Brian Kelly

Actor Brian Kelly was a Valentine's Day baby. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Anne Veronica (O'Brien) and Harry Francis Kelly, who was Governor of Michigan (1943-1947) and served as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court. He was of Irish descent. Brian joined the Marine Corps. during the Korean War and subsequently attended the University of Michigan Law School with the intent of pursuing a political career like his father, but it only lasted a year. During college he found work as a male model and later broke into the business in Detroit with radio and TV commercials. A talent agent spotted him and in the late 50s the dark-haired, hairy-chested, extremely handsome actor decided to try his luck in Hollywood. He found some nominal parts coming his way on such series as Adventures in Paradise (1959), The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) and The Rifleman (1958), among others, but nothing that advanced his career significantly. He appeared regularly on two TV short-lived series -- the det