'He
only lives twice'
Dennis Keogh is a
professional celebrity lookalike. Such a talent requires skills similar,
if not more complex, than the celebrity he portrays. Acting is one of
them. Such a talent has to not only be able to perform as himself, when
that is necessary, but has to know every move, look, wardrobe, voice and
verbiage, exactly as whoever he or she portrays. As those fans know the
difference! Keogh (pronounced 'key o') keeps busy paying tribute to actor
Sean Connery, but he took the time for this interview.
ABOVE: Dennis
Keogh as Sean Connery
October 31, 2009
12:17 AM
San Francisco Examiner: Deborah
Smith Ford
Dennis Keogh: where are you
from, and what did you do before you 'became' Bond?
My pre-Bond life as people always want to know, 'What did you do
before James Bond?' I joke and say I have always looked like this. I am
originally from The "Main Line" suburb of Philadelphia and lived in New
Orleans and Colorado.
I was raised one of six boys, the third son to a hard
working Irish Catholic family, and I worked for a large utility company
for over 30 years in various cities around the country in different
positions. I finally settled in Phoenix for the last 23 years. I love
Phoenix, the people and the climate. I was also a lineman, at one point in
Colorado, where I was hit with high voltage. I survived so the saying,
'you only live twice,' really means something to me."
When did you decide to
become a lookalike?
I became a professional lookalike after so many people from around
the World commented on how much I looked like Sean Connery, that was about
five years ago. But I have been looking like him for over 20 years, and
people have always told me that I resemble him. I used to play it up years
ago just with friends when we were out. I finally went professional after
the encouragement of friends and family. I have worked on his voice for
years listening to all his interviews when he was just talking not acting,
although I was always good with accents. As a thirteen year old I would
practice President Kennedy's inaugural address and could recite it
verbatim with the Boston accent."
What kind of gigs do you
get?
I get hired to appear at corporate parties, 007 theme party's,
exotic car auctions, casino parties and grand openings. I have worked as a
model and with the models for fashion shows, car ads, cigar commercials,
print ads, voiceovers, radio and TV Jewelry shows with "Diamonds are
forever" theme, trade shows.
To draw the crowd to one's trade show booth, it helps
to have someone like Sean Connery there, performing celebrity Jeopardy for
them. Seems everyone loves the Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit with Alex
Trebek. I know all of them by heart. I do celebrity photo ops too. That is
where one has his or her picture taken with 007.
I have also done Video's in Hollywood, worked with
the real Ozzie Osbourne, Stan Lee of Marvel Comic's, red carpet events,
award dinners, Super Bowl parties, weddings, walking the bride down the
aisle or perhaps as Bond driving them in a limo to the church or
reception. Other entertainment events have been Dinner Mystery theater
shows as Sean, having dinner with prestigious high profile people to
impress their potential client or girlfriend, as well as any events that
are classy and elegant, in other words, Bond-like.
How do you explain the
appeal of a 'Look-alike' Sean Connery?
'People respond to Bond' - I coined that phrase. They just love
it, and I love it more. It is an honor to impersonate such an icon whom I
respect deeply and only act as would he, professionally at all times. It
gives me joy to see the faces of those who perceive me to be him. I have
said this before, 'It is not about deception but rather perception.' Would
you tell a child there is no Santa Claus? Why tell them you are a
lookalike until the final hour. Let them believe for a bit. The idea is
always to bring happiness to others and make people laugh for a while. It
is not about trying to be somebody, but rather helping somebody and having
a good time doing it. Although he (Sean Connery) is 20 years older [than
myself], it is amazing how many people think I am him. I certainly hope I
don't look near 80! No offense there Sean."
Does "being" Sean Connery
take you on travels and where?
I have been Bond from Canada to the Caribbean and from New York
to Mexico. I will travel anywhere in the world as Bond. I had a request to
go to Armann Jordan, but the gig fell through at the last minute."
Are you able to be "him"
full time?
I am a full time professional lookalike of Sir Sean Connery. It
takes years of practice to be the best at what you do. I have studied him
for many years. When I am not working as Bond or listening to tapes I get
'outside'. I have always been an athlete, completing over 30+ marathons,
although these days I just hike, ride my mountain bike and hit the gym.
Bond must be fit, Sean was and still is very fit. Golf is his tonic. Mine
has been track and field."
What is one of your most
interesting moments as Bond?
Embarrassing moments: I was attending a Hollywood award banquet
dressed in a black tux, very Bond-like, when the producer of "The Hunt for
Red October and former president of Paramount walks up to me and says,
'Sean, how are you? You look great.' I said, 'Well thank you, I feel
pretty good for an old guy, how have you been? How's the wife? (not
knowing if he was even married) We talked for over ten minutes then he
says, 'Let's get a picture together.' Well, he believed I was him until
later, after dinner he was told I was a lookalike. He said, 'No, I talked
to him; it was Sean."
What is your best or
favorite look as James Bond?
My favorite look is classic James Bond - white or black tux.
After that I prefer playing Capt. Marko Ramius from The Hunt for Red
October."
Mr. Keogh, do you have
advice for any talent wanting to be a lookalike?
Advice to potential lookalikes is to first put yourself in a
public place, high visibility, say at a mall at Starbucks and just sit
there and see how many people will comment on your look. If you truly look
like the person, they will comment, if you get say ten in a week you have
a chance. I have people comment wherever I go but I always say thank you
and consider it a compliment. It never gets old. One must also possess the
right personality for this type of work. You must like people, be a good
speaker, have an outgoing nature, be gracious at all times, respectful of
everyone and really love what you do, as it will show if you do not.
Imagine having an Aston-Martin in the garage but without an engine, looks
good but so what, it's useless."
How do you see your future,
Dennis Keogh, as Sean Connery?
My future - I plan to continue this profession, as Sean has
said, 'I will be 007 until I go in the box.' That is one of his direct
quotes. I truly can not think of another endeavor I would rather do than
this, bringing a small bit of joy to the world as James Bond looking like
Sean Connery. God bless him and please keep him around for another twenty
years or I may be out of work."
What are some specific
"things" that you do in order to be just like Bond at gigs?
What do I do as Sean Connery...I can emcee events, give a
speech in his voice for presenting awards and dance with the ladies. Did
you know that Sean took dancing lessons for 11 years with a Swedish dance
instructor? Oh well, I did say dancing didn't I? I can work the crowd meet
and greet, help with silent auctions encouraging people to bid on items as
I talk to them, as Sean, saying all his Bond movie lines. People, I have
found, love that guy's voice, especially the ladies. Thank you again
Sean."
Thank you
Mr. Keogh for sharing about Mr., rather, Sir Connery. It sounds like you
keep very busy being a double for "OO" (007). It is easy to see that you
enjoy portraying him and making people happy to see you as the "next best
thing!" I'm sure you have your very own fans, and that they would like to
hear that you will live longer than only twice.
