KELLER--Frederick A. A major creative force in Western New York theater, education and film, and a pioneer in Buffalo television broadcasting, died Wednesday, October 5 in Los Angeles. He was 92. In 1947, Mr. Keller was one of four employees of WBEN Radio, then owned by The Buffalo Evening News, assigned to visit various experimental television stations around the country in preparation for the start-up of Buffalo's first TV station WBEN, now WIVB-TV. Shortly after the station began scheduled programming, Mr. Keller was appointed program director, a position he held until he left the company in 1962. “In those days…most of our programs were produced 'live' in our studios or on location,” Mr. Keller wrote in a brief biography he penned in April 1997. As program director he created, produced, wrote, directed and supervised telecasts as they were going out on the air, including the first-ever dramatic weekly series to be televised, “The Clue.” That series, which lasted for five years, gave Academy Award-winning actor Broderick Crawford and Lorne Green of TV's “Bonanza” fame, their first acting opportunities in television. Mr. Keller also produced the first educational series of programs for children seen in Western New York. “In those days, I had high hopes for television as an educational medium for the betterment of our world,” Mr. Keller said. Mr. Keller also helped bring a number of important foreign and domestic art films to Buffalo, through the Circle Art and Glen Art theatres. He also appeared in a number of films, making his screen debut in the 1970 George Stevens film “The Only Game in Town,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Warren Beatty. While living in Paris for seven years, Mr. Keller dubbed some 400 foreign films into English. He also portrayed the title character in a 1981 adaptation of Natalie Babbit's award-winning novel, “Tuck Everlasting,” directed by his son, Frederick K. Keller and co-wrote and starred in the 1987 independent film “My Dark Lady,” starring Buffalo actress Lorna Hill. On the stage, Mr. Keller Played Willy Loman in the 1960 Studio Arena production of Arthur Miller's “Death of a Salesman.” The following year, he took the Grand Island Players' presentation of Miller's “A View from the Bridge” to the Festival International du Theatre in Monaco. He also directed other notable productions, including works such as Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in the Sun” and Ossie Davis' “Purlie Victorious.” Mr. Keller taught acting, film and theater courses at the University at Buffalo, Erie Community College, Canisius College, Medaille and Niagara County Community College. Born in Buffalo, New York he was a graduate of South Park High School. He earned his bachelor's degree in general education from Buffalo State College and his master's degree in the foundations of education at the University at Buffalo. Mr. Keller was a captain in Army intelligence during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was part of a team of army intelligence officers who determined during the Battle of the Bulge that the Germans were recycling names of divisions instead of sending new troops to the front lines, which ultimately led to victory. Since 2000, Mr. Keller had lived in retirement in Southern California with his son and daughter-in-law. He taught a weekly course on Shakespeare and wrote a book on the Shakespeare authorship question, “Spearing the Wild Blue Boar” which was published when Mr. Keller was 90. Last year, at 91, he performed in David Mamet's “The Duck Variations”. He is survived by his wife Joyce D. Keller Ph.D. and son, film and television director Frederick King Keller. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 22 at 1:00pm at Gates, Kingsley & Gates Moeller Murphy Funeral Directors, The Little Chapel of the Dawn, 1925 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica.