# Daniel Keith

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

Film :
| Release Date | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
| 2013 | Rambler | Rambler | Patrick Quagliano | Short Film debut |
| 2013 | Glasspack vs Blackstone | Bryan Hendelman | James Austin | Feature Film |
| 2013 | Dogs of the Dow | Garrett | Brian Hedenberg | Short Film |
| 2013 | Sins of Lambs | Tommy Donovan | Brian Hedenberg | Short Film |
| 2013 | The Lion | Billy McKay | Brian Hedenberg | Short Film |
| 2013 | Small World | Everette | Garrett Carey | Short Film |
| 2020 | Petty Cash | Lone Drinker | Matt Simon | Short Film |
| 2022 | Love in Kilnerry | Gary O'Reilly | Daniel Keith | Directorial Feature Debut |

## Television

Television :
| Year | Title | Episode | Role | Network |
| 2014 | Person of Interest | S.4 Ep.10 | Isaac | CBS |
| 2015 | The Blacklist | S.2 EP.19 | Head of Security | NBC |
| 2017 | Blindspot | S.2 Ep.19, 20 | NYPD Cop (Re-Occurring) | NBC |
| 2018 | Luke Cage | S.2 Ep.11 | Jerry | Netflix |
| 2021 | Strut | S.1 Ep.1 | Officer Walkman | Revry |

## Theatre credits

Stage (partial) :
| Year | Play | Author | Role | Location | Notes |
| 2006 | Picass at the Lapin Agile | Steve Martin | Pablo Picasso | Dallas, Texas | Regional |
| 2012 | Miss Longview Texas Drag Pageant | Mark Hooker | Wiley | New York City | World Premier |
| 2013 | Shinning City | Coner McPherson | Ian | New York City | The Actors Studio |
| 2014 | April's Fool | Kelly McAllister | Jaypse | New York City | International Fringe Festival |
| 2015 | The Breaking Room | Colin Filmore | Sam | New York CIty | Manhattan Theater Club Studios |
| 2016 | Some Squeaky Cleopatra Boy | Larry Rinkle | Michael | New York CIty | Manhattan Repertory |
| 2016 | Love in Kilnerry | Daniel Keith | Gary O'Reilly | New York CIty | Manhattan Theater Club Studios |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Role | Work | Result |
| 2005 | WorldFest Houston | Best Original Screenplay – Silver Award | Writer | When Hearts Run Wild | Won |
| 2005 | WorldFest Houston | TV series – Silver Award | Producer | HD Undersea | Won |
| 2014 | Philadelphia Independent Film Festival | Best Short Film | Producer, writer | Rambler | Won |
| 2014 | International Independent Film Awards | Narrative Short | Producer, writer | Rambler | Won |
| 2014 | International Independent Film Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Actor | Rambler | Won |
| 2014 | Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival | Best Actor – Jury Prize | Actor | Rambler | Won |
| 2014 | Highway 61 Film Festival | Drama Short | Writer, producer, actor | Rambler | Nominated |
| 2017 | ScreenCraft | Best Screenplay – Feature | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2017 | Portland Comedy Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2017 | Hollywood Screenplay Contest | Best Screenplay – Silver Prize | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2017 | Die Laughing Film festival | Best Screenplay | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2017 | New York Film and TV Festival | Best Screenplay | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2017 | New York Film and TV Festival | Best Screenplay | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | Madrid International Film Festival | Best Director | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | Calcutta International Cult Film Festival | Best Screenplay – Golden Fox Award | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | New Hampshire Film Festival | Best NH Narrative Feature | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | New Hampshire Film Festival | Best Original Screenplay – Festival Award | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | New Hampshire Film Festival | First Time Director – Chris Brinker Award | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | New Hampshire Film Festival | Best Comedy – Festival Award | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | New Hampshire Film Festival | Litecoin Film Award – Audience Award | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | New Hampshire Film Festival | Audience Choice – Feature | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | Williamsburg International Film Festival | US Narrative Feature – Festival Award | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | SoHo International Film Festival | Best Feature Film – Grand Jury Award | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Ensemble | Actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Narrative Feature | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Comedy | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Romantic Comedy | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Director | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Original Story | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | International Independent Film Awards | Narrative Feature – Platinum Award | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | International Independent Film Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role – Platinum Award | Actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | International Independent Film Awards | Best Director – Platinum Award | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2019 | Jersey Shore Film Festival | Best Director – Jury Award | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards | Best Feature – Jury Award | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards | Best Screenplay – Jury Award | Writer | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards | Best Actor – Jury Award | Actor | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards | Best Director – Jury Award | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards | Best Producer – Jury Award | Producer | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards | Best First Time Filmmaker | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2020 | International Independent Film Awards | Best Original Song "Everything" – Modakai – Platinum Award | Musician | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2020 | International Independent Film Awards | Best Original Song "It Was You" – Modakai – Platinum Award | Musician | Love in Kilnerry | Won |
| 2020 | International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, London | Best Comedy | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2020 | International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, London | Best Lead Actor | Actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2020 | Around International Film Festival | Best Film – ARFF Paris | Producer, writer, director, actor | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2020 | Around International Film Festival | Best Director – ARFF Official Award | Director | Love in Kilnerry | Nominated |
| 2021 | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Comedy Screenplay | Writer | Rebranding Henry (aka Artemis) | Won |
| 2022 | Berlin Independent Film Festival | Best Comedy Screenplay | Writer | Rebranding Henry (aka Artemis) | Won |