Michael O'Keefe


Michael O'Keefe is an American actor, known for his roles as Danny Noonan in Caddyshack, Ben Meechum in The Great Santini, for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Darryl Palmer in the Neil Simon movie The Slugger's Wife. He also appeared as Fred on the television sitcom Roseanne.

Early life

O'Keefe was born Raymond Peter O'Keefe Jr., in Mount Vernon, New York, the oldest of seven children in a devoutly Catholic Irish American family. He is the son of Stephanie and Raymond Peter O'Keefe, who was a law professor at Fordham University, and also taught at St. Thomas University.
O'Keefe grew up in Larchmont, New York, and graduated from Mamaroneck High School. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and New York University. O’Keefe made his acting debut in a 1970 Colgate television commercial.

Career

O'Keefe is known for his role as Danny Noonan in the comedy film Caddyshack. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as Ben, the oldest son of a Marine aviator in The Great Santini starring Robert Duvall, who was also nominated for an Academy Award for the film. He played a Marine in the CBS miniseries A Rumor of War as the friend of Brad Davis' character, Philip Caputo. He played the lead role in the 1982 film Split Image as a college athlete who gets lured into a religious cult by a beautiful girl. Michael appeared in the Neil Simon movie The Slugger's Wife as Darryl Palmer, a baseball player for the Atlanta Braves who enjoys the fame and fringe benefits of bachelor life until he meets rock singer Debby Huston, falls in love and decides to settle down.
He appeared in the thriller film The Glass House and starred with Tommy Lee Jones in the 1983 pirate adventure Nate and Hayes, also known as Savage Islands. O'Keefe appeared with George Clooney in Michael Clayton. He has appeared twice with Jack Nicholson, as his son in Ironweed and as the father of a murdered girl in The Pledge. His film Frozen River was in the competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. He also played the powerful district attorney Calvin Beckett in the film American Violet.
O'Keefe's Broadway theatre credits include Side Man, Mass Appeal, Fifth of July, and Reckless with Mary-Louise Parker. He also appeared in the play A Few Good Men in 1992 with a national tour as Lt. Jg. Daniel Kaffee.
O'Keefe's highest-profile television role was his portrayal of Fred, the husband of Jackie Harris on the ABC series Roseanne from 1993 to 1995. He played the husband in the series Life's Work from 1996 to 1997. Additional television credits include the lead role of Simon MacHeath in the short-lived Boston-based series Against the Law, which aired on Fox during the 1990–91 season, and the role of Ron Steffey in the 1992 CBS drama Middle Ages.
O'Keefe has guest starred on Saving Grace, The West Wing, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, ', ', House, M*A*S*H, Ghost Whisperer, Brothers and Sisters, Leverage, Blue Bloods and The Waltons. In 2014, O'Keefe appeared in a recurring role in Homeland as CIA agent and former interim station chief John Redmond and as Detective Winslow in the Amazon Prime original TV series Sneaky Pete.

Personal life

O'Keefe was married to rock/blues singer Bonnie Raitt from April 27, 1991 to November 1999, when they divorced.
He holds an MFA in creative writing from Bennington College.
He married actress Emily Donahoe in 2011, with whom he has one child.
He has been a practicing Zen Buddhist since 1981.

Filmography

Film

Sources: Hollywood.com TCM
YearFilmRoleOther notes
1978Gray Lady DownHarris
1979The Great SantiniBen MeechumNominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1980CaddyshackDanny Noonan
1982Split ImageDanny 'Joshua' Stetson
1983Nate and HayesNathaniel Williamson
1984Finders KeepersMichael Rangeloff
1985The Slugger's WifeDarryl Palmer
1986The Whoopee BoysJake Bateman
1987IronweedBilly Phelan
1989The First Year
1989Bridge to SilenceDan
1990FearJack Hays
1991Out of the RainFrank Reade
1993Me and VeronicaMichael
1994Kangaroo CourtShort film
1994Nina Takes a LoverJournalist
1995Three WishesAdult Tom
1996Edie & PenKen
1996Ghosts of MississippiMerrida Coxwell
2000Just One NightWayne
2001The PledgeDuane Larsen
2001Herman U. S. A.Dennis
2001The Glass HouseDave Baker
2001Prancer ReturnsMr. James KlockDirect-to-video
2002The Hot ChickRichard Spencer
2003The Inner CircleJack Scott
2003DelusionMagritteShort film
2007An American CrimeRev. Bill Collier
2007Cherry CrushDet. Griffin
2007Michael ClaytonBarry Grissom
2008Frozen RiverState Trooper Finnerty
2008KeithAlan Ascher
2008Chasing 3000Dr. Stuart
2009American VioletCalvin Beckett
2011Hugh Akston
2011Too Big to FailChris Flowers
2011Apartment 143Dr. Helzer
2012A Thousand CutsFrank
2013The WaitBen's Dad
2013Finding NeighborsSam
2015Eye in the SkySecretary of State Ken Stanitzke
2018Instant FamilyJerry

Television

Sources: Hollywood.com TCM
YearTitleRoleNotes
1974The Texas WheelersJeffEpisode: "X-Rated Movie"
1974M*A*S*HCorp. Richard TravisEpisode: "Mad Dogs and Servicemen"
1975Lucas TannerBrad PattersonEpisode: "A Touch of Bribery"
1975Friendly PersuasionJosh BirdwellTelevision movie
1975The Blue KnightEpisode: "Triple Threat"
1975–77The WaltonsChad Marshall2 episodes
1976The Lindbergh Kidnapping CaseTerry LongTelevision movie
1976PanacheHorsemanTelevision movie
197633 Hours in the Life of GodFreddieUnsold TV pilot
1976MaudeLee HarrisonEpisode: "The Election"
1977M*A*S*HTomEpisode: "War of Nerves"
1978The Dark Secret of Harvest HomeWorthy Pettinger2 episodes
1980A Rumor of WarLt. Walter Cohen2 episodes
1985Alfred Hitchcock PresentsArt ToomeyEpisode: "The Night Caller"
1985The HitchhikerRichard ShepardEpisode: "Man's Best Friend"
1988Unholy MatrimonyDr. Cassius William 'Bill' SanderTelevision movie
1988Disaster at Silo 7Sgt. Mike FitzgeraldTelevision movie
1989Bridge to SilenceDanTelevision movie
1990Too Young to Die?Mike MedwickiTelevision movie
1990In the Best Interest of the ChildWalt ColtonTelevision movie
1990–91Against the LawSimon MacHeath17 episodes
1992Middle AgesRon Steffey6 episodes
1993–95RoseanneFred35 episodes
1994Incident at Deception RidgeJack BolderTelevision movie
1996The Outer LimitsEddie WexlerEpisode: "Beyond the Veil"
1996The People Next DoorGarrett JamesTelevision movie
1996–97Life's WorkKevin Hunter18 episodes
1999Swing VoteTelevision movie
2001Law & OrderCally Lonegan/Professor Donald LoneganEpisode: "Brother's Keeper"
2001The West WingWill SawyerEpisode: "War Crimes"
2001'Father Michael McShaleEpisode: "The Faithful"
2002'Officer MarcosiEpisode: ""
2003'Daniel EastonEpisode: "Got Murder?"
2003Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey StoryMike HarrisTelevision movie
2004'Ronald McCainEpisode: "Outcry"
2005Night StalkerDoug PaneroEpisode: ""
2006HouseFletcher StoneEpisode: "Failure to Communicate"
2006The CloserAgent Tim HechtEpisode: "Overkill"
2006VanishedBob Nagel3 episodes
2007State of MindPetrovskyEpisode: "Pilot"
2007'Dr. Eli RushEpisode: "Seeds"
2007Saving GraceFather Lloyd TierneyEpisode: ""
2007Criminal MindsDr. Stanley HowardEpisode: ""
2008Numb3rsRev. Joseph EzraEpisode: "Atomic No. 33"
2008Eleventh HourPhilip GiffordEpisode: "Resurrection"
2008–09Brothers & SistersWally Wandell3 episodes
2009Two Dollar BeerDadUnsold TV pilot
2009Ghost WhispererDr. Byrd2 episodes
2010LeverageDarren Hoffman1 episode
2010OutlawDr. Damon1 episode
2011Burn NoticeWallace1 episode
2012DaybreakProfessor Aaron Wilkins1 episode
2013How to Live with Your Parents Dr. Skrutz1 episode
2013King & MaxwellFBI Agent Frank Rigby10 episodes
2014Royal PainsDave1 episode
2014HomelandJohn Redmond8 episodes
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
2015–16Masters of SexHarry Eshelman6 episodes
2015–16Sleepy HollowJack Walters3 episodes
2016'Father Eugene O'Hannigan2 episodes
2016ElementaryHarris Waylon Greer1 episode
2016Blue BloodsLieutenant Tim HarrisonEpisode: "Stomping Grounds"
2016Falling WaterMr. Jones1 episode
2017The BlacklistMr. Deavers1 episode
2017Sneaky PeteDetective Winslow10 episodes
2019The Enemy WithinPaul Backus2 episodes

Awards and nominations

;Academy Award
;CableACE Award
;Golden Globe Award