CineScope
George Kennedy picture

George Kennedy

Acting
Known For

91 Years Old

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.

Born

New York City, New York, USA on 18th February 1925

Died

28th February 2016

All Credits

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