Michael O'Keefe (born Raymond Peter O'Keefe Jr.; April 24, 1955) 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 from 1993 to 1995.
Early life Raymond Peter O'Keefe Jr. was born in Mount Vernon, New York, the oldest of seven children in an Irish-American family. He is the son of Stephanie (née Fitzpatrick) and Raymond Peter O'Keefe, who was a law professor at Fordham University and who also taught at St. Thomas University. O'Keefe was raised in Larchmont, New York.
He graduated from Mamaroneck High School. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and New York University. He holds an MFA in creative writing from Bennington College.
Career O'Keefe is known for his role as Danny Noonan in the comedy film Caddyshack." 'Caddyshack' Cast-Crew" allmovie.com, retrieved December 6, 2017 He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his role as Ben, the oldest son of a Marine aviator in The Great Santini (1979) starring Robert Duvall, who was also nominated for an Academy Award for the film.The Great Santini tcm.com, January 29, 2015, retrieved December 6, 2017 He played a Marine in the CBS miniseries A Rumor of War (1980) as the friend of Brad Davis' character, Philip Caputo.A Rumor of War tcm.com, retrieved December 6, 2017
O’Keefe played the lead role in the 1982 film Split Image as a college athlete who is lured into a religious cult by a beautiful girl (Karen Allen). He appeared in the Neil Simon movie The Slugger's Wife (1985) 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 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. He appeared in the film Frozen River. He played the district attorney Calvin Beckett in the film American Violet.
O'Keefe's Broadway theatre credits include Side Man (1998),Side men Playbill (vault), retrieved December 6, 2017 Mass Appeal (1981),Mass Appeal Playbill (vault), retrieved December 6, 2017 Fifth of July (1980),Fifth of July Playbill (vault), retrieved December 6, 2017 and Reckless with Mary-Louise Parker (2004).Reckless Playbill (vault), retrieved December 6, 2017 He starred 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 as Fred, the husband of Jackie Harris (Laurie Metcalf) on the ABC series Roseanne from 1993 to 1995. He played the husband in the series Life's Work from 1996 to 1997.Life's Work tv.com, retrieved December 7, 2017 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.Middle Ages tv.com, retrieved December 7, 2017
O'Keefe has guest-starred on Saving Grace, The West Wing, Criminal Minds, The Closer, Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, House, M*A*S*H, Ghost Whisperer, Brothers and Sisters, Leverage, Blue Bloods and The Waltons. In 2014, he 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 1991 to 1999, when they divorced.
O'Keefe married actress Emily Donahoe in 2011. O'Keefe and Donahoe have a son.
O'Keefe was a practicing Zen Buddhist between 1986 and 2024. In 2024, he announced that he had renounced his vows as a Buddhist, citing disillusionment with the Zen Peacemakers Order and its founder Bernie Glassman as the reason. In a later interview with Tricycle, O'Keefe expressed interest in Taoism and claimed to have taken vows with the Dragon Gate sect.
Filmography Film Sources: Hollywood.com TCM"Michael O'Keefe Filmography" tcm.com, retrieved December 6, 2017
Year Film Role Other notes 1978 Gray Lady Down Harris 1979 The Great Santini Ben Meechum Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorNominated—Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor 1980 Caddyshack Danny Noonan 1982 Split Image Danny "Joshua" Stetson 1983 Nate and Hayes Nathaniel Williamson 1984 Finders Keepers Michael Rangeloff 1985 The Slugger's Wife Darryl Palmer 1986 The Whoopee Boys Jake Bateman 1987 Ironweed Billy Phelan 1989 The First Year Bridge to Silence Dan 1990 Fear Jack Hays 1991 Out of the Rain Frank Reade 1993 Me and Veronica Michael 1994 Kangaroo Court Short film Nina Takes a Lover Journalist 1995 Three Wishes Adult Tom 1996 Edie & Pen Ken Ghosts of Mississippi Merrida Coxwell 2000 Just One Night Wayne 2001 The Pledge Duane Larsen Herman U. S. A. Dennis The Glass House Dave Baker Prancer Returns Mr. James Klock Direct-to-video 2002 The Hot Chick Richard Spencer 2003 The Inner Circle Jack Scott Delusion Magritte Short film 2007 An American Crime Reverend Bill Collier Cherry Crush Detective Griffin Michael Clayton Barry Grissom 2008 Frozen River State Trooper Finnerty Keith Alan Ascher Chasing 3000 Dr. Stuart 2009 American Violet Calvin Beckett 2011 Atlas Shrugged: Part I Hugh Akston Too Big to Fail Chris Flowers Apartment 143 Dr. Helzer 2012 A Thousand Cuts Frank 2013 The Wait Ben's Dad Finding Neighbors Sam 2015 Eye in the Sky Secretary of State Ken Stanitzke 2018 Instant Family Jerry 2021 Things Heard & Seen Travis Laughton 2023 One True Loves Colin
Television Sources: Hollywood.com"Michael O'Keefe Credits" hollywood.com, retrieved December 6, 2017 TCM
Year Title Role Notes 1974 The Texas Wheelers Jeff Episode: "X-Rated Movie" M*A*S*H Corporal Richard Travis Episode: "Mad Dogs and Servicemen" 1975 Lucas Tanner Brad Patterson Episode: "A Touch of Bribery" Friendly PersuasionFriendly Persuasion hollywood.com, retrieved December 6, 2017 Josh Birdwell Television movie The Blue Knight Episode: "Triple Threat" 1975–1977 The Waltons Chad Marshall 2 episodes 1976 The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case Terry Long Television movie Panache Horseman 33 Hours in the Life of God33 Hours in the Life of God tcm.com, Retrieved December 6, 2017 Freddie Unsold TV pilot Maude Lee Harrison Episode: "The Election" 1977 M*A*S*H Tom Episode: "War of Nerves" 1978 The Dark Secret of Harvest Home Worthy Pettinger 2 episodes 1980 A Rumor of War Lieutenant Walter Cohen 2 episodes 1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Art Toomey Episode: "The Night Caller" The Hitchhiker Richard Shepard Episode: "Man's Best Friend" 1988 Unholy Matrimony Dr. Cassius William "Bill" Sander Television movie Disaster at Silo 7 Sergeant Mike Fitzgerald 1989 Bridge to Silence Dan 1990 Too Young to Die? Mike Medwicki In the Best Interest of the Child Walt Colton 1990–1991 Against the Law Simon MacHeath 17 episodes 1992 Middle Ages Ron Steffey 6 episodes 1993–1995 Roseanne Fred 35 episodes 1994 Incident at Deception Ridge Jack Bolder Television movie 1996 The Outer Limits Eddie Wexler Episode: "Beyond the Veil" The People Next Door Garrett James Television movie 1996–1997 Life's Work Kevin Hunter 18 episodes 1999 Swing Vote Television movie 2001; 2026 Law & Order Cally Lonegan / Professor Donald Lonegan / Archbishop Keane 2 episodes 2001 The West Wing Will Sawyer Episode: "War Crimes" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Father Michael McShale Episode: "The Faithful" 2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Officer Marcosi Episode: "Counterfeit" 2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Daniel Easton Episode: "Got Murder?" Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey StoryDefending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story tcm.com, retrieved December 6, 2017 Mike Harris Television movie 2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ronald McCain Episode: "Outcry" 2005 Night Stalker Doug Panero Episode: "Burning Man" 2006 House Fletcher Stone Episode: "Failure to Communicate" The Closer Agent Tim Hecht Episode: "Overkill" Vanished Bob Nagel 3 episodes 2007 State of Mind Petrovsky Episode: "Pilot" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Dr. Eli Rush Episode: "Seeds" Saving Grace Father Lloyd Tierney Episode: "Bless Me Father, For I Have Sinned" Criminal Minds Dr. Stanley Howard Episode: "Scared to Death" 2008 Numb3rs Reverend Joseph Ezra Episode: "Atomic No. 33" Eleventh Hour Philip Gifford Episode: "Resurrection" 2008–2009 Brothers & Sisters Wally Wandell 3 episodes 2009 Two Dollar Beer Dad Unsold TV pilot Ghost Whisperer Dr. Byrd 2 episodes 2010 Leverage Darren Hoffman Episode: "The Double Blind Job" Outlaw Dr. Damon Episode: "In Re: Tyler Banks" 2011 Burn Notice Wallace Episode: "Mind Games" 2012 Daybreak Professor Aaron Wilkins Episode: "Chapter 2" 2013 How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) Dr. Skrutz Episode: "How to Be Gifted" King & Maxwell FBI Agent Frank Rigby 10 episodes 2014 Royal Pains Dave Episode: "Everybody Loves Ray, Man" Homeland John Redmond 8 episodesNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2015–2016 Masters of Sex Harry Eshelman 6 episodes 2015–2016 Sleepy Hollow Jack Walters 3 episodes 2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Father Eugene O'Hannigan 2 episodes Elementary Harris Waylon Greer Episode: "A Burden of Blood" Blue Bloods Lieutenant Tim Harrison Episode: "Stomping Grounds" Falling Water Mr. Jones Episode: "Don't Tell Bill" 2017 The Blacklist Mr. Deavers Episode: "Lipet's Seafood Company (No. 111)" Sneaky Pete Detective Winslow 10 episodes 2019 The Enemy Within Paul Backus 2 episodes 2022 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Jack Kent Cooke Episode: "The Swan" 2023 Billions Eric Scott Episode: "Winston Dick Energy"2025–present Your Friends & Neighbors Ron Cooper 10 episodes 2026 The Hunting Party Philip Beaumont Episode: "Xander Wax"
Awards and nominations Academy Award 1981: Nominated – "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" – The Great Santini" The Great Santini Awards" tcm.com, retrieved December 7, 2017
CableACE Award 1987: Nominated – "Best Actor in a Dramatic Series" – The Hitchhiker
Golden Globe Award 1981: Nominated – "New Male Star of the Year in a Motion Picture" – The Great Santini Screen Actors Guild Awards
2015: Nominated – "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" – Homeland
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival
2025: Honoured – "Lifetime Achievement Award"
References
External links