The Paralyzing Accident & Tragic Death of TV's 'Flipper' Father Brian Kelly: Two Decades Later

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It's been two decades since beloved actor Brian Kelly died of pneumonia at 73 in 2005. Best known as Porter Ricks in the classic TV family show Flipper (NBC, 1964-1967), Kelly had once suffered a paralyzing motorcycle accident that ended his acting career. However, he rechanneld his creative talent and became a producer. This is his story.

A Closer Look

Brian Kelly was born Valentine's Day, February 14, 1931, in Detroit, the son of Harry F. Kelly, who later served as governor of Michigan and as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Brian began began acting following his service in the Marines during the Korean War and attending University of Michigan Law School for a year.

The actor made several TV guest spots on shows on sitcoms like The Beverly Hillbillies, and dramas such as The Rifleman. He was then hired to play the father of two young sons (played by Tommy Norden and Luke Halpin) in Flipper, which was also the name of leading dolphin on the show (which was shot in Miami and in Nassau, the Bahamas).

In 1966, Kelly appeared in he underwater motion picture, Around the World Under the Sea.

One year later, he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident that left his right arm and leg paralyzed. Consequently, he was forced to exit a starring role The Love Machine,(1971) and was replaced by John Phillip Law.

Kelly later won a legal settlement and continued working in Hollywood, including serving as an executive producer on Ridley Scott’s trailblazing sci-fi movie, Blade Runner (1982).

The film was based the novel by author Philip K. Dick, who did not take a liking to Hampton Fancher, who penned the Blade Runner script.

Brian Kelly, however, was a friend to Fancher and, due to a conference between Kelly and Dick, Blade Runner eventually made it to the big scren

The Big Picture

Despite several personal and professional challenges, Brian Kelly overcame significant obstacles, and enjoyed a trimphant life and diverse career.