Actor Brian Kelly, who starred as Porter Ricks in the popular 1960s’ NBC television series “Flipper,” has died. He was 73.
Kelly died last Saturday of pneumonia in Voorhees, N.J., according to a family friend.
Kelly was born Feb. 14, 1931, in Detroit, the son of former Gov. Harry F. Kelly, who was later chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. He began his acting career after serving in the Marines during the Korean War and attending University of Michigan law school for a year.
After a number of guest appearances on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “The Rifleman” and other shows, he was cast as the father of two boys in “Flipper,” which also starred a porpoise as the title character.
In 1966, he appeared in the underwater film “Around the World Under the Sea.”
He continued working in Hollywood, including serving as an executive producer on Ridley Scott’s 1982 film, “Blade Runner.”
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