Blast from the Past: Paul Keenan

' I don't believe AIDS is something to be ashamed of, something that I should have to keep a secret," Keenan said. "I am very proud of who I am, very proud of the things I'm trying to do.'

Paul Keenan

Until last week, I hadn't seen, nor heard of actor Paul Keenan before.  After seeing him on television however, I went down the Internet rabbit hole, looking for as much info, and as many images as I could find.  Sadly, there wasn't much out there to find, but I enjoyed the search, and learning about the actor who's career and life were sadly cut short.

Last month, I did a small post on actor Al Corley, and his role as Steven Carrington on Dynasty. (HERE:) I haven't really seen many episodes of the 80's Prime-Time soap, but was inspired to write the piece after the show began airing on a local cable channel.  I watched a couple of old episodes, but wasn't really inspired to continue watching.  The parental warning at the beginning of each episode however, is what inspired the post.

The warning was about the word 'faggot', and how Steven's sexuality was treated by the show, and the other characters.  Ironic sort of, that Dynasty marked the last role from actor Rock Hudson.  This piece isn't about Hudson though, it's about another actor, in another role, several years prior to Hudson appearing on the show.

Although I haven't continued watching, I did catch a few scenes last week that led to my introduction of actor Paul Keenan.  Paul played Tony Driscoll, the stable hand and gardener on the show in 12 episodes of the first few seasons.  I looked up from working the other night to see this hot actor, strutting up to Joan Collins wearing a very tight pair of jeans.

Its's not really a surprise I didn't know who he was.  In addition to not having watched much of Dynasty, Keenan only had a handful of roles during his short career in the early 1980's.  In addition to his role as Tony, Keenan also appeared on the daytime soap Days Of Our Lives and had a role in the made for TV movie, Summer Fantasy in 1984.  Summer Fantasy looks a little like a precursor to Baywatch and co-starred Julianne Phillips, Ted Shakelford and John Wesley Shipp.  

Summer Fantasy (1984)

The beach flick also marked the actor's final on-screen role.  Sadly Keenan died of AIDS two year later in 1986.  Unlike Rock Hudson, who died the year before, Keenan chose to public with his sexuality, and his battle with AIDS.  He left Hollywood shortly after his diagnosis, and went home to spend his last days around family and friends.  He also gave several interviews about his battle.  With so many men dying silently, Keenan seemed to understand how important it was to go public and to speak out. 

'I believe my focus is to be healed from this disease and to live.  Whatever else happens after that, happens. When you have AIDS, you really have to face the fact that this could be a fatal disease.  You're really dealing with things that are more important than the narcissistic Hollywood type of life.'

Paul Keenan