---
name: "James Keane"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/james-keane"
fi1m_id: "james-keane"
imdb_id: "nm0443856"
tmdb_id: 1739
wikidata_id: "Q23072512"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 September 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-01T20:39:44.834508+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# James Keane

## Identity

James Keane

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/james-keane
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** james-keane
- **IMDb ID:** nm0443856
- **TMDB ID:** 1739
- **Wikidata ID:** Q23072512
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Keane_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23072512, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443856/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1739

Actor. Born 26 September 1952 in Buffalo, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 September 1952, Buffalo, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1975–present
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 86 (3), 1990s 71 (1), 2000s 68 (2), 2020s 54 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 70 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Science Fiction 2, Thriller 2, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $749m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Keane_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23072512, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443856/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1739

## Biography

James Keane is an American film and television actor. Born on 26 September 1952 in Buffalo, New York, he graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He began his career in 1975 with a role in *Three Days of the Condor* and appeared regularly as Willis Thomas Bell in the television series *The Paper Chase* (1978–1986).

Keane has worked steadily in supporting roles. His film credits include appearances in *Apocalypse Now* (1979), *48 Hrs.* (1982), *Dick Tracy* (1990) as Pat Patton, *Falling Down* (1993), *Pleasantville* (1998), *Crazy Heart* (2009) as Manager, and *Water for Elephants* (2011). He has also appeared in television series such as *Mad Men* and *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Megalopolis* (2024), Fi1m 54, as Laughing Man — [page](https://film.one/film/megalopolis.md)
- *Crazy Heart* (2009), Fi1m 71, as Manager — [page](https://film.one/film/crazy-heart.md)
- *Seabiscuit* (2003), Fi1m 65, as Car Customer — [page](https://film.one/film/seabiscuit.md)
- *Falling Down* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Detective Keene — [page](https://film.one/film/falling-down.md)
- *Apocalypse Now* (1979), Fi1m 92, as Kilgore's Gunner — [page](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md)
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), Fi1m 85, as Radio Telescope Team — [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *Three Days of the Condor* (1975), Fi1m 80, as Store Clerk — [page](https://film.one/film/three-days-of-the-condor.md)

## Complete filmography (77)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Megalopolis* (2024), as Laughing Man — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/megalopolis.md)
- *The Rizen: Possession* (2019), as Extra
- *Rules Don't Apply* (2016), as Tom
- *Miss Meadows* (2014), as Father Peter
- *Emit* (2013), as Graydon Wofford
- *Love's Christmas Journey* (2011), as Mr. Peters
- *Water for Elephants* (2011), as Chaplain
- *Harry's Law* (2011), series, as Joshua
- *Raising Hope* (2010), series, as Doctor Walters
- *Crazy Heart* (2009), as Manager — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/crazy-heart.md)
- *For Sale by Owner* (2009), as Loman
- *A Gunfighter's Pledge* (2008), as Preacher
- *Mad Men* (2007), series, as Night Manager — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *Hidden Places* (2006), as Mr. Jennings
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, as Boss — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *Close to Home* (2005), series, as Fred Martins
- *Silent Partner* (2005), as Senator Banner
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Joe Gordon — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Seabiscuit* (2003), as Car Customer — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/seabiscuit.md)
- *Assassination Tango* (2003), as Whitey
- *Without a Trace* (2002), series, as Dick Carver
- *Hey Arnold! The Movie* (2002), as Marty Green / Riot Cop (voice)
- *Don't Let Go* (2002), as Wes
- *The Vampire Hunters Club* (2001), as Jonathan White
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as George Anderson
- *M.Y.O.B.* (2000), series, as Principal Turk
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Hartsfield's Landing Registrar of Voters — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Family Law* (1999), series, Actor
- *Pleasantville* (1998), as Police Chief Dan
- *Todd McFarlane's Spawn: Season 2* (1998), as Sam Burke
- *Bulworth* (1998), as American Politics Director
- *Don King: Only in America* (1997), as Reporter 3
- *Spawn* (1997), series, as Sam Burke (voice)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Crime Analyst Michael Hallbrenner
- *The Fumbleheads* (1997), as Veteran Cop
- *Journey Beneath the Sea* (1996), as Rick (voice)
- *Hey Arnold!* (1996), series, as Mr. Green (voice), Hospital Orderly (voice), Mr. Green (voice; uncredited), Mr. Green / EBN Announcer (voice), Mr. Green / Judge (voice)
- *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Pete
- *Phenomenon* (1996), as Pete the Cop
- *Angus* (1995), as Coach
- *Here Come the Munsters* (1995), as Maitre d'
- *ER* (1994), series, as Workman — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Man
- *Coneheads* (1993), as Harv
- *Falling Down* (1993), as Detective Keene — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/falling-down.md)
- *Love & War* (1992), series, as Husband
- *The Last Boy Scout* (1991), as Garage Patrolman
- *Talent for the Game* (1991), as Ray Coffey
- *Dick Tracy* (1990), as Pat Patton
- *Mancuso, F.B.I.* (1989), series, as Morrie
- *New York Stories* (1989), as Jimmy
- *Let's Get Harry* (1986), as Al King
- *The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension* (1984), as Duck Hunter Bubba
- *10 to Midnight* (1983), as Jerry
- *The Sound of Murder* (1982), Actor
- *48 Hrs.* (1982), as Vanzant
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Lawyer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Cannery Row* (1982), as Eddie
- *Pray TV* (1982), as Fats
- *The Ambush Murders* (1982), as Lambert
- *Life on the Mississippi* (1980), Actor
- *Brubaker* (1980), as Pinky
- *The Rose* (1979), as Dealer
- *Apocalypse Now* (1979), as Kilgore's Gunner — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md)
- *Ike* (1979), series, as Corporal
- *Ike* (1979), as Corporal
- *Love and Bullets* (1979), as Doctor
- *Roots: The Next Generations* (1979), series, as Night Dispatcher
- *The Paper Chase* (1978), series, as Willis Bell
- *Zero to Sixty* (1978), as Girlie Bar Bartender
- *Night Cries* (1978), as Charlie
- *Uncle Joe Shannon* (1978), as Jeels
- *Close Encounters of the Third Kind* (1977), as Radio Telescope Team — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/close-encounters-of-the-third-kind.md)
- *Sunshine Christmas* (1977), as Hugh Bob
- *Intimate Strangers* (1977), as Rusty Fenton
- *Three Days of the Condor* (1975), as Store Clerk — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/three-days-of-the-condor.md)
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as Mr. Ealer

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/james-keane