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Dennis O'Keefe (March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor. He was the son of Irish vaudevillians working in the United States. As a small child he joined his parents' act and later wrote skits for the stage. O'Keefe started in films as an extra in the early 1930s. After a small but impressive role in Saratoga, Clark Gable recommended O'Keefe to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which signed him to a contract in 1937. His film roles were bigger after that, starting with The Bad Man of Brimstone and Burn 'Em Up O'Connor. O'Keefe left MGM around 1940 but continued to work in mostly lower budget productions. In the 1950s he did some directing, wrote mystery stories and by the mid-1950s found work on television shows such as Justice, The Martha Raye Show, The Ford Show as well as his own series The Dennis O'Keefe Show.
He was an American actor, born into a family of vaudevillians, who moved from uncredited bit parts in the 1930s to become a familiar leading man in 1940s film noir and 1950s television.
He is best recognized for his performances in crime thrillers and film noir, specifically his collaborations with director Anthony Mann on T-Men and Raw Deal.
His career spanned vaudeville, radio, and film, encompassing comedies and dramatic roles before he solidified his presence in mid-century crime cinema.