Bennett Kilpatrick, biopic.
William Bennett Kilpatrick was born on February 6, 1883 in Long Melford,
and died on August 17, 1962 in Santa Monica.
He was better known just as Bennett Kilpatrick, an actor, director and playwright.
He is best known for his performances in the title role of NBC's Mr Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons.
The drama was one of the longest running shows on the wireless, from October 12, 1937,
till April 19, 1955, which continued well into the television era.
Bennett Kilpatrick was the third of seven children born to William Gilbert Kilpatrick, a clergyman, and Maria Theresa Hanekon.
Kilpatrick claims lineal descent from the poet Alfred Tennyson.
He attended school in Sutton, the principal town of the London borough of Sutton in South London, England,
and then at St John's College, Finsbury Technical College, and the London Oratory School.
He immigrated to Canada for his first job as an apprentice in the locomotive factory,
where he graduated as an electrical engineer for the Canadian Pacific Railway in Montreal.
Later, he moved to the USA, but unable to find a job in engineering, he became an actor.
Kilpatrick's first acting job was as Michael Cascio in Orthello.
World War I interrupted his career when he became a member of the Royal Flying Corps.
After the war, he returned to acting and toured with Sir Philip Ben Greets' Shakespearean players,
and had several important parts in Broadway plays.
In 1927, he was given the lead role in The Wayside Inn, an early radio serial.
He subsequently played the part of Cepheus in Way Back Home, which was presented on radio and as a film,
with Philip's Lord as Seth Parker.
As a radio serial, it was also known as Sunday Night at Seth Parker's.
Kilpatrick made his CBS debut in 1935 in Vanished Voices,
and subsequently played roles in CBS radio in Ill Top House, Gang Busters, The Goldbergs, The Shadow, and Grand Central Station.
Kilpatrick began his run as Mr Keen in 1937.
For 18 years, Keen and his faithful assistant Mike Clancy entertained followers
with their intuitive perception that kept listeners coming back for more.
With 1,690 nationwide broadcasts, Mr Keen was the most resilient private detective in the namesake role.
The nearest competitors were Nick Carter, Master Detective, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and The Adventures of the Falcon.
Over a span of 13 years, Benner appeared on nearly 1,300 of the 1,700 broadcasts,
and at the age of 67 he made his last appearance as Mr Keen on October 26, 1950, the show's 1,314th broadcast.
For the Old Time Radio Researchers, I'm Paul Hudson, your announcer.