Daniel Keith (born October 19, 1982) is an American actor, screenwriter and playwright, director, producer, and musician. He is best known for his roles as Sheriff Gary O'Reilly in Love in Kilnerry and the lead singer of the rock band, Modakai. He has taught at the American Theater of Actors in New York City.

Early life and education

Keith was born in a small ranching town in Bedford, Texas, in 1982. His father, Dan, was a Marine and an air traffic controller. His mother, Jacquelyn, worked in the mailroom at IBM. His parents amicably divorced when Keith was five. He played in rock bands while at Trinity High School and played drums in the marching band. He attended the University of North Texas before touring the country with his band, Modakai. In 2006, the band moved to New York City. When the band went on hiatus in 2009, Keith's best friend suggested he try acting and Keith enrolled at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. In 2013 he enrolled in Circle in the Square Theatre School, followed by Atlantic Theater, Magnet Theater, and in 2021 enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He also studied with Sybil Lines of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Jon Shear, an MFA Grad Professor at Columbia University.

Career

Music

Modakai (originally called Belafonte) was formed in 2003 in Dallas, Texas, by Keith (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard), Joel Buchanan (drums), Daniel Rohrs (bass), and Joseph Otto (guitar, keyboard, vocals). The band's first EP, Any Place Is Better Than Here, was premiered on BBC Radio 1 by Jo Whiley in 2005. The band toured the US following their second and third singles "As Hard As You Like It" and "If You'll Stay". The band moved to New York City in 2006, headlining Arlene's Grocery, the Knitting Factory, and Mercury Lounge. They won second place in the Emergenza Battle of the Bands event in 2007. Modakai released their self titled album in 2009 (produced by Rip Rowan, James McWilliams, and engineered by Paul Williams). Before leaving for their UK tour, the band went on hiatus and didn't release another EP for eight years, until Bedroom Recordings, featuring demo tracks, peel sessions, and raw recordings from their bedroom. In 2021, two tracks from their self-titled album, "Everything" and "It Was You", appeared on the motion picture soundtrack for Love in Kilnerry, released by Archway Pictures.

Film, TV, Stage Keith was cast in his first theater play in New York in 2013 in Mark Hooker's Miss Longview Texas Drag Pageant as the promiscuous cowboy, Willey. As an excuse to be on as many television and movie sets as possible, to learn as much as he could, Keith worked as a background actor and as a stand-in for Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons, and Joe Mantello in Normal Heart, for Justin Timberlake in Runner Runner, and for Cory Michael Smith in the first two seasons of Gotham. He shot his first short film, called Rambler, in 2013. He was cast in his first television appearance in Person of Interest as a bomb maker, named Isaac. He has also appeared in shows such as The Blacklist, Blindspot, and Marvel's Luke Cage.

In 2017 he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in his directorial debut feature of Love in Kilnerry. His company, Archway Pictures, teamed up with Mutiny Pictures to expand the theatrical release nationally.

Filmography FilmRelease dateTitleRoleDirectorNotes2013RamblerRamblerPatrick QuaglianoShort Film debut2013Glasspack vs BlackstoneBryan HendelmanJames AustinFeature Film2013Dogs of the DowGarrettBrian HedenbergShort Film2013Sins of LambsTommy DonovanBrian HedenbergShort Film2013The LionBilly McKayBrian HedenbergShort Film2013 Small WorldEveretteGarrett CareyShort Film2020Petty CashLone DrinkerMatt SimonShort Film2022Love in KilnerryGary O'ReillyDaniel KeithDirectorial Feature Debut

Television TelevisionYearTitleEpisodeRoleNetwork2014Person of InterestS.4 Ep.10IsaacCBS2015The BlacklistS.2 EP.19Head of SecurityNBC2017BlindspotS.2 Ep.19, 20NYPD Cop (Re-Occurring)NBC2018Luke CageS.2 Ep.11JerryNetflix2021StrutS.1 Ep.1Officer WalkmanRevry

Theatre credits Stage (partial)YearPlayAuthorRoleLocationNotes2006Picass at the Lapin AgileSteve MartinPablo PicassoDallas, TexasRegional2012Miss Longview Texas Drag PageantMark HookerWileyNew York CityWorld Premier2013Shining CityConor McPhersonIanNew York CityThe Actors Studio2014April's FoolKelly McAllisterJaypseNew York CityInternational Fringe Festival2015The Breaking RoomColin FilmoreSamNew York CItyManhattan Theater Club Studios2016Some Squeaky Cleopatra BoyLarry RinkleMichaelNew York CItyManhattan Repertory2016Love in KilnerryDaniel KeithGary O'ReillyNew York CItyManhattan Theater Club Studios

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRoleWorkResult2005WorldFest HoustonBest Original Screenplay – Silver AwardWriterWhen Hearts Run WildTV series – Silver AwardProducerHD Undersea2014Philadelphia Independent Film FestivalBest Short FilmProducer, writerRambler2014International Independent Film AwardsNarrative ShortProducer, writerRamblerBest Actor in a Leading RoleActor2014Dublin International Short Film and Music FestivalBest Actor – Jury PrizeActorRambler2014Highway 61 Film FestivalDrama ShortWriter, producer, actorRambler2017ScreenCraftBest Screenplay – FeatureWriterLove in Kilnerry2017Portland Comedy Film FestivalBest ScreenplayWriterLove in Kilnerry2017Hollywood Screenplay ContestBest Screenplay – Silver PrizeWriterLove in Kilnerry2017Die Laughing Film festivalBest ScreenplayWriterLove in Kilnerry2017New York Film and TV FestivalBest ScreenplayWriterLove in KilnerryBest ScreenplayWriterLove in Kilnerry 2019Madrid International Film FestivalBest DirectorDirectorLove in Kilnerry 2019Calcutta International Cult Film FestivalBest Screenplay – Golden Fox AwardWriterLove in Kilnerry2019New Hampshire Film FestivalBest NH Narrative FeatureProducer, writer, director, actorLove in Kilnerry Best Original Screenplay – Festival AwardWriterFirst Time Director – Chris Brinker AwardDirectorBest Comedy – Festival AwardProducer, writer, director, actorLitecoin Film Award – Audience AwardProducer, writer, director, actorAudience Choice – FeatureProducer, writer, director, actor2019Williamsburg International Film FestivalUS Narrative Feature – Festival AwardProducer, writer, director, actorLove in Kilnerry2019SoHo International Film FestivalBest Feature Film – Grand Jury AwardProducer, writer, director, actorLove in Kilnerry2019Los Angeles Film AwardsBest EnsembleActorLove in Kilnerry Best Narrative FeatureProducer, writer, director, actorBest ComedyProducer, writer, director, actorBest Romantic ComedyProducer, writer, director, actorBest DirectorDirectorBest Original StoryWriter2019International Independent Film AwardsNarrative Feature – Platinum AwardProducer, writer, director, actorLove in KilnerryBest Actor in a Leading Role – Platinum AwardActorBest Director – Platinum AwardDirector2019Jersey Shore Film FestivalBest Director – Jury AwardDirectorLove in Kilnerry2020Los Angeles Independent Film Festival AwardsBest Feature – Jury AwardProducer, writer, director, actorLove in KilnerryBest Screenplay – Jury AwardWriterBest Actor – Jury AwardActorBest Director – Jury AwardDirectorBest Producer – Jury AwardProducerBest First Time FilmmakerDirector2020International Independent Film AwardsBest Original Song "Everything" – Modakai – Platinum AwardMusicianLove in Kilnerry Best Original Song "It Was You" – Modakai – Platinum AwardMusician2020International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, LondonBest ComedyProducer, writer, director, actorLove in KilnerryBest Lead ActorActor2020Around International Film FestivalBest Film – ARFF ParisProducer, writer, director, actorLove in KilnerryBest Director – ARFF Official AwardDirector2021Los Angeles Film AwardsBest Comedy ScreenplayWriterRebranding Henry (aka Artemis)2022Berlin Independent Film FestivalBest Comedy ScreenplayWriterRebranding Henry (aka Artemis)

References

External links

Daniel Keith Official Site Daniel Keith at Rotten Tomatoes Daniel Keith at Instagram Archway Pictures Official Site Modakai at Spotify