Richard Keith: Child star in two iconic roles

Richard Keith: The Lucy days

Thanks to streaming services and retro channels baby boomers can continue to enjoy the television programs they grew up with. Watching memorable episodes and seeing familiar faces brings curiosity regarding what happened to favorite actors over the years. The internet brings us fun facts that we otherwise may not have known about television stars. One popular young child actor was a part of not one but two iconic television series that continue to entertain long-time devotees. He is Keith Thibodeaux, also known as Richard Keith, who was on the hit series I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show.

Keith portrayed Little Ricky Ricardo on the sitcoms I Love Lucy and The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour which starred Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The young actor was billed as Richard Keith because his Cajun French last name, "Thibodeaux", was difficult for show producer Arnaz to pronounce. Keith is the last living regular cast member from I Love Lucy.

The child star impressed fans of the series with his ability to play drums which is what landed him the role. He began playing drums at age 3 and in 1955 at age 5 he auditioned for I Love Lucy. Lucille Ball took one look at the child and said he was cute then asked what he could do? After hearing him on the drums the job was his. Little Ricky played the drums several times on the television series.

The Andy Griffith Show: Johnny Paul Johnson

Keith appeared in 11 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show as Johnny Paul Johnson a good friend of Opie Tylor (Ron Howard). He was also mentioned by name in two episodes where he did not appear. The first time the actor was seen on the television series he was a character named Carter French in the season 3 episode titled One Punch Opie. He appeared as Johnny Paul in the following episodes:

Andy Discovers America

Opie and His Merry Men

Andy and Opie's Pal

A Deal Is a Deal

Back to Nature

Opie Loves Helen

Barney's Physical

The Family Visit

Opie and the Carnival

Wyatt Earp Rides Again and Look Paw, I'm Dancing in season 6 which was his final time on The Andy Griffith Show.

Keith Thibodeaux personal life

Keith was born into a Catholic family and attended St. Victor's elementary in West Hollywood and St. Jane Frances de Chantal School in North Hollywood. He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks for two years until 1966 when his parents separated.

Thibodeaux met and married a ballet dancer named Kathy Denton in Jackson, Mississippi in 1976. The couple moved in 1977 to Southern California where Keith became a member of the pop band Starbuck whose biggest hit was "Moonlight Feels Right." the couple returned to Mississippi in 1978, and their daughter Tara was born in 1979.

Richard Keith the later years

Keith played with local jazz bands before joining the Christian rock band, David and the Giants in 1979. In 2017 during a live concert David and the Giants the CD/DVD The Best Is Yet To Come was recorded in celebration of 40 years of the group recording music.

In 1990, Keith became the Executive Director for his wife's company, Ballet Magnificat! and in 2017 the couple created Ballet Magnificat! Brasil dance company and trainee program which is headquartered in Curitiba, Brazil. Be sure to check your local listings and streaming services to find out when you can catch episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and I Love Lucy.