Andrew Keir, originally Andrew Buggy, was born in 1926 in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland, to an Irish Catholic family. He was raised alongside five brothers, John, Tom, Michael, Patrick, and Hugh, as well as a sister, Maggie. As the son of a coal miner, Keir began working in the coal mines at the age of 14, a career he pursued until he was 20.
At 20, Keir joined the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre to train as an actor, marking the beginning of his professional journey in British theater, television, and film. His debut role was in The Lady Craved Excitement in 1950. Keir's rugged, no-nonsense demeanor made him well-suited for authoritative and military roles, particularly those of Roman soldiers, as seen in Cleopatra, The Fall of the Roman Empire, and The Viking Queen.
Keir had an early association with Hammer Productions, making his debut film with the company. He went on to work with them on several horror films, including Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Blood from the Mummy's Tomb. One of his most iconic roles was that of the title character in Quatermass and the Pit, released in 1967.
Throughout his career, Keir made numerous television appearances, such as in Adam Smith and the Australian series The Outsiders. Later in his career, Keir often played Scotsmen, staying true to his heritage.
John, Tom, Michael, Patrick, and Hugh were Andrew Keir's five brothers, and Maggie was his sister.
