Joe Keane

By VARIETY STAFF

Joe Keane, television producer and director, died of cancer Jan. 4 in Woodland Hills. He was 69.

He began his career as an actor after graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London.

His only film role was in the 1952 Kirk Douglas-Lana Turner film "The Bad and the Beautiful."

Keane turned to television production and worked at KHJ-TV in Los Angeles for 13 years as a production manager and director. Through the years he directed dozens of commercials in addition to popular Los Angeles television shows of the '60s including "Groovy,""9th Street West,""Hollywood a Go Go,""The Real Don Steele Show" and the classic children's show "Engineer Bill."

Between 1974 and 1986 Keane taught television production at Pasadena City College.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; son Kevin, a film colorist; daughters Tricia and Carol Ann and four grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations toward a scholarship honoring Joe Keane; for information, call [phone].