James Keane (born September 26, 1952) is an American film and television actor. He is known for playing the role of Willis Thomas Bell in the American drama television series The Paper Chase.
Early life and education Keane was born in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Career Keane began his career in 1975, appearing in the film Three Days of the Condor playing a store clerk. Between acting jobs, he was an elevator operator at the Sherry-Netherland hotel in New York, where he met film director, Francis Ford Coppola. Keane thought that he might get a role in The Godfather Part II until he realized that shooting was to be in Sicily.
In 1978 Keane joined the cast of the new CBS drama television series The Paper Chase as the law student Willis Thomas Bell. He also appeared in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, and was hired to overdub some of Marlon Brando’s lines in the television miniseries of The Godfather. Keane appeared in the 1982 film 48 Hrs. as Detective Van Zant, and the 1990 film Dick Tracy as Dick Tracy's second-in-command Pat Patton.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1975Three Days of the CondorStore Clerk1977Close Encounters of the Third KindRadio Telescope Team1978Zero to SixtyGirlie Bar Bartender1978Uncle Joe ShannonJeels1979Love and BulletsDoctor1979Apocalypse NowKilgore's Gunner1979The RoseDealer1980BrubakerPinky1982Cannery RowEddie198248 Hrs.Vanzant198310 to MidnightJerry1984Buckaroo BanzaiDuck Hunter Bubba1986Let's Get HarryAl King1989New York StoriesJimmy1990Dick TracyPat Patton1991Talent for the GameRay Coffey1991The Last Boy ScoutGarage Patrolman1993Falling DownDetective Keene1993ConeheadsHarv1995Murder in the FirstAlcatraz Guard1995One Night StandSingle Jim at Bar1995AngusCoach1996PhenomenonPete the Cop1997Journey Beneath the SeaRick1997The FanaticsVeteran Cop1998BulworthAmerican Politics Director1998Todd McFarlane's Spawn 2Sam Burke1998PleasantvillePolice Chief Dan1999Todd McFarlane's Spawn 3: The Ultimate BattleSam Burke2001Bill's Gun ShopDelbert2002Don't Let GoWes2002Hey Arnold!: The MovieMarty Green / Riot Cop2002Assassination TangoWhitey2003The Low Budget Time MachineProfessor Staplejoy2003SeabiscuitCar Customer2005Silent PartnerSenator Banner2008The GriftLost Traveler2009For Sale by OwnerLoman2009Crazy HeartManager2011Water for ElephantsChaplain2014Miss MeadowsFather Peter2016Rules Don't ApplyTom2024MegalopolisLaughing Man
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1977Intimate StrangersRusty FentonTelevision film1977Sunshine ChristmasHugh Bob1978Night CriesCharlie1978–1986The Paper ChaseWillis Bell58 episodes1979Roots: The Next GenerationsNight DispatcherEpisode: "Part III"1979IkeCorporalEpisode: "Part I"1979M*A*S*HCpl. ShawEpisode: "Mr. and Mrs. Who?"1980Great PerformancesMr. EalerEpisode: "Life on the Mississippi"1981Hart to HartCarlEpisode: "Harts Under Glass"1982The Ambush MurdersLambertTelevision film1982Pray TVFats1982In SecurityRudy DeMayo1982St. ElsewhereLawyerEpisode: "Legionnaires: Part 1"1983The OptimistThe FatherEpisode: "Kid's Stuff"1986Hill Street BluesOfficer James SandersEpisode: "I Come on My Knees:1987What's Happening Now!!JakeEpisode: "Opening Day"1987, 1989The Tracey Ullman ShowScott Supinger / Alan2 episodes1988ThrobMarkEpisode: "Only the Lonely"1989Mancuso, F.B.I.MorrieEpisode: "Little Saigon"1990, 1991Designing WomenWildman #1 / Loud Tourist2 episodes1991Get a LifeUncle MiltEpisode: "Chris vs. Donald"1992Evening ShadeCharlieEpisode: "The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort Of"1992, 1994Love & WarHusband / Man at Bar2 episodes1993Jack's PlaceMiltEpisode: "Faithful Henry"1993, 1996Murphy BrownBurrito Buddy2 episodes1994Diagnosis: MurderManEpisode: "Lily"1994Days of Our LivesFlower Store Clerk2 episodes1995Weird SciencePolicemanEpisode: "Lucky Suit"1995Letter to My KillerRayTelevision film1995Runway One2nd Man1995ERWorkmanEpisode: "Welcome Back Carter!"1995Here Come the MunstersMaitre d'Television film1996–2000Hey Arnold!Various voices14 episodes1997Spicy CityLem / Flaxson2 episodes1997Don King: Only in AmericaReporter #3Television film1997–1999Todd McFarlane's SpawnSam Burke / Tony Twist17 episodes1998TimecopSheriffEpisode: "Alternate World"2000M.Y.O.B.Principal TurkEpisode: "Bad Seed"2000–20047th HeavenPete4 episodes2002The West WingRegistrar of VotersEpisode: "Hartsfield's Landing"2002NYPD BlueNoel ThomasEpisode: "Guns & Hoses"2002The PracticeMichael HallbrennerEpisode: "Of Thee I Sing"2003BeckerMr. LomanEpisode: "Spontaneous Combustion"2005Annie's PointDoug GordonTelevision film2005Everybody Hates ChrisBossEpisode: "Everybody Hates Sausage"2005Close to HomeFred MartinsEpisode: "Baseball Murder"2006Hidden PlacesMr. JenningsTelevision film2007Boston LegalJoe GordonEpisode: "Son of the Defender"2007Mad MenNight ManagerEpisode: "The Wheel"2007Without a TraceDick GarverEpisode: "Run"2008October RoadSully5 episodes2008A Gunfighter's PledgePreacherTelevision film2010CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationGeorge AndersonEpisode: "Neverland"2011The ProtectorEddieEpisode: "Affairs"2011Love's Christmas JourneyMr. PetersTelevision film2012Harry's LawJoshuaEpisode: "Class War"2013Raising HopeDoctor WaltersEpisode: "Hi-Def"2013, 2014BetrayalLou Mrozek2 episodes
References
External links
Rotten Tomatoes profile