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 George Harris Kennedy, Jr. was born on February 18, 1925 in New York City, to Helen (Kieselbach), a ballet dancer, and George Harris Kennedy, an orchestra leader and musician. Following high school graduation, Kennedy enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 with the hope to become a fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps. Instead, he wound up in the infantry, served under General George S. Patton and distinguished himself with valor. He won two Bronze Stars and four rows of combat and service ribbons.A World War II veteran, Kennedy at one stage in his career cornered the market at playing tough, no-nonsense characters who were either quite crooked or possessed hearts of gold. Kennedy notched up an impressive 200+ appearances in both television and films, and was well respected within the Hollywood community. He started out on television Westerns in the late 1950s and early 1960s (Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), Maverick (1957), Colt .45 (1957), among others) before scoring minor roles in films including Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965).The late 1960s was a very busy period for Kennedy, and he was strongly in favor with casting agents, appearing in Hurry Sundown (1967), The Dirty Dozen (1967) and scoring an Oscar win as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cool Hand Luke (1967). The disaster film boom of the 1970s was also kind to Kennedy and his talents were in demand for Airport (1970) and the three subsequent sequels, as a grizzled police officer in Earthquake (1974), plus the buddy/road film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) as vicious bank robber Red Leary.The 1980s saw Kennedy appear in a mishmash of roles, playing various characters; however, Kennedy and Leslie Nielsen surprised everyone with their comedic talents in the hugely successful The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), and the two screen veterans exaggerate themselves again, in The Naked Gun 2?: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994). From 1988-1991, he also played Ewing family nemesis Carter McKay on the CBS prime-time soap opera Dallas (1978).Kennedy also played President Warren G. Harding in the miniseries Backstairs at the White House (1979) and had a long standing role on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless (1973). He remained busy in Hollywood and lent his distinctive voice to the animated Cats Don't Dance (1997) and the children's action film Small Soldiers (1998). A Hollywood stalwart for nearly 50 years, he is one of the most enjoyable actors to watch on screen. His last role was in the film The Gambler (2014), as Mark Wahlberg's character's grandfather.George Kennedy died of natural causes in Middleton, Idaho on February 28, 2016, only ten days after his 91st birthday.
Bio:
George Harris Kennedy, Jr. was born on February 18, 1925 in New York City, to Helen (Kieselbach), a ballet dancer, and George Harris Kennedy, an orchestra leader and musician. Following high school graduation, Kennedy enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 with the hope to become a fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps. Instead, he wound up in the infantry, served under General George S. Patton and distinguished himself with valor. He won two Bronze Stars and four rows of combat and service ribbons.A World War II veteran, Kennedy at one stage in his career cornered the market at playing tough, no-nonsense characters who were either quite crooked or possessed hearts of gold. Kennedy notched up an impressive 200+ appearances in both television and films, and was well respected within the Hollywood community. He started out on television Westerns in the late 1950s and early 1960s (Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), Maverick (1957), Colt .45 (1957), among others) before scoring minor roles in films including Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965).The late 1960s was a very busy period for Kennedy, and he was strongly in favor with casting agents, appearing in Hurry Sundown (1967), The Dirty Dozen (1967) and scoring an Oscar win as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cool Hand Luke (1967). The disaster film boom of the 1970s was also kind to Kennedy and his talents were in demand for Airport (1970) and the three subsequent sequels, as a grizzled police officer in Earthquake (1974), plus the buddy/road film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) as vicious bank robber Red Leary.The 1980s saw Kennedy appear in a mishmash of roles, playing various characters; however, Kennedy and Leslie Nielsen surprised everyone with their comedic talents in the hugely successful The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), and the two screen veterans exaggerate themselves again, in The Naked Gun 2?: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994). From 1988-1991, he also played Ewing family nemesis Carter McKay on the CBS prime-time soap opera Dallas (1978).Kennedy also played President Warren G. Harding in the miniseries Backstairs at the White House (1979) and had a long standing role on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless (1973). He remained busy in Hollywood and lent his distinctive voice to the animated Cats Don't Dance (1997) and the children's action film Small Soldiers (1998). A Hollywood stalwart for nearly 50 years, he is one of the most enjoyable actors to watch on screen. His last role was in the film The Gambler (2014), as Mark Wahlberg's character's grandfather.George Kennedy died of natural causes in Middleton, Idaho on February 28, 2016, only ten days after his 91st birthday.
Tivia:
Adopted father, with Joan McCarthy Kennedy, of Shannon Kennedy Sullivan, Shaunna Leah Kennedy, and Taylor Riessen Kennedy. After marrying, Joan, his third wife, he adopted her daughters Shannon & Shaunna. In 1998, George and Joan adopted Shaunna's daughter (their granddaughter), Taylor, after her parents were declared unfit for custody due to drug and alcohol addiction.He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer.He was the only actor to appear in all four of the "Airport" movie series.He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer. As a United States Army officer in World War II, he served under General George S. Patton, and later went on to portray Patton in Brass Target (1978). After World War II, a bizarre medical condition - his left leg was shorter than his right by three inches - left him in traction for two years.Due to his tall, enormously broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as bullies and thugs, and had the distinction of brutalizing stars like Cary Grant, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood on-screen while gaining a reputation off-screen as one of the nicest actors around. By his 60s, he finally got the chance to play friendlier characters, such as lovable Captain Ed Hocken in the "Naked Gun" movies.Kennedy is often mistakenly credited with a bit part in Spartacus (1960). Stuntman Bob Morgan resembles Kennedy closely, and it is he who is seen saying "I'm Spartacus!" in the famous scene. Kennedy had nothing to do with the film.He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 6356 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 3, 1991.Was considered for the role of Lex Luthor in Superman (1978), which went to Gene Hackman.Before his acting career really took off, he served as a military consultant on The Phil Silvers Show (1955).His father was a pianist and a composer/conductor at the Proctor's Theater in Manhattan, and his mother danced with vaudeville's "Le Ballet Classique".Hosted the creation of a driving safety video.Appeared in one film nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Airport (1970).He underwent emergency triple heart bypass surgery in 2002.His maternal grandfather was a German immigrant. His other ancestry included Irish and English.In the early 1970s, Paramount Pictures had plans that were unrealized to remake Double Indemnity (1944) with Kennedy in the Edward G. Robinson role.A former United States Army career soldier, Kennedy played a series of villains in motion pictures. He attacked Cary Grant with a steel claw in Stanley Donen's Charade (1963), pursued Joan Crawford with an ax in Strait-Jacket (1964), attempted to assassinate Gregory Peck in Mirage (1965) and kicked Jeff Bridges to death in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974).Attended and graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York (1943) and John Tarleton Agricultural College (now Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas).Father, with Dorothy Gillooly, of Kevin Kennedy.Adopted father, with Norma Jean Wurman, of Christopher Kennedy & Karianne Kennedy.He died only nine days before his Cool Hand Luke (1967) co-star Richard Davalos. |
| Name: |
George Kennedy |
Type: |
Actor,Additional Crew,Soundtrack (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Actor,Additional Crew,Soundtrack |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Additional Crew,Soundtrack |
| Model rank: |
72 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 04:33:23 |
| Height: |
6' 4' (1.93 m) |
| Biography: |
George Harris Kennedy, Jr. was born on February 18, 1925 in New York City, to Helen (Kieselbach), a ballet dancer, and George Harris Kennedy, an orchestra leader and musician. Following high school graduation, Kennedy enlisted in the United States Ar |
| Trivia: |
Adopted father, with Joan McCarthy Kennedy, of Shannon Kennedy Sullivan, Shaunna Leah Kennedy, and Taylor Riessen Kennedy. After marrying, Joan, his third wife, he adopted her daughters Shannon & Shaunna. In 1998, George and Joan adopted Shaunna's daughter (their granddaughter), Taylor, after her parents were declared unfit for custody due to drug and alcohol addiction.He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer.He was the only actor to appear in all four of the "Airport" movie series.He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer. As a United States Army officer in World War II, he served under General George S. Patton, and later went on to portray Patton in Brass Target (1978). After World War II, a bizarre medical condition - his left leg was shorter than his right by three inches - left him in traction for two years.Due to his tall, enormously broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as bullies and thugs, and had the distinction of brutalizing stars like Cary Grant, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood on-screen while gaining a reputation off-screen as one of the nicest actors around. By his 60s, he finally got the chance to play friendlier characters, such as lovable Captain Ed Hocken in the "Naked Gun" movies.Kennedy is often mistakenly credited with a bit part in Spartacus (1960). Stuntman Bob Morgan resembles Kennedy closely, and it is he who is seen saying "I'm Spartacus!" in the famous scene. Kennedy had nothing to do with the film.He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 6356 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 3, 1991.Was considered for the role of Lex Luthor in Superman (1978), which went to Gene Hackman.Before his acting career really took off, he served as a military consultant on The Phil Silvers Show (1955).His father was a pianist and a composer/conductor at the Proctor's Theater in Manhattan, and his mother danced with vaudeville's "Le Ballet Classique".Hosted the creation of a driving safety video.Appeared in one film nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Airport (1970).He underwent emergency triple heart bypass surgery in 2002.His maternal grandfather was a German immigrant. His other ancestry included Irish and English.In the early 1970s, Paramount Pictures had plans that were unrealized to remake Double Indemnity (1944) with Kennedy in the Edward G. Robinson role.A former United States Army career soldier, Kennedy played a series of villains in motion pictures. He attacked Cary Grant with a steel claw in Stanley Donen's Charade (1963), pursued Joan Crawford with an ax in Strait-Jacket (1964), attempted to assassinate Gregory Peck in Mirage (1965) and kicked Jeff Bridges to death in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974).Attended and graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York (1943) and John Tarleton Agricultural College (now Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas).Father, with Dorothy Gillooly, of Kevin Kennedy.Adopted father, with Norma Jean Wurman, of Christopher Kennedy & Karianne Kennedy.He died only nine days before his Cool Hand Luke (1967) co-star Richard Davalos. |
| Trademarks: |
Frequently played gruff blue-collar characters
Frequently played dependable sidekicks
Deep baritone voice
Towering height and heavy build. |
| Quotes: |
When you think of a movie, most people imagine a two hour finished, polished product. But to get to that two hour product, it can take hundreds or thousands of people many months of full time work.
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Of course, I also attribute some of my hearing loss to being in the infantry in World War II. It's probably a combination of heredity and noise exposure.
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<hr>
My father died when I was 4 years old, so I can't really say anything about his hearing.
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I have been so fortunate and I really am appreciative of the success I've had.
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<hr>
I had the good fortune of speaking with Orson Welles many decades ago and he said "Success is primarily luck anyway." And I have been very lucky. Of course, Orson Welles was enormously talented and brilliant - so who am I to argue with him! |
| Salaries: |
Demonwarp (1988) - 15,000
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<hr>
Wacko (1983) - $87,000
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<hr>
Tick, Tick, Tick (1970) - $250,000 |
| Job title: |
Actor,Additional Crew,Soundtrack |
| Others works: |
(1999) TV commercial: Can Do! Glucosamine
(1996) TV commercial: Breath Assure
(1986) Spoken Word Recording: The Delta Force/Newman Books-On-Cassette(10092), 90 minutes
TV commercial: Midas Mufflers with Lee Van Cleef
(1980) TV commercial: Tums
(1984) |
| Spouse: |
Joan McCarthy (August 24, 1978 - September 14, 2015) (her death, 3 children)Norma Jean Wurman (November 22, 1973 - August 11, 1978) (divorced)Norma Jean Wurman (June 23, 1959 - 1971) (divorced, 2 children)<hr |
| Parents: |
George Harris Kennedy
Helen A. Kieselbach |
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