1. Early Life and Background
Keith Loneker's early life was marked by challenges, including a significant injury during his high school football career that he resiliently overcame to pursue his passion for sports and education.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
Keith Joseph Loneker was born on June 21, 1971, in Roselle Park, New Jersey, U.S. Throughout his life, he was known for working diligently to overcome personal obstacles.
1.2. Education and Early Football Career
Loneker attended Roselle Park High School, where he played football. During his time there, he sustained a severe hip injury that led doctors to believe he would never be able to participate in sports again. Defying medical predictions, Loneker committed himself to an intensive rehabilitation program. After a two-year recovery period, he returned to the football field. His determination led him to earn a scholarship to the University of Kansas, where he continued his collegiate football career.
2. Career
Keith Loneker's professional life spanned two distinct fields: a career as an American football player in the NFL and a subsequent career as a film and television actor, alongside other community activities.
2.1. American Football Career
After finishing his college football career at the University of Kansas, Keith Loneker entered the 1993 NFL draft but went undrafted. He then signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. In his rookie season in 1993, he started in two of the four games he played. The following year, 1994, he started both games in which he appeared. In his third and final season in 1995, he made one start across 13 games played for the Rams.
2.2. Acting Career
Loneker transitioned into acting following his football career, leveraging his distinctive physique to secure various roles, often portraying characters with a tough or athletic demeanor.
2.2.1. Beginnings and Notable Roles
Keith Loneker's entry into acting was unexpected. While he was still playing in the NFL, a former teammate who had become an agent contacted him, suggesting a role for which he believed Loneker would be an ideal fit. Despite having no prior acting experience, Loneker submitted an audition tape and was cast based solely on this tape. He expressed surprise upon landing his first role as "White Boy Bob" in Steven Soderbergh's crime comedy film Out of Sight, released in 1998. His large, football-lineman build influenced his casting, often leading him to portray characters such as thugs or football players. Following his debut, Loneker secured roles in several other films, including Rock Star (2001), Superbad (2007), Leatherheads (2008), and the Neil LaBute thriller Lakeview Terrace (2008).
2.2.2. Filmography
Keith Loneker appeared in a variety of films and television programs throughout his acting career.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Out of Sight | White Boy Bob | |
| 2001 | Rock Star | Roadie #1 | |
| 2002 | Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie | Big Red | TV movie |
| 2007 | Superbad | Wild Bill Cherry | |
| 2008 | Leatherheads | Big Gus Schiller | |
| Lakeview Terrace | Clarence Darlington | ||
| 2012 | Rhino | Donny "Rhino" Reinhardt | |
| 2013 | A True Story | Skinny Pete | |
| Underdogs | |||
| 2014 | Jersey Boys | Knuckles | |
| The Sublime and Beautiful | |||
| 2015 | Pass The Light | Coach Peters | |
| Bad Ass 3 | Pierre | Titled Bad Asses on the Bayou in some releases | |
| 2016 | Outlaws and Angels | Little Joe | |
| What We've Become | Larry | ||
| 2017 | The Vault | Cyrus | Posthumous release |
2.3. Other Activities
When he was not actively auditioning for movie roles, Keith Loneker contributed to his local community by working as a substitute teacher at Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas.
3. Personal Life
Keith Loneker was a father of two children. He had a son named Keith Jr. and a daughter named Kylee. His son, Keith Jr., followed in his father's footsteps and also played football at the University of Kansas.
4. Death
Keith Loneker died on June 22, 2017, at the age of 46. The cause of his death was cancer. He passed away in Lawrence, Kansas, the city where he also worked as a substitute teacher.
5. Assessment and Legacy
5.1. Overall Assessment
Keith Loneker is remembered for his unique transition from a professional football player to a character actor, a path not commonly taken. His ability to carve out a niche in Hollywood, often portraying physically imposing roles, demonstrated his adaptability and presence. His legacy is also marked by his commitment to his community, exemplified by his work as a substitute teacher.