ethanedwards
February 18th, 2006, 09:57 AM
GEORGE KENNEDY
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
INFORMATION FROM IMDb
Date of birth (location)
18 February 1925
New York, New York, USA
Height
6' 4½" (1.94 m)
Spouse
Joan McCarthy (1978 - ?)
Revel Wurman (1959 - 1978) (divorced) 2 children
? (? - ?) (divorced)
Trade mark
Frequently plays dependable sidekick roles.
Trivia
Has 4 adopted children
He enlisted in the 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 and Joan adopted their granddaughter in 1998, after their daughter was ruled unfit.
One of his first roles in film was that of a slave in Spartacus (1960). When the crowd was asked for Spartacus, he was the last close-up of a slave yelling "I am Spartacus".
In the early 1970s, Paramount had plans that were unrealized to remake Double Indemnity (1944) with Kennedy in the Edward G. Robinson role.
He is the only actor to appear in all four of the "Airport" movie series.
Recently hosted the creation of a driving safety video.
Due to his tall, enormously-broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as huge bullies and during that period he 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 friendler characters, such as his lovable Captain Ed Hocken in "The Naked Gun" films.
As an officer in WW2, he served under General George S. Patton, and later went on to portray Patton in _Brass Target (1979)_
Before his acting career really took off, he served as a military consultant on "Phil Silvers Show, The" (1955)
Where are they now
(October 2003) Currently living in Idaho (since 2002).
Mini biography
WWII veteran, sandy haired, stocky actor who at one stage cornered the market at playing tough no-nonsense characters that were either quite crooked or possessed hearts of gold. Kennedy has notched up an impressive 200+ appearances in both TV & film productions, and is well respected within the Hollywood community. Started out in TV westerns in the late 1950s & early 1960s (Have Gun Will Travel, Rawhide, Maverick, Colt .45 etc ) 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 then 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 kind to Kennedy too, and his talents were in demand for Airport (1970) and the three subsequent sequels, as a grizzled cop in Earthquake (1974), plus the buddy/road film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) as vicious bank robber, Red Leary.
The 80s saw Kennedy appear in a mish mash 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 hammed it up again in, _Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, The (1991)_ , plus Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994).
George Kennedy has remained busy in Hollywood and has lent his distinctive voice to the animated Cats Don't Dance (1997) and the children's action film Small Soldiers (1998). A Hollywod stalwart for nearly 50 years, he is one of the most enjoyable actors to watch on screen.
IMDb mini-biography by
firehouse44
Biography
from Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia:
As the no-nonsense, cigar-chomping troubleshooter Joe Patrone in Airport (1970) and its three sequels, this beefy, fair-haired supporting actor chewed scenery as well as stogies and stole most of the scenes he was in. The role wasn't much of a stretch for Kennedy-he'd made a career of playing loutish heavies and sympathetic "big lug" characters-but it solidified his following and won him flashier roles. The son of show-biz parents, Kennedy first appeared on stage at age two and later moved into radio. After a 16-year stint in the Army, he decided on acting as a full-time career. Debuting on film in The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come in 1961, he worked steadily thereafter in the likes of Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Man from the Diner's Club, Charade (both 1963), Strait-Jacket, McHale's Navy (both 1964), In Harm's Way (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and Cool Hand Luke (also 1967), in which he played the prisoner Dragline (earning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in the bargain). In the 1970s he appeared in Earthquake (1974), The Eiger Sanction (1975), and Death on the Nile (1978), to name a few, and hit the airwaves as star of "Sarge" (1971-72) and "The Blue Knight" (1976). During the 1980s Kennedy continued to appear regularly onscreen, but in less memorable movies, of which Bolero (1984), Radioactive Dreams (1986), and Nightmare at Noon (1988) are, sadly, all too representative. He gently spoofed his own straightforward screen image as Leslie Nielsen's police squad colleague in the comedy hits The Naked Gun (1988), The Naked Gun 2: The Smell of Fear (1991), and The Naked Gun 33: The Final Insult(1994).
OTHER FILMS INCLUDE: 1965: EB>. Hush, Sweet Charlotte, The Sons of Katie Elder 1966: The Flight of the Phoenix 1968: The Boston Strangler 1969: Gaily, Gaily 1973: Lost Horizon 1974: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1981: Modern Romance (a very funny cameo as himself); 1986: The Delta Force
Copyright © 1994 Leonard Maltin, used by arrangement with Signet, a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc.
Actor - filmography
1. Don't Come Knocking (2005) .... Director
2. Truce (2005) .... Dr. Peter Gannon
3. "The Complete History of U.S. Wars 1700-2004" (2005) TV Series .... Host
4. Three Bad Men (2005) .... Ed Fiske
5. The Devil's Due at Midnight (2004) (V) .... Professor Zebediah Jones
6. "The Young and the Restless" (1973) TV Series .... Albert Miller (2003)
... aka Y&R (USA: promotional abbreviation)
7. View from the Top (2003) (uncredited) .... Passenger Requesting Vodka
8. Monster Makers (2003) (TV) .... Dexter Brisbane
9. Men in White (1998) (TV) .... General Vice
... aka National Lampoon's Men in White (USA)
10. Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! (1998) (V) .... Grandpa
11. Small Soldiers (1998) (voice) .... Brick Bazooka
12. Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998) (TV) .... Carter McKay
13. "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters"
- Oh, Can I Go Now?! (1997) TV Episode (voice) .... Bones Duvalier
14. Cats Don't Dance (1997) (voice) .... L.B. Mammoth
15. Bayou Ghost (1997) .... Officer Lowe
16. "Santo Bugito" (1995) TV Series (voice) .... Ralph (1996)
17. "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest"
... aka Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures
- DNA Doomsday (1996) TV Episode (voice) .... General Axton
18. Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996) (TV) .... Carter McKay
19. "Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man"
- In the Nam of the Father (1995) TV Episode (voice) .... Movie Director
20. "The Commish"
- The Golden Years (1995) TV Episode .... Alan Scali
21. "Lonesome Dove: The Series"
- Judgement Day (????) TV Episode .... Judge J.T. 'Rope' Calder
22. Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) .... Captain Ed Hocken
23. Magic Kid (1994) .... Surfer #3
... aka Ninja Dragon
24. River of Stone (1994)
25. Distant Justice (1992) .... Tom Bradfield
26. Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story (1992) (TV) .... Father Dave
27. Hired to Kill (1992) .... Thomas
28. Intensive Care (1991) .... Dr. Bruckner
29. The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) .... Captain Ed Hocken
... aka The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (Canada: English title)
30. Hangfire (1991) .... Warden
31. Driving Me Crazy (1991/I) .... McCready
... aka Trabbi Goes to Hollywood
32. "Dallas" .... Carter McKay (1988-1991)
- Conundrum: Part 2 (1991) TV Episode .... Carter McKay
33. Good Cops, Bad Cops (1990) (TV) .... Kirkland
... aka The Cops Are Robbers
34. Mayumi (1990)
... aka Mayumi: Virgin Terrorist (International: English title)
35. Brain Dead (1990) .... Vance
... aka Paranoia (USA)
36. Ministry of Vengeance (1989) .... Rev. Hughes
... aka Helden USA 4
37. The Terror Within (1989) .... Hal
38. Bahía esmeralda, La (1989) .... Wilson
... aka Esmeralda Bay (USA)
39. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) .... Capt. Ed Hocken
... aka The Naked Gun
40. Demonwarp (1988) .... Bill Crafton
41. Nightmare at Noon (1988) .... Sheriff Hanks
42. Uninvited (1988) .... Mike Harvey
43. Born to Race (1988) .... Vincent Duplain
44. What Price Victory (1988) (TV) .... Big Buck Brayton
45. Top Line (1988) .... Heinrich Holzmann
... aka Alien Terminator (UK: video title)
46. The Gunfighters (1987) (TV) .... Deke Turner
47. Creepshow 2 (1987) .... Ray Spruce (segment "Old Chief Wood'nhead")
48. Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues (1987) (TV) .... Gen. Nelson Miles
... aka The Gambler III: The Legend Continues
49. Private Road: No Trespassing (1987) (V) .... Sam Milshaw
50. Escuadrón (1987) .... Vince Colby
... aka Counterforce (USA)
... aka Escuadrón: Counterforce (Spain)
51. Liberty (1986) (TV) .... Seamus Reilly
52. Rigged (1986)
... aka Hit and Run
53. The Delta Force (1986) .... Father O'Malley
... aka Mahatz Ha-Delta (Israel: Hebrew title)
54. Savage Dawn (1985) .... Tick Rand
55. Radioactive Dreams (1985) .... Spade Chandler
56. International Airport (1985/I) (TV) .... Rudy Van Leuven
57. Half Nelson (1985) (TV)
58. "The Love Boat"
- Vicki and the Fugitive/Lady in the Window/Stolen Years/Dutch Treat: Part 1 (1984) TV Episode .... Erik Larsen
- Vicki and the Fugitive/Lady in the Window/Stolen Years/Dutch Treat: Part 2 (1984) TV Episode .... Erik Larsen
59. Bolero (1984) .... Cotton
... aka Bolero: An Adventure in Ecstasy
60. The Jesse Owens Story (1984) (TV) .... Charles 'Charley' Riley
61. A Rare Breed (1984) .... Nathan Hill
62. Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984) .... Bert
63. "Fantasy Island"
- God Child/Curtain Call (1983) TV Episode .... Adam Cobb
64. Wacko (1983) .... Mr. Doctor Graves
65. Just Before Dawn (1981) .... Roy McLean
66. "Saturday Night Live"
... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: original title)
... aka SNL
... aka SNL 25 (USA: new title)
... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: new title)
- Episode #7.3 (1981) TV Episode .... Host
67. The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (1981) (TV) .... Brakus
... aka Fugitive from the Empire
... aka The Archer and the Sorceress
68. Hotwire (1980) .... Farley & Harley Fontenot
69. Fukkatsu no hi (1980) .... Admiral Conway
... aka Day of Resurrection (USA)
... aka The End (USA: video title)
... aka Virus (USA)
70. Death Ship (1980) .... Ashland
71. Steel (1979) .... Big Lew Cassidy
... aka Look Down and Die
... aka Men of Steel
72. The Concorde: Airport '79 (1979) .... Capt. Joe Patroni
... aka Airport '79 (USA: short title)
... aka Airport '80: The Concorde
... aka S.O.S. Concorde
... aka The Concorde (USA: short title)
73. Never Say Never (1979) (TV) .... Harry Walter
74. The Double McGuffin (1979) .... Chief Talasek
75. "Backstairs at the White House" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... President Warren G. Harding
76. Search and Destroy (1979) .... Anthony Fusqua
... aka Striking Back
77. Brass Target (1978) .... Gen. George S. Patton
78. Death on the Nile (1978) .... Andrew Pennington
... aka Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile (UK)
79. Mean Dog Blues (1978) .... Captain Omar Kinsman
80. Ningen no shômei (1977) .... Ken Shuftan
... aka Proof of the Man
81. Airport '77 (1977) .... Joe Patroni
82. "The Blue Knight" (1975) TV Series .... Bumper Morgan (1975-76)
83. The Human Factor (1975) .... John Kinsdale
... aka Giustiziere, Il (Italy)
84. The Eiger Sanction (1975) .... Ben Bowman
85. The Blue Knight (1975) (TV) .... William A. 'Bumper' Morgan
86. Earthquake (1974) .... Sgt. Lew Slade
87. Airport 1975 (1974) .... Joe Patroni
88. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) .... Red Leary
89. A Cry in the Wilderness (1974) (TV) .... Sam Hadley
90. Sonic Boom (1974)
91. Deliver Us from Evil (1973/I) (TV) .... Walter 'Cowboy' McAdams
92. Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) .... Abe Fraser
... aka Cahill (UK)
... aka Wednesday Morning
93. Lost Horizon (1973) .... Sam Cornelius
94. A Great American Tragedy (1972) (TV) .... Brad Wilkes
95. "Sarge" (1971) TV Series .... Father Samuel Cavanaugh (Sarge)
96. The Priest Killer (1971) (TV) .... Sarge Swanson
97. Fools' Parade (1971) .... 'Doc' Council
... aka Dynamite Man from Glory Jail (UK)
98. Sarge (1971) (TV) .... Sarge Swanson
... aka Sarge: The Badge or the Cross (USA)
... aka The Badge or the Cross
99. The Bull of the West (1971) (TV) .... 'Bear' Suchette
... aka Hot Lead
... aka Vengeance Is the Spur (USA)
100. Zigzag (1970) .... Paul R. Cameron
... aka False Witness (UK)
... aka Zig Zag
... aka Zig-Zag
101. Dirty Dingus Magee (1970) .... Herkimer 'Hoke' Birdsill
102. Airport (1970) .... Joe Patroni
103. ...tick...tick...tick... (1970) .... John Little
104. The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969) .... Big John McKay
105. Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) .... Chris Adams
106. Gaily, Gaily (1969) .... Axel P. Johanson
... aka Chicago, Chicago (UK)
107. The Boston Strangler (1968) .... Det. Phil DiNatale
108. The Pink Jungle (1968) .... Sammy Ryderbeit
109. The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) (uncredited) .... Matt Burke
110. Bandolero! (1968) .... Sheriff Johnson
111. Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Dragline
112. "Tarzan"
- Thief Catcher (1967) TV Episode .... Crandell
113. The Dirty Dozen (1967) .... Maj. Max Armbruster
114. Hurry Sundown (1967) .... Sheriff Coombs
115. The Ballad of Josie (1967) .... Arch Ogden
116. "The Virginian"
... aka The Men from Shiloh (new title)
- Trail to Ashley Mountain (1966) TV Episode .... Huck Harkness
- Nobility of Kings (1965) TV Episode .... Tom 'Bear' Suchette
- A Gallows for Sam Horn (1964) TV Episode .... Jack Marshman
117. "Dr. Kildare"
- Strange Sort of Accident (1966) TV Episode .... Sgt Hensley
- Mercy or Murder (1966) TV Episode .... Sgt Hensley
- To Each His Own Prison (1963) TV Episode .... Joe Cramer
118. "Gunsmoke"
... aka Gun Law (UK)
... aka Marshal Dillon (USA: rerun title)
- Harvest (1966) TV Episode .... Ben Payson
- Crooked Mile (1964) TV Episode .... Cyrus Degler
- The Warden (1964) TV Episode .... Stark
- The Boys (1962) TV Episode .... Hug Eliot
- Big Man (1961) TV Episode .... Pat Swarner
(2 more)
119. "The Big Valley"
- Barbary Red (1966) TV Episode .... Jack Thatcher
120. "The Legend of Jesse James"
- Return to Lawrence (1966) TV Episode .... Blodgett
121. "Laredo"
- Pride of the Rangers (1965) TV Episode .... Jess Moran
122. The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) .... Mike Bellamy
123. "A Man Called Shenandoah"
- A Special Talent for Killing (1965) TV Episode .... Mitchell Canady
124. "Daniel Boone"
- A Rope for Mingo (1965) TV Episode .... Zach Morgan
125. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) .... Curley
126. Shenandoah (1965) .... Col. Fairchild
127. Mirage (1965) .... Willard
128. In Harm's Way (1965) .... Colonel Gregory
129. Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) .... Foreman
... aka What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?
130. "The Rogues"
- The Computer Goes West (1964) TV Episode .... Major Vyx
131. "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour"
- Misadventure (1964) TV Episode .... Henry
132. "Bonanza"
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
- The Scapegoat (1964) TV Episode .... Waldo Watson
- The Infernal Machine (1961) TV Episode .... Peter Long
133. See How They Run (1964) (TV) .... Rudy
134. Island of the Blue Dolphins (1964) .... Aleut Captain
135. McHale's Navy (1964) .... Henri Le Clerc
136. "McHale's Navy"
- The Return of Big Frenchy (1964) TV Episode .... Big Frenchy
- French Leave for McHale (1963) TV Episode .... Big Frenchy
137. "The Great Adventure"
- Rodger Young (1964) TV Episode .... Sergeant Mulduney
138. Strait-Jacket (1964) .... Leo Krause
139. "The Farmer's Daughter"
- The Simple Life (1963) TV Episode
140. Charade (1963) .... Herman Scobie
141. "The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters"
- The Day of the Long Night (1963) TV Episode .... Angus
142. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"
... aka The Chrysler Theater
... aka Universal Star Time (syndication title)
- One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1963) TV Episode .... Der
143. "Grindl"
- Grindl and the Counterfeiters (1963) TV Episode .... Lefty
144. "The Andy Griffith Show"
... aka Andy of Mayberry (USA: rerun title)
- The Big House (1963) TV Episode .... State Police Detective
145. "Perry Mason"
- The Case of the Greek Goddess (1963) TV Episode .... George Spangler
146. The Man from the Diner's Club (1963) .... George
147. "Alcoa Premiere"
- The Broken Year (1963) TV Episode .... Lincoln
- Ordeal in Darkness (1962) TV Episode .... Jake
148. "Have Gun - Will Travel"
- The Eve of St. Elmo (1963) TV Episode .... Brother Grace
- Don't Shoot the Piano Player (1962) TV Episode .... Big Jim
- A Proof of Love (1961) TV Episode .... Rud Saxon
- The Vigil (1961) TV Episode .... Deke
- The Road (1961) TV Episode
(2 more)
149. "77 Sunset Strip"
- The Night Was Six Years Long (1963) TV Episode .... Armstrong
150. Lonely Are the Brave (1962) .... Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez
151. "Thriller"
... aka Boris Karloff's Thriller
- The Innocent Bystanders (1962) TV Episode .... John Paterson
152. "Outlaws"
- Farewell Performance (1962) TV Episode .... Duke Jones
153. "The Tall Man"
- Three for All (1962) TV Episode .... Hyram
- Trial by Hanging (1961) TV Episode .... Jake Newton
154. "Tales of Wells Fargo"
- Assignment in Gloribee (1962) TV Episode .... Hawk
155. "Death Valley Days"
... aka Call of the West (USA: syndication title)
... aka The Pioneers (USA: syndication title)
... aka Trails West (USA: syndication title)
... aka Western Star Theater (USA: syndication title)
- Miracle at Whiskey Gulch (1962) TV Episode .... Steamboat Sully
156. "Rawhide"
- The Peddler (1962) TV Episode .... George Wales
157. The Silent Witness (1962) .... Gus Jordan
158. The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (1961) .... Nathan Dillon
159. "The Untouchables"
- The King of Champagne (1961) TV Episode .... Birdie
160. "Bat Masterson"
- The Fourth Man (1961) TV Episode .... Zeke Armitage
161. "The Asphalt Jungle"
- The Friendly Gesture (1961) TV Episode
- The Burglary Ring (1961) TV Episode .... Detective Kolb
162. "The Case of the Dangerous Robin"
- Jungle Quest (1961) TV Episode
163. "Klondike"
- Swing Your Partner (1961) TV Episode .... Ira Shallop
164. "Surfside 6"
- Heels over Head (1961) TV Episode .... Gabe Buchanan
165. Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon (1961) (TV) .... Hawk
166. "Riverboat"
- River Champion (1960) TV Episode .... Gunner Slagle
167. "Maverick"
- Hadley's Hunters (1960) TV Episode .... Deputy Jones
168. "Peter Gunn"
- The Crossbow (1960) TV Episode .... Karl
169. "Laramie"
- Duel at Alta Mesa (1960) TV Episode
170. "Shotgun Slade"
- The Spanish Box (1960) TV Episode .... Tex
171. "Cheyenne"
- Prisoner of Moon Mesa (1959) TV Episode
172. "Colt .45"
- The Rival Gun (1959) TV Episode .... Hank
173. "The Phil Silvers Show" (1955) TV Series .... MP
... aka Sergeant Bilko (syndication title)
... aka The Phil Silvers Show: You'll Never Get Rich
... aka You'll Never Get Rich (first few episodes title)
Himself - filmography
1. Cary Grant: A Class Apart (2004) (TV) .... Himself/interviewee
2. The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV) .... Himself - Past winner
3. 75 Years of the Academy Awards: An Unofficial History (2003) (TV) .... Himself/interveiwee
4. "The Hollywood Greats"
... aka Hollywood Greats (USA: new title)
- Tony Curtis (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
5. Holy War, Un-Holy Victory (2001) (TV) .... Himself (Host)
6. The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself - Past Winner
7. "Wings"
- What About Larry? (1996) TV Episode .... Himself
8. Summerslam (1994) (V) .... Himself
9. This Is Your Life (1987) (TV) .... Himself
10. The Jupiter Menace (1984) .... Main Narrator
11. "Counterattack: Crime in America" (1982) TV Series .... Host
12. Modern Romance (1981) .... Himself and Zeron
13. Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette (1978) (TV) .... Himself/Andrew Pennington
14. "Match Game 73"
... aka Match Game (USA: syndication title)
... aka Match Game 74 (USA: second season title)
... aka Match Game 75 (USA: third season title)
... aka Match Game 76 (USA: fourth season title)
... aka Match Game 77 (USA: fifth season title)
... aka Match Game 78 (USA: sixth season title)
... aka Match Game 79 (USA: seventh season title)
- Episode dated 20 September 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 1 December 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself
15. "Match Game PM" (1975) TV Series .... Panelist
16. The Lion Roars Again (1975) (uncredited) .... Himself
17. "The Dean Martin Show"
... aka The Dean Martin Comedy Hour (new title)
- Celebrity Roast: Wilt Chamberlain (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
18. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
... aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
- Episode dated 8 October 1973 (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 9 February 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
19. The 40th Annual Academy Awards (1968) (TV) .... Himself - Best Supporting Actor Winner
Archive Footage
1. The Making of 'Midway' (2001) (V) .... Lew Slade (scene from "Earthquake")
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
INFORMATION FROM IMDb
Date of birth (location)
18 February 1925
New York, New York, USA
Height
6' 4½" (1.94 m)
Spouse
Joan McCarthy (1978 - ?)
Revel Wurman (1959 - 1978) (divorced) 2 children
? (? - ?) (divorced)
Trade mark
Frequently plays dependable sidekick roles.
Trivia
Has 4 adopted children
He enlisted in the 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 and Joan adopted their granddaughter in 1998, after their daughter was ruled unfit.
One of his first roles in film was that of a slave in Spartacus (1960). When the crowd was asked for Spartacus, he was the last close-up of a slave yelling "I am Spartacus".
In the early 1970s, Paramount had plans that were unrealized to remake Double Indemnity (1944) with Kennedy in the Edward G. Robinson role.
He is the only actor to appear in all four of the "Airport" movie series.
Recently hosted the creation of a driving safety video.
Due to his tall, enormously-broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as huge bullies and during that period he 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 friendler characters, such as his lovable Captain Ed Hocken in "The Naked Gun" films.
As an officer in WW2, he served under General George S. Patton, and later went on to portray Patton in _Brass Target (1979)_
Before his acting career really took off, he served as a military consultant on "Phil Silvers Show, The" (1955)
Where are they now
(October 2003) Currently living in Idaho (since 2002).
Mini biography
WWII veteran, sandy haired, stocky actor who at one stage cornered the market at playing tough no-nonsense characters that were either quite crooked or possessed hearts of gold. Kennedy has notched up an impressive 200+ appearances in both TV & film productions, and is well respected within the Hollywood community. Started out in TV westerns in the late 1950s & early 1960s (Have Gun Will Travel, Rawhide, Maverick, Colt .45 etc ) 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 then 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 kind to Kennedy too, and his talents were in demand for Airport (1970) and the three subsequent sequels, as a grizzled cop in Earthquake (1974), plus the buddy/road film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) as vicious bank robber, Red Leary.
The 80s saw Kennedy appear in a mish mash 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 hammed it up again in, _Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, The (1991)_ , plus Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994).
George Kennedy has remained busy in Hollywood and has lent his distinctive voice to the animated Cats Don't Dance (1997) and the children's action film Small Soldiers (1998). A Hollywod stalwart for nearly 50 years, he is one of the most enjoyable actors to watch on screen.
IMDb mini-biography by
firehouse44
Biography
from Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia:
As the no-nonsense, cigar-chomping troubleshooter Joe Patrone in Airport (1970) and its three sequels, this beefy, fair-haired supporting actor chewed scenery as well as stogies and stole most of the scenes he was in. The role wasn't much of a stretch for Kennedy-he'd made a career of playing loutish heavies and sympathetic "big lug" characters-but it solidified his following and won him flashier roles. The son of show-biz parents, Kennedy first appeared on stage at age two and later moved into radio. After a 16-year stint in the Army, he decided on acting as a full-time career. Debuting on film in The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come in 1961, he worked steadily thereafter in the likes of Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Man from the Diner's Club, Charade (both 1963), Strait-Jacket, McHale's Navy (both 1964), In Harm's Way (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and Cool Hand Luke (also 1967), in which he played the prisoner Dragline (earning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in the bargain). In the 1970s he appeared in Earthquake (1974), The Eiger Sanction (1975), and Death on the Nile (1978), to name a few, and hit the airwaves as star of "Sarge" (1971-72) and "The Blue Knight" (1976). During the 1980s Kennedy continued to appear regularly onscreen, but in less memorable movies, of which Bolero (1984), Radioactive Dreams (1986), and Nightmare at Noon (1988) are, sadly, all too representative. He gently spoofed his own straightforward screen image as Leslie Nielsen's police squad colleague in the comedy hits The Naked Gun (1988), The Naked Gun 2: The Smell of Fear (1991), and The Naked Gun 33: The Final Insult(1994).
OTHER FILMS INCLUDE: 1965: EB>. Hush, Sweet Charlotte, The Sons of Katie Elder 1966: The Flight of the Phoenix 1968: The Boston Strangler 1969: Gaily, Gaily 1973: Lost Horizon 1974: Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 1981: Modern Romance (a very funny cameo as himself); 1986: The Delta Force
Copyright © 1994 Leonard Maltin, used by arrangement with Signet, a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc.
Actor - filmography
1. Don't Come Knocking (2005) .... Director
2. Truce (2005) .... Dr. Peter Gannon
3. "The Complete History of U.S. Wars 1700-2004" (2005) TV Series .... Host
4. Three Bad Men (2005) .... Ed Fiske
5. The Devil's Due at Midnight (2004) (V) .... Professor Zebediah Jones
6. "The Young and the Restless" (1973) TV Series .... Albert Miller (2003)
... aka Y&R (USA: promotional abbreviation)
7. View from the Top (2003) (uncredited) .... Passenger Requesting Vodka
8. Monster Makers (2003) (TV) .... Dexter Brisbane
9. Men in White (1998) (TV) .... General Vice
... aka National Lampoon's Men in White (USA)
10. Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! (1998) (V) .... Grandpa
11. Small Soldiers (1998) (voice) .... Brick Bazooka
12. Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998) (TV) .... Carter McKay
13. "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters"
- Oh, Can I Go Now?! (1997) TV Episode (voice) .... Bones Duvalier
14. Cats Don't Dance (1997) (voice) .... L.B. Mammoth
15. Bayou Ghost (1997) .... Officer Lowe
16. "Santo Bugito" (1995) TV Series (voice) .... Ralph (1996)
17. "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest"
... aka Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures
- DNA Doomsday (1996) TV Episode (voice) .... General Axton
18. Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996) (TV) .... Carter McKay
19. "Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man"
- In the Nam of the Father (1995) TV Episode (voice) .... Movie Director
20. "The Commish"
- The Golden Years (1995) TV Episode .... Alan Scali
21. "Lonesome Dove: The Series"
- Judgement Day (????) TV Episode .... Judge J.T. 'Rope' Calder
22. Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) .... Captain Ed Hocken
23. Magic Kid (1994) .... Surfer #3
... aka Ninja Dragon
24. River of Stone (1994)
25. Distant Justice (1992) .... Tom Bradfield
26. Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story (1992) (TV) .... Father Dave
27. Hired to Kill (1992) .... Thomas
28. Intensive Care (1991) .... Dr. Bruckner
29. The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) .... Captain Ed Hocken
... aka The Naked Gun 2 1/2 (Canada: English title)
30. Hangfire (1991) .... Warden
31. Driving Me Crazy (1991/I) .... McCready
... aka Trabbi Goes to Hollywood
32. "Dallas" .... Carter McKay (1988-1991)
- Conundrum: Part 2 (1991) TV Episode .... Carter McKay
33. Good Cops, Bad Cops (1990) (TV) .... Kirkland
... aka The Cops Are Robbers
34. Mayumi (1990)
... aka Mayumi: Virgin Terrorist (International: English title)
35. Brain Dead (1990) .... Vance
... aka Paranoia (USA)
36. Ministry of Vengeance (1989) .... Rev. Hughes
... aka Helden USA 4
37. The Terror Within (1989) .... Hal
38. Bahía esmeralda, La (1989) .... Wilson
... aka Esmeralda Bay (USA)
39. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) .... Capt. Ed Hocken
... aka The Naked Gun
40. Demonwarp (1988) .... Bill Crafton
41. Nightmare at Noon (1988) .... Sheriff Hanks
42. Uninvited (1988) .... Mike Harvey
43. Born to Race (1988) .... Vincent Duplain
44. What Price Victory (1988) (TV) .... Big Buck Brayton
45. Top Line (1988) .... Heinrich Holzmann
... aka Alien Terminator (UK: video title)
46. The Gunfighters (1987) (TV) .... Deke Turner
47. Creepshow 2 (1987) .... Ray Spruce (segment "Old Chief Wood'nhead")
48. Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues (1987) (TV) .... Gen. Nelson Miles
... aka The Gambler III: The Legend Continues
49. Private Road: No Trespassing (1987) (V) .... Sam Milshaw
50. Escuadrón (1987) .... Vince Colby
... aka Counterforce (USA)
... aka Escuadrón: Counterforce (Spain)
51. Liberty (1986) (TV) .... Seamus Reilly
52. Rigged (1986)
... aka Hit and Run
53. The Delta Force (1986) .... Father O'Malley
... aka Mahatz Ha-Delta (Israel: Hebrew title)
54. Savage Dawn (1985) .... Tick Rand
55. Radioactive Dreams (1985) .... Spade Chandler
56. International Airport (1985/I) (TV) .... Rudy Van Leuven
57. Half Nelson (1985) (TV)
58. "The Love Boat"
- Vicki and the Fugitive/Lady in the Window/Stolen Years/Dutch Treat: Part 1 (1984) TV Episode .... Erik Larsen
- Vicki and the Fugitive/Lady in the Window/Stolen Years/Dutch Treat: Part 2 (1984) TV Episode .... Erik Larsen
59. Bolero (1984) .... Cotton
... aka Bolero: An Adventure in Ecstasy
60. The Jesse Owens Story (1984) (TV) .... Charles 'Charley' Riley
61. A Rare Breed (1984) .... Nathan Hill
62. Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984) .... Bert
63. "Fantasy Island"
- God Child/Curtain Call (1983) TV Episode .... Adam Cobb
64. Wacko (1983) .... Mr. Doctor Graves
65. Just Before Dawn (1981) .... Roy McLean
66. "Saturday Night Live"
... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: original title)
... aka SNL
... aka SNL 25 (USA: new title)
... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: new title)
- Episode #7.3 (1981) TV Episode .... Host
67. The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (1981) (TV) .... Brakus
... aka Fugitive from the Empire
... aka The Archer and the Sorceress
68. Hotwire (1980) .... Farley & Harley Fontenot
69. Fukkatsu no hi (1980) .... Admiral Conway
... aka Day of Resurrection (USA)
... aka The End (USA: video title)
... aka Virus (USA)
70. Death Ship (1980) .... Ashland
71. Steel (1979) .... Big Lew Cassidy
... aka Look Down and Die
... aka Men of Steel
72. The Concorde: Airport '79 (1979) .... Capt. Joe Patroni
... aka Airport '79 (USA: short title)
... aka Airport '80: The Concorde
... aka S.O.S. Concorde
... aka The Concorde (USA: short title)
73. Never Say Never (1979) (TV) .... Harry Walter
74. The Double McGuffin (1979) .... Chief Talasek
75. "Backstairs at the White House" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... President Warren G. Harding
76. Search and Destroy (1979) .... Anthony Fusqua
... aka Striking Back
77. Brass Target (1978) .... Gen. George S. Patton
78. Death on the Nile (1978) .... Andrew Pennington
... aka Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile (UK)
79. Mean Dog Blues (1978) .... Captain Omar Kinsman
80. Ningen no shômei (1977) .... Ken Shuftan
... aka Proof of the Man
81. Airport '77 (1977) .... Joe Patroni
82. "The Blue Knight" (1975) TV Series .... Bumper Morgan (1975-76)
83. The Human Factor (1975) .... John Kinsdale
... aka Giustiziere, Il (Italy)
84. The Eiger Sanction (1975) .... Ben Bowman
85. The Blue Knight (1975) (TV) .... William A. 'Bumper' Morgan
86. Earthquake (1974) .... Sgt. Lew Slade
87. Airport 1975 (1974) .... Joe Patroni
88. Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) .... Red Leary
89. A Cry in the Wilderness (1974) (TV) .... Sam Hadley
90. Sonic Boom (1974)
91. Deliver Us from Evil (1973/I) (TV) .... Walter 'Cowboy' McAdams
92. Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973) .... Abe Fraser
... aka Cahill (UK)
... aka Wednesday Morning
93. Lost Horizon (1973) .... Sam Cornelius
94. A Great American Tragedy (1972) (TV) .... Brad Wilkes
95. "Sarge" (1971) TV Series .... Father Samuel Cavanaugh (Sarge)
96. The Priest Killer (1971) (TV) .... Sarge Swanson
97. Fools' Parade (1971) .... 'Doc' Council
... aka Dynamite Man from Glory Jail (UK)
98. Sarge (1971) (TV) .... Sarge Swanson
... aka Sarge: The Badge or the Cross (USA)
... aka The Badge or the Cross
99. The Bull of the West (1971) (TV) .... 'Bear' Suchette
... aka Hot Lead
... aka Vengeance Is the Spur (USA)
100. Zigzag (1970) .... Paul R. Cameron
... aka False Witness (UK)
... aka Zig Zag
... aka Zig-Zag
101. Dirty Dingus Magee (1970) .... Herkimer 'Hoke' Birdsill
102. Airport (1970) .... Joe Patroni
103. ...tick...tick...tick... (1970) .... John Little
104. The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969) .... Big John McKay
105. Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) .... Chris Adams
106. Gaily, Gaily (1969) .... Axel P. Johanson
... aka Chicago, Chicago (UK)
107. The Boston Strangler (1968) .... Det. Phil DiNatale
108. The Pink Jungle (1968) .... Sammy Ryderbeit
109. The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) (uncredited) .... Matt Burke
110. Bandolero! (1968) .... Sheriff Johnson
111. Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Dragline
112. "Tarzan"
- Thief Catcher (1967) TV Episode .... Crandell
113. The Dirty Dozen (1967) .... Maj. Max Armbruster
114. Hurry Sundown (1967) .... Sheriff Coombs
115. The Ballad of Josie (1967) .... Arch Ogden
116. "The Virginian"
... aka The Men from Shiloh (new title)
- Trail to Ashley Mountain (1966) TV Episode .... Huck Harkness
- Nobility of Kings (1965) TV Episode .... Tom 'Bear' Suchette
- A Gallows for Sam Horn (1964) TV Episode .... Jack Marshman
117. "Dr. Kildare"
- Strange Sort of Accident (1966) TV Episode .... Sgt Hensley
- Mercy or Murder (1966) TV Episode .... Sgt Hensley
- To Each His Own Prison (1963) TV Episode .... Joe Cramer
118. "Gunsmoke"
... aka Gun Law (UK)
... aka Marshal Dillon (USA: rerun title)
- Harvest (1966) TV Episode .... Ben Payson
- Crooked Mile (1964) TV Episode .... Cyrus Degler
- The Warden (1964) TV Episode .... Stark
- The Boys (1962) TV Episode .... Hug Eliot
- Big Man (1961) TV Episode .... Pat Swarner
(2 more)
119. "The Big Valley"
- Barbary Red (1966) TV Episode .... Jack Thatcher
120. "The Legend of Jesse James"
- Return to Lawrence (1966) TV Episode .... Blodgett
121. "Laredo"
- Pride of the Rangers (1965) TV Episode .... Jess Moran
122. The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) .... Mike Bellamy
123. "A Man Called Shenandoah"
- A Special Talent for Killing (1965) TV Episode .... Mitchell Canady
124. "Daniel Boone"
- A Rope for Mingo (1965) TV Episode .... Zach Morgan
125. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) .... Curley
126. Shenandoah (1965) .... Col. Fairchild
127. Mirage (1965) .... Willard
128. In Harm's Way (1965) .... Colonel Gregory
129. Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) .... Foreman
... aka What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?
130. "The Rogues"
- The Computer Goes West (1964) TV Episode .... Major Vyx
131. "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour"
- Misadventure (1964) TV Episode .... Henry
132. "Bonanza"
... aka Ponderosa (USA: rerun title)
- The Scapegoat (1964) TV Episode .... Waldo Watson
- The Infernal Machine (1961) TV Episode .... Peter Long
133. See How They Run (1964) (TV) .... Rudy
134. Island of the Blue Dolphins (1964) .... Aleut Captain
135. McHale's Navy (1964) .... Henri Le Clerc
136. "McHale's Navy"
- The Return of Big Frenchy (1964) TV Episode .... Big Frenchy
- French Leave for McHale (1963) TV Episode .... Big Frenchy
137. "The Great Adventure"
- Rodger Young (1964) TV Episode .... Sergeant Mulduney
138. Strait-Jacket (1964) .... Leo Krause
139. "The Farmer's Daughter"
- The Simple Life (1963) TV Episode
140. Charade (1963) .... Herman Scobie
141. "The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters"
- The Day of the Long Night (1963) TV Episode .... Angus
142. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre"
... aka The Chrysler Theater
... aka Universal Star Time (syndication title)
- One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (1963) TV Episode .... Der
143. "Grindl"
- Grindl and the Counterfeiters (1963) TV Episode .... Lefty
144. "The Andy Griffith Show"
... aka Andy of Mayberry (USA: rerun title)
- The Big House (1963) TV Episode .... State Police Detective
145. "Perry Mason"
- The Case of the Greek Goddess (1963) TV Episode .... George Spangler
146. The Man from the Diner's Club (1963) .... George
147. "Alcoa Premiere"
- The Broken Year (1963) TV Episode .... Lincoln
- Ordeal in Darkness (1962) TV Episode .... Jake
148. "Have Gun - Will Travel"
- The Eve of St. Elmo (1963) TV Episode .... Brother Grace
- Don't Shoot the Piano Player (1962) TV Episode .... Big Jim
- A Proof of Love (1961) TV Episode .... Rud Saxon
- The Vigil (1961) TV Episode .... Deke
- The Road (1961) TV Episode
(2 more)
149. "77 Sunset Strip"
- The Night Was Six Years Long (1963) TV Episode .... Armstrong
150. Lonely Are the Brave (1962) .... Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez
151. "Thriller"
... aka Boris Karloff's Thriller
- The Innocent Bystanders (1962) TV Episode .... John Paterson
152. "Outlaws"
- Farewell Performance (1962) TV Episode .... Duke Jones
153. "The Tall Man"
- Three for All (1962) TV Episode .... Hyram
- Trial by Hanging (1961) TV Episode .... Jake Newton
154. "Tales of Wells Fargo"
- Assignment in Gloribee (1962) TV Episode .... Hawk
155. "Death Valley Days"
... aka Call of the West (USA: syndication title)
... aka The Pioneers (USA: syndication title)
... aka Trails West (USA: syndication title)
... aka Western Star Theater (USA: syndication title)
- Miracle at Whiskey Gulch (1962) TV Episode .... Steamboat Sully
156. "Rawhide"
- The Peddler (1962) TV Episode .... George Wales
157. The Silent Witness (1962) .... Gus Jordan
158. The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (1961) .... Nathan Dillon
159. "The Untouchables"
- The King of Champagne (1961) TV Episode .... Birdie
160. "Bat Masterson"
- The Fourth Man (1961) TV Episode .... Zeke Armitage
161. "The Asphalt Jungle"
- The Friendly Gesture (1961) TV Episode
- The Burglary Ring (1961) TV Episode .... Detective Kolb
162. "The Case of the Dangerous Robin"
- Jungle Quest (1961) TV Episode
163. "Klondike"
- Swing Your Partner (1961) TV Episode .... Ira Shallop
164. "Surfside 6"
- Heels over Head (1961) TV Episode .... Gabe Buchanan
165. Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon (1961) (TV) .... Hawk
166. "Riverboat"
- River Champion (1960) TV Episode .... Gunner Slagle
167. "Maverick"
- Hadley's Hunters (1960) TV Episode .... Deputy Jones
168. "Peter Gunn"
- The Crossbow (1960) TV Episode .... Karl
169. "Laramie"
- Duel at Alta Mesa (1960) TV Episode
170. "Shotgun Slade"
- The Spanish Box (1960) TV Episode .... Tex
171. "Cheyenne"
- Prisoner of Moon Mesa (1959) TV Episode
172. "Colt .45"
- The Rival Gun (1959) TV Episode .... Hank
173. "The Phil Silvers Show" (1955) TV Series .... MP
... aka Sergeant Bilko (syndication title)
... aka The Phil Silvers Show: You'll Never Get Rich
... aka You'll Never Get Rich (first few episodes title)
Himself - filmography
1. Cary Grant: A Class Apart (2004) (TV) .... Himself/interviewee
2. The 75th Annual Academy Awards (2003) (TV) .... Himself - Past winner
3. 75 Years of the Academy Awards: An Unofficial History (2003) (TV) .... Himself/interveiwee
4. "The Hollywood Greats"
... aka Hollywood Greats (USA: new title)
- Tony Curtis (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
5. Holy War, Un-Holy Victory (2001) (TV) .... Himself (Host)
6. The 70th Annual Academy Awards (1998) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself - Past Winner
7. "Wings"
- What About Larry? (1996) TV Episode .... Himself
8. Summerslam (1994) (V) .... Himself
9. This Is Your Life (1987) (TV) .... Himself
10. The Jupiter Menace (1984) .... Main Narrator
11. "Counterattack: Crime in America" (1982) TV Series .... Host
12. Modern Romance (1981) .... Himself and Zeron
13. Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette (1978) (TV) .... Himself/Andrew Pennington
14. "Match Game 73"
... aka Match Game (USA: syndication title)
... aka Match Game 74 (USA: second season title)
... aka Match Game 75 (USA: third season title)
... aka Match Game 76 (USA: fourth season title)
... aka Match Game 77 (USA: fifth season title)
... aka Match Game 78 (USA: sixth season title)
... aka Match Game 79 (USA: seventh season title)
- Episode dated 20 September 1977 (1977) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 1 December 1976 (1976) TV Episode .... Himself
15. "Match Game PM" (1975) TV Series .... Panelist
16. The Lion Roars Again (1975) (uncredited) .... Himself
17. "The Dean Martin Show"
... aka The Dean Martin Comedy Hour (new title)
- Celebrity Roast: Wilt Chamberlain (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
18. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
... aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
- Episode dated 8 October 1973 (1973) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 9 February 1971 (1971) TV Episode .... Himself
19. The 40th Annual Academy Awards (1968) (TV) .... Himself - Best Supporting Actor Winner
Archive Footage
1. The Making of 'Midway' (2001) (V) .... Lew Slade (scene from "Earthquake")