True Vegeance (1997)
- Dead Tides (1997)
- Diamondbacks" (1999)
- Unconditional Love (1999)
- Moving Targets (1999)
- Pocahontas: The LegendPocahontas: The LegendPocahontas: The Legend is a 1999 drama film that fictionalizes the young life of the historical figure of Chief Powhatan's daughter Pocahontas and her relationship with Captain John Smith. This film was directed by Danièle J. Suissa and stars Sandrine Holt as the titular heroine...
(1999) as Captain John Smith - Out of the Black (2001)
- The Unknown (a.k.a. Clawed: The Legend of SasquatchBigfootBigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
) (2005)