Edgar Kennedy
Born
April 25, 1890
Died
November 9, 1948 (58 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Monterey, California, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic film character actor, known as "Slow Burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper. Kennedy is best known for a small role as a lemonade vendor in the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, as well as the many Hal Roach films he appeared in.
Kennedy became so identified with frustration that practically every studio hired him to play hotheads. He often played dumb cops, detectives, and even a prison warden; sometimes he was a grouchy moving man, truck driver, or blue-collar workman. His character usually lost his temper at least once. In Diplomaniacs, Kennedy presides over an international tribunal, where Wheeler & Woolsey want to do something about world peace. "Well, ya can't do anything about it here", yells Kennedy, "this is a peace conference!" Kennedy, established as the poster boy for frustration, even starred in an instructional film titled The Other Fellow, in which loudmouthed roadhog Edgar always vents his anger on other drivers (each one played by Kennedy as well), little realizing that, to them, he is "the other fellow."
Perhaps his most unusual roles were as a puppeteer in the detective mystery The Falcon Strikes Back and as a philosophical bartender inspired to create exotic cocktails in Harold Lloyd's last film, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947). He also played comical detectives opposite two titans of acting: John Barrymore in Twentieth Century (1934) and Rex Harrison in Unfaithfully Yours (1948); in the latter, he tells conductor Harrison that "Nobody handles Handel like you handle Handel."
Kennedy died of throat cancer at the Motion Picture Hospital, San Fernando Valley on 9 November 1948. His body was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California.
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
2024
The Our Gang Story
Officer (archive footage)
1994
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
Officer Kennedy (archive footage)
1968
When Comedy Was King
edited from 'A Pair of Tights' (archive footage)
1960
The Golden Age of Comedy
archive footage
1957
My Dream Is Yours
Uncle Charlie
1949
Unfaithfully Yours
Sweeney
1948
Contest Crazy
Edgar
1948
Variety Time
Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
1948
Dig That Gold
Edgar Kennedy
1948
Brother Knows Best
Edgar Kennedy
1948
Heaven Only Knows
Judd
1947
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Jake the Bartender
1947
Do or Diet
Edgar
1947
I'll Build It Myself
Edgar
1946
Motor Maniacs
Edgar Kennedy
1946
Trouble or Nothing
Edgar
1946
Captain Tugboat Annie
Captain Bullwinkle
1945
The Big Beef
Edgar Kennedy
1945
You Drive Me Crazy
Edgar
1945
Anchors Aweigh
Police Captain
1945
It's Your Move
Edgar Kennedy
1945
What, No Cigarettes
Edgar Kennedy
1945
Feather Your Nest
Edgar
1944
The Great Alaskan Mystery
Bosun Higgins
1944
It Happened Tomorrow
Insp. Mulrooney
1944
Radio Rampage
Edgar
1944
Prunes and Politics
Edgar
1944
Crazy House
Judge
1943
The Girl from Monterrey
Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
1943
Hitler's Madman
Nepomuk - the Hermit
1943
Hot Foot
Edgar
1943
Inferior Decorator
Edgar
1943
Air Raid Wardens
Joe Bledsoe
1943
The Falcon Strikes Back
Smiley Dugan
1943
Hold Your Temper
Edgar
1943
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
Police Chief Murphy
1943
Duck Soup
Edgar
1942
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
Sgt. Homer Gatling
1942
There's One Born Every Minute
Mayor Moe Carson
1942
Cooks and Crooks
Edgar
1942
In Old California
Kegs McKeever
1942
Pardon My Stripes
Warden Bingham
1942
Private Snuffy Smith
Sgt. Ed Cooper
1942
Rough on Rents
Edgar Kennedy
1942
A Quiet Fourth
Edgar
1941
Gangs Of The City
Biff
1941
I'll Fix It
Edgar
1941
Westward Ho-Hum
Edgar
1941
Blondie in Society
Dr. Glenn
1941
An Apple in His Eye
Edgar Kennedy
1941
Drafted in the Depot
Edgar Kennedy
1940
Remedy for Riches
George Browning
1940
Li'l Abner
Cornelius Cornpone
1940
Sandy Gets Her Man
Fire Chief Galvin
1940
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
Sheriff Gregory
1940
A Trailer Tragedy
Edgar Kennedy
1940
The Quarterback
Pops
1940
Margie
Chauncey
1940
Sunk by the Census
Edgar
1940
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
George Browning
1940
'Taint Legal
Edgar
1940
Sandy Is a Lady
Officer Rafferty
1940
Mutiny in the County
Edgar Kennedy
1940
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
Inspector Dailey
1939
Kennedy the Great
Edgar Kennedy
1939
Laugh It Off
Judge John J. McGuinnis
1939
Little Accident
Paper Hanger
1939
Everything's on Ice
Joe Barton
1939
Maid to Order
Edgar
1939
It's a Wonderful World
Lieutenant Miller
1939
Baby Daze
Edgar Kennedy
1939
Clock Wise
Edgar
1939
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Arthur Bailey
1938
A Clean Sweep
Edgar
1938
Beaux and Errors
Edgar Kennedy
1938
Hey! Hey! USA
Bugs Leary
1938
Scandal Street
Daniel Webster Smith
1938
The Black Doll
Sheriff Renick
1938
Ears of Experience
Edgar
1938
Hollywood Hotel
Callaghan
1938
True Confession
Darsey
1937
Edgar & Goliath
Edgar
1937
Double Wedding
Spike
1937
Tramp Trouble
Edgar
1937
Super-Sleuth
Police Lt. Garrison
1937
Dumb's the Word
Edgar Kennedy
1937
A Star Is Born
Pop Randall
1937
Bad Housekeeping
Edgar
1937
When's Your Birthday?
Mr. Basscombe
1937
The Other Fellow
Four Roles
1937
Three Men on a Horse
Harry, the Bartender
1936
Mad Holiday
Donovan
1936
Vocalizing
Edgar Kennedy
1936
Yours for the Asking
Bicarbonate
1936
Dummy Ache
Edgar
1936
San Francisco
Sheriff
1936
Fatal Lady
Rudolf Hochstetter
1936
Small Town Girl
Captain Mack
1936
Robin Hood of El Dorado
Sheriff Judd
1936
Will Power
Edgar Kennedy
1936
Gasoloons
Edgar Kennedy
1936
The Bride Comes Home
Henry
1935
$1,000 a Minute
Police Officer McCarthy
1935
Little Big Shot
Onderdonk
1935
In Love at 40
Edgar Kennedy
1935
Woman Wanted
Sweeney
1935
Edgar Hamlet
Edgar
1935
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Edgar Kennedy
1935
The Cowboy Millionaire
Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
1935
Living on Velvet
Counterman
1935
Rendezvous at Midnight
Mahoney
1935
Brick-a-Brac
Edgar
1935
The Silver Streak
O'Brien
1934
Flirting with Danger
Jimmie Pierson
1934
The Marines Are Coming
Sgt. Buck Martin
1934
Poisoned Ivory
Edgar Kennedy
1934
Kid Millions
Herman Wilson
1934
Gridiron Flash
Officer Thurston
1934
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
Happy Moran
1934
A Blasted Event
Edgar
1934
We're Rich Again
Healy, Process Server
1934
Murder on the Blackboard
Detective Donahue
1934
Money Means Nothing
Herbert Green
1934
Wrong Direction
Edgar, Movie Director
1934
Twentieth Century
Oscar McGonigle
1934
Love on a Ladder
Edgar
1934
Heat Lightning
Herbert - the Husband
1934
All of Me
Guard (uncredited)
1934
King for a Night
Cop
1933
Duck Soup
Street Vendor
1933
What Fur
Edgar
1933
Tillie and Gus
Judge
1933
Quiet Please!
Edgar Kennedy
1933
Good Housewrecking
1933
Professional Sweetheart
Tim Kelsey
1933
Cross Fire
Ed Wimpy
1933
Son of the Border
Windy
1933
Diplomaniacs
Chairman - Peace Conference
1933
A Merchant of Menace
Edgar
1933
Scarlet River
Sam Gilroy
1933
Art in the Raw
1933
Fish Feathers
Edgar Kennedy
1932
The Penguin Pool Murder
Officer Donovan
1932
Rockabye
Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
1932
Little Orphan Annie
Daddy Warbucks
1932
Hold 'Em Jail
Warden Elmer Jones
1932
Giggle Water
Edgar
1932
Now's the Time
1932
Westward Passage
Elmer
1932
He's a Honey
1932
Carnival Boat
Baldy
1932
Bad Company
Buffington-Doorman
1931
Quick Millions
Cop (uncredited)
1931
Love Fever
Thelma's Last Rescuer
1931
High Gear
Cop
1931
Next Door Neighbors
Howard J. Green
1931
Help Wanted, Female
1931
Ladies Last
Man in Phone Booth
1930
Moonlight and Monkey Business
Detective
1930
Looser Than Loose
Night Club Patron
1930
Bigger and Better
Uncle Ed Sutton
1930
Dollar Dizzy
Quimby the Lawyer
1930
Doctor's Orders
Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
1930
Girl Shock
Fiancee's Father
1930
Fifty Million Husbands
Officer Kennedy
1930
All Teed Up
Thelma's Father
1930
The Ghosts
Kennedy
1930
When the Wind Blows
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930
The Big Kick
Detective
1930
The Gas Station
Detective
1930
The First Seven Years
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930
The Real McCoy
Cicero the Cop
1930
Shivering Shakespeare
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930
The Head Guy
Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)
1930
Thieves
1930
Night Owls
Officer Kennedy
1930
Great Gobs!
2nd Sailor
1929
Angora Love
Landlord
1929
Moan & Groan, Inc.
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1929
Stepping Out
Diner's Owner
1929
Bacon Grabbers
Collis P. Kennedy
1929
Welcome Danger
SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1929
They Had to See Paris
Ed Eggers (uncredited)
1929
Crazy Feet
Policeman
1929
Hotter Than Hot
1929
Perfect Day
Uncle Edgar
1929
Dad's Day
Michael Kennedy
1929
Madame Q
Judge Kennedy
1929
The Big Squawk
Orchestra Leader
1929
Hurdy Gurdy
Officer Ed Kennedy
1929
Unaccustomed as We Are
Officer Kennedy
1929
Trent's Last Case
Inspector Murch
1929
Why Is a Plumber?
1929
Off to Buffalo
1929
A Pair of Tights
Marion's Boyfriend's Boss
1929
Going Ga-Ga
Cop
1929
Chasing Husbands
1928
Feed 'em and Weep
1928
The Booster
1928
The Boy Friend
The Cop
1928
Two Tars
Motorist
1928
All Parts
1928
Is Everybody Happy?
1928
Should Married Men Go Home?
Golfer (uncredited)
1928
Imagine My Embarrassment
1928
The Fight Pest
1928
Limousine Love
The Husband, Mr Glenders
1928
The Finishing Touch
Cop (as Ed Kennedy)
1928
The Family Group
A Photographer
1928
Dumb Daddies
The Cop
1928
Leave 'Em Laughing
Cop
1928
The Chinese Parrot
Maydorf
1927
The Wrong Mr. Wright
Trayguard
1927
The Gay Old Bird
Chauffeur
1927
Finger Prints
O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)
1927
Going Crooked
Detective
1926
The Better 'Ole
Corporal Austin
1926
Across the Pacific
Cpl. Ryan
1926
My Old Dutch
Bill Sproat
1926
Oh! What a Nurse!
Eric Johnson
1926
The Golden Princess
Gewilliker Hay
1925
The Trouble With Wives
Detective (as Edward Kennedy)
1925
Paths to Paradise
Detective (uncredited)
1925
All's Swell on the Ocean
1924
Wall Street Blues
The Crook
1924
Racing for Life
Tom Grady
1924
The Battling Fool
Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)
1924
The Night Message
Lem Beeman
1924
Something for Nothing
Ptomaine Tommy
1923
The Wandering Two
1923
The Little Girl Next Door
Hank Hall
1923
High and Dry
1922
The Guide
An American Tourist
1921
Puppets of Fate
Mike Reynolds
1921
The Adventures of Daredevil Jack
1920
Four Times Foiled
1920
Hearts and Flowers
Pete
1919
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
German Prison Guard (uncredited)
1919
She Loved Him Plenty
1918
The Late Lamented
Art Gallery Operator
1917
Whose Baby?
The Detective
1917
The Stolen Triumph
Edwin Rowley, Jr.
1916
Bombs!
Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader
1916
A Scoundrel's Toll
Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent
1916
Madcap Ambrose
A City Chap
1916
His Bitter Pill
Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival
1916
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
Edgar
1915
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
Shell Game Operator
1915
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
Suitor
1915
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Fatty's Pal
1915
Wished on Mabel
Cop
1915
His Luckless Love
The Maid's Boyfriend
1915
That Little Band Of Gold
Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)
1915
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
Neighbor
1915
Fatty's New Role
Handout-Giver (uncredited)
1915
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
1915
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
The cafe waiter (uncredited)
1915
The Great Vacuum Robbery
2nd Thief
1915
Tillie's Punctured Romance
Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
1914
Ambrose's First Falsehood
Café Proprietor
1914
Getting Acquainted
Policeman (uncredited)
1914
Leading Lizzie Astray
The Slicker's Chauffeur
1914
The Noise of Bombs
Police Chief
1914
An Incompetent Hero
Fatty's Neighbor
1914
'Curses!' They Remarked
Ethel's Former Boyfriend
1914
Gentlemen of Nerve
Policeman
1914
Dough and Dynamite
Striking Baker
1914
The Love Thief
The Rival
1914
He Loved the Ladies
The Wife's Brother
1914
The Rounders
(uncredited)
1914
The Sky Pirate
The Sky Pirate
1914
Love and Bullets
The Trouble Mender
1914
Mabel's Busy Day
Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)
1914
The Knockout
Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)
1914
Caught in a Cabaret
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
1914
Twenty Minutes of Love
Lover
1914
Mabel at the Wheel
Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)
1914
A Bath House Beauty
Jealous Boyfriend
1914
The Star Boarder
Landlady's Husband (uncredited)
1914
Cruel, Cruel Love
Butler
1914
His Favorite Pastime
Tough Guy in Bar
1914
Tango Tangles
Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
1914
A Film Johnnie
Director (uncredited)
1914
A Thief Catcher
Crook (uncredited)
1914
Making a Living
Wreck Bystander (uncredited)
1914
Little Billy's Triumph
1914
Rebecca's Wedding Day
The Groom
1914
In the Clutches of the Gang
Cop
1914
A Flirt's Mistake
Rajah
1914
Zuzu, the Band Leader
Caesar - Zuzu's Rival
1913
The Gusher
Cop (uncredited)
1913
A Ride for a Bride
Mustached Man
1913
Fatty Joins the Force
Jealous Cop
1913
A Muddy Romance
Water Policeman
1913
The Speed Kings
Laughing Spectator
1913
A Quiet Little Wedding
Wedding Guest
1913
The Bowling Match
Bowling Alley Operator
1913
Mother's Boy
Mug
1913
Mabel's Dramatic Career
Audience Member / Cop in Movie
1913
Mabel's New Hero
Cop
1913
The Riot
Cop
1913
A Noise from the Deep
1913
Love and Rubbish
1st Cop
1913
Safe in Jail
1st Crook
1913
Rastus and the Game Cock
Spectator
1913
Peeping Pete
The Cop
1913
The Gangsters
Henchman
1913
Their First Execution
1913
Mabel’s Awful Mistakes
1913
Algy on the Force
Cop
1913
Bangville Police
3rd Deputy
1913
The Rural Third Degree
Cop
1913