Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 â€" February 12, 2005) was an American
actor widely known for his role as Porter Ricks, the widowed father of
two sons on the NBC television series Flipper.Kelly was born in
Detroit, Michigan, the son of Republican Governor of Michigan Harry F.
Kelly (who was also chief justice of Michigan's Supreme Court) and the
former Anne Veronica O'Brien. Kelly had three sisters and two
brothers, one of whom was his fraternal twin. His nephew (sister's
son) is actor Brian d'Arcy James. He was of Irish descent.Kelly
attended St. Mary High School and 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.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 television series,
NBC's 21 Beacon Street (1959), with Dennis Morgan and Joanna Barnes,
and ABC's Straightaway (1961-1962) with John Ashley.:1024
actor widely known for his role as Porter Ricks, the widowed father of
two sons on the NBC television series Flipper.Kelly was born in
Detroit, Michigan, the son of Republican Governor of Michigan Harry F.
Kelly (who was also chief justice of Michigan's Supreme Court) and the
former Anne Veronica O'Brien. Kelly had three sisters and two
brothers, one of whom was his fraternal twin. His nephew (sister's
son) is actor Brian d'Arcy James. He was of Irish descent.Kelly
attended St. Mary High School and 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.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 television series,
NBC's 21 Beacon Street (1959), with Dennis Morgan and Joanna Barnes,
and ABC's Straightaway (1961-1962) with John Ashley.:1024
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