Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly (February 14, 1931 – February 12, 2005) was an American actor widely known for his role as Porter Ricks, the widowed father of two sons on the NBC television series Flipper. Early years Kelly was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Republican Governor of Michigan Harry F. Kelly (who was also chief justice of Michigan's Supreme Court) and the former Anne Veronica O'Brien. Kelly had three sisters and two brothers, one of whom was his fraternal twin. His nephew (sister's son) is actor Brian d'Arcy James. He was of Irish descent. Kelly attended St. Mary High School and served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. Kelly graduated in 1953 from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He attended the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor for a year before settling on acting. During his college years, Kelly modelled and acted in radio and television commercials in Detroit.