Keith Charles (actor)

Keith Charles (March 4, 1934 – July 1, 2008) was an American theatre and television actor who was active from 1956 until he retired in 2003. His work included Broadway and off-Broadway roles, and television work, including recurring roles on eight soap operas. He starred in Breakfast with Les and Bess as Les.[1]

He worked on such 1960s and 1970s soap operas as As the World Turns (Ralph Mitchell, 1977-1979, 1988-1994), The Edge of Night (Rick Oliver, 1966), The Secret Storm (Nick Kane, 1968-1970), Love of Life (Dr. Ted Chandler 1974-1975), Search for Tomorrow, and Where the Heart Is (Robert Jardin, 1972).[2] He also worked on The Guiding Light/Guiding Light three times in three different roles (Professor Alexander "Alex" McDaniels, 1974-1975, Dr. Frank Nelson, 1980-1981 and Brandon Spaulding, 1984) and was the first actor to play Ted Clayton on One Life to Live, for a year until he was replaced by another actor.[3] With his wife, composer Nancy For, he was a dialogue writer for "As the World Turns" and "The Secet Storm". He played El Gallo in the original off-Broadway production of "The Fantasticks", and Potemkin in the Broadway musical "Celebration". Keith Charles also appeared in Barnaby Jones, playing a character named Marshall Eaton; episode titled "Requiem for a Son"(01/28/1973).

Charles appeared in films such as Colorforms, The Royal Tenenbaums, Longtime Companion and Drop Dead Fred.

Charles died at age 74, in New York City, from lung cancer.[4]