Brian Kelly (actor)
The handsome actor who found lasting fame as the dependable dad on 'Flipper,' a role that defined wholesome family adventure in the 1960s.
1931–2005 (age 74)·American actor·Birthday: February 14·The Silent Generation
Biography
Brian Kelly’s path to stardom was as sun-drenched as the shows that made him famous. The Michigan-born actor, a former Marine, began his career with bit parts in films and television, his all-American looks fitting the era's leading-man mold. His breakthrough came in 1964 when he was cast as Porter Ricks, the kind-hearted chief warden of the Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve on 'Flipper.' As the widowed father to two boys and the guardian of a remarkably intelligent dolphin, Kelly became the steady, authoritative center of the family-friendly series. The show was a hit, synonymous with Florida seaside adventure and animal friendship. After 'Flipper' ended, Kelly found roles harder to come by; a severe motorcycle accident in 1970 damaged his spine and curtailed his acting career. He shifted to producing, but remained forever identified with the gentle, adventurous spirit of Porter Ricks, a symbol of an optimistic television age.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Brian was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2005Died at 74
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
Key Achievements
- Starred as Porter Ricks in all 88 episodes of the NBC television series 'Flipper' from 1964 to 1967.
- Produced the 1978 film 'The Amazing Captain Nemo,' showcasing his move behind the camera after his acting career was limited.
- His role on 'Flipper' helped popularize dolphin conservation and marine biology for a generation of young viewers.
Did You Know?
He was a decorated U.S. Marine who served in the Korean War.
The motorcycle accident that injured him in 1970 also involved actress and model Stella Stevens.
He was originally considered for the role of Robin in the 1960s 'Batman' television series.
“I'd rather be on a boat than anywhere else in the world.”
