George Kennedy
Born
February 18, 1925
Died
February 28, 2016 (91 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
George Kennedy (February 18, 1925 — February 28, 2016) was an American actor. 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 TV and film, and was well respected within the Hollywood community. He started out in TV 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 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 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 hammed it up again in, The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), plus Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994).
Kennedy 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 on February 28, 2016 in Middleton, Idaho.
Known For
The Gambler
Ed
2014
Another Happy Day
Joe Baker
2011
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
(archive footage)
2010
A Natural Born World-Shaker: The Making of 'Cool Hand Luke'
Self
2008
The Man Who Came Back
Judge Duke
2008
The Boneyard Collection
Professor Zebediah Jones (segment "The Devil's Due at Midnight")
2008
Sands of Oblivion
John Tevis
2007
Armed and Deadly: The Making of 'The Dirty Dozen'
Self
2006
Don't Come Knocking
Director
2005
Three Bad Men
Ed Fiske
2005
Truce
Dr. Peter Gannon
2005
Monster Makers
Dexter Brisbane
2003
View from the Top
Passenger Requesting Vodka (uncredited)
2003
Men in White
Army
1998
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!
Mr. Johnson
1998
Small Soldiers
Brick Bazooka (voice)
1998
Dallas: War of The Ewings
Carter McKay
1998
Hollyweird
George Kennedy
1998
Cats Don't Dance
L.B. Mammoth (voice)
1997
Bayou Ghost
Officer Lowe
1997
Dallas: J.R. Returns
Carter McKay
1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
General Axton (voice) · (1 episode)
1996
Santo Bugito
Ralph (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Himself
1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Ed Hocken
1994
Duckman
Movie Director (voice) · (1 episode)
1994
Distant Justice
Tom Bradfield
1992
Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story
Father Dave Hagan
1992
Intensive Care
Dr. Bruckner
1991
The Commish
Al Scali · (1 episode)
1991
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Ed Hocken
1991
Driving Me Crazy
John McCready
1991
Hangfire
Warden Barles
1991
The Cops Are Robbers
1990
Mayumi: Virgin Terrorist
Bahraini Investigator
1990
Hired to Kill
Thomas
1990
Wings
George Kennedy · (1 episode)
1990
Brain Dead
Vance
1990
Ministry of Vengeance
Rev. Hughes
1989
Esmeralda Bay
Wilson
1989
The Terror Within
Hal
1989
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Ed Hocken
1988
Uninvited
Mike Harvey
1988
Top Line
Heinrich Holzmann
1988
Nightmare at Noon
Sherrif Hanks
1988
Private Road: No Trespassing
Sam Milshaw
1988
Demonwarp
Bill Crafton
1988
Counterforce
Vince Colby
1988
Born to Race
Vincent Duplain
1988
What Price Victory
Big Buck Brayton
1988
The Gambler: The Legend Continues
General Nelson Miles
1987
Creepshow 2
Ray Spruce
1987
The Gunfighters
Deke Turner
1987
Radioactive Dreams
Spade Chandler
1986
Liberty
Seamus Reilly
1986
The Delta Force
Father O'Malley
1986
Savage Dawn
Tick Rand
1985
International Airport
Rudy Van Leuven
1985
Rigged
Ben
1985
Half Nelson
Parsons
1985
Rare Breed
1984
Bolero
Cotton
1984
The Jesse Owens Story
Charles 'Charley' Riley
1984
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Bert
1984
The Jupiter Menace
Himself
1982
Wacko
Mr. Doctor Graves
1982
Just Before Dawn
Roy McLean
1981
The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire
Brakus
1981
Modern Romance
George Kennedy / Zeron
1981
Hotwire
Farley & Harley Fontenot
1980
Virus
Admiral Conway
1980
Death Ship
Captain Ashland
1980
Steel
Big Lew Cassidy
1979
The Concorde... Airport '79
Joe Patroni
1979
Search and Destroy
Anthony Fusqua
1979
The Double McGuffin
Chief Talasek
1979
Backstairs at the White House
Pres. Warren G. Harding · (4 episodes)
1979
Brass Target
Gen. George S. Patton
1978
Death on the Nile
Andrew Pennington
1978
Dallas
Carter McKay · (52 episodes)
1978
Mean Dog Blues
Captain Omar Kinsman
1978
Proof of the Man
Ken Shuftan
1977
Airport '77
Joe Patroni
1977
The Human Factor
John Kinsdale
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
The Eiger Sanction
Ben Bowman
1975
The Blue Knight
Bumper Morgan
1975
The Blue Knight
Officer Bumper Morgan · (24 episodes)
1975
The Lion Roars Again
Self
1975
Earthquake
Sgt. Lew Slade
1974
Airport 1975
Joe Patroni
1974
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Red Leary
1974
A Cry in the Wilderness
Sam Hadley
1974
Sonic Boom
Ben Dover
1974
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self · (1 episode)
1973
Deliver Us from Evil
Walter 'Cowboy' McAdams
1973
Cahill: United States Marshal
Abe Fraser
1973
Lost Horizon
Sam Cornelius
1973
A Great American Tragedy
Brad Wilkes
1972
The Bull of the West
'Bear' Suchette
1972
Sarge
Father Samuel Cavanaugh · (14 episodes)
1971
The Priest Killer
Father Samuel Cavanaugh
1971
Fools' Parade
Dallas 'Doc' Council
1971
Sarge: The Badge or the Cross
Sarge Swanson
1971
Dirty Dingus Magee
Herkimer 'Hoke' Birdsill
1970
Zig Zag
Paul R. Cameron
1970
Airport
Joe Patroni
1970
Tick... Tick... Tick...
John Little
1970
Gaily, Gaily
Axel P. Johanson
1969
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
McKay
1969
Guns of the Magnificent Seven
Chris
1969
The Pink Jungle
Sammy Ryderbeit
1968
The Boston Strangler
Det. Phil DiNatale
1968
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Matt Burke
1968
Bandolero!
Sheriff July Johnson
1968
The Ballad of Josie
Arch Ogden
1968
Cool Hand Luke
Dragline
1967
The Dirty Dozen
Major Max Armbruster
1967
Ironside
Father Samuel Cavanaugh · (1 episode)
1967
Hurry Sundown
Sheriff Coombs
1967
Tarzan
(1 episode)
1966
The Flight of the Phoenix
Bellamy
1965
Mirage
Willard
1965
Laredo
(1 episode)
1965
The Big Valley
Thatcher · (1 episode)
1965
The Legend of Jesse James
Blodgett · (1 episode)
1965
The Sons of Katie Elder
Curley
1965
Shenandoah
Col. Fairchild
1965
In Harm's Way
Colonel Gregory
1965
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
Foreman
1964
See How They Run
Rudy
1964
Daniel Boone
Zach Morgan · (1 episode)
1964
The Rogues
Major Vyx · (1 episode)
1964
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Aleut Captain
1964
McHale's Navy
Henri Le Clerc
1964
Strait-Jacket
Leo Krause
1964
Charade
Herman Scobie
1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Der · (1 episode)
1963
The Great Adventure
Sergeant Muldaney · (1 episode)
1963
Grindl
(1 episode)
1963
The Man from the Diners' Club
George
1963
Going My Way
(1 episode)
1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
George Martin · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Jack Marshman · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Tom 'Bear' Suchette · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Huck Harkness · (1 episode)
1962
Lonely are the Brave
Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Gunfight at Black Horses Canyon
Hawk
1961
Dr. Kildare
Joe Cramer · (2 episodes)
1961
Dr. Kildare
Sergeant Hensley · (2 episodes)
1961
Kraft Mystery Theatre
(1 episode)
1961
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come
Nathan Dillon
1961
The Asphalt Jungle
(2 episodes)
1961
Route 66
(1 episode)
1960
Surfside 6
(1 episode)
1960
The Andy Griffith Show
State Police Detective · (1 episode)
1960
Outlaws
(1 episode)
1960
Thriller
John Paterson · (1 episode)
1960
The Tall Man
(2 episodes)
1960
Riverboat
Gunner Slagle · (1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Waldo Watson · (1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Peter Long · (1 episode)
1959
Rawhide
George Wales · (1 episode)
1959
77 Sunset Strip
(1 episode)
1958
Bat Masterson
Sheriff Zeke Armitage · (1 episode)
1958
Lawman
(1 episode)
1958
Peter Gunn
(1 episode)
1958
Maverick
(1 episode)
1957
Perry Mason
George Spangler · (1 episode)
1957
Sugarfoot
Ross Kuhn · (1 episode)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
(4 episodes)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Deke - Killer · (1 episode)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Big Jim · (1 episode)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Sam Tarnitzer · (1 episode)
1957
Cheyenne
Lee Nelson · (1 episode)
1955
The Phil Silvers Show
MP Sgt. Kennedy (uncredited) · (2 episodes)
1955
Gunsmoke
Emil · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Swarner · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Bayloe · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Hug · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Stark · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Cyrus · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Ben Payson · (1 episode)
1955
The Oscars
Self · (3 episodes)
1953