George Kennedy

George Kennedy

Acting
Born 1925-02-18 - Died 2016-02-28New York City, New York, USA

Biography

George Kennedy (February 18, 1925 — February 28, 2016) was a European-American businessman, entrepreneur, A World War II veteran, actor, adviser, radio dj, and author. 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.

Movies (126)

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
6.5

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

1994Movie6.5
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
7.3

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

1988Movie7.3
Small Soldiers
6.6

Small Soldiers

1998Movie6.6
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
6.8

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

1991Movie6.8
The Delta Force
6.0

The Delta Force

1986Movie6.0
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
6.8

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

1974Movie6.8
Cool Hand Luke
7.7

Cool Hand Luke

1967Movie7.7
Death on the Nile
7.2

Death on the Nile

1978Movie7.2
The Gambler
6.0

The Gambler

2014Movie6.0
The Dirty Dozen
7.6

The Dirty Dozen

1967Movie7.6
The Eiger Sanction
6.1

The Eiger Sanction

1975Movie6.1
Charade
7.7

Charade

1963Movie7.7
Earthquake
6.2

Earthquake

1974Movie6.2
Creepshow 2
6.2

Creepshow 2

1987Movie6.2
Strait-Jacket
6.6

Strait-Jacket

1964Movie6.6
Airport 1975
5.8

Airport 1975

1974Movie5.8
In Harm's Way
6.6

In Harm's Way

1965Movie6.6
View from the Top
5.6

View from the Top

2003Movie5.6
Airport
6.5

Airport

1970Movie6.5
Airport '77
5.6

Airport '77

1977Movie5.6
The Concorde... Airport '79
4.7

The Concorde... Airport '79

1979Movie4.7
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
7.3

Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte

1964Movie7.3
The Sons of Katie Elder
7.0

The Sons of Katie Elder

1965Movie7.0
Hurry Sundown
6.4

Hurry Sundown

1967Movie6.4
Proof of the Man
7.8

Proof of the Man

1977Movie7.8
Driving Me Crazy
3.9

Driving Me Crazy

1991Movie3.9
Virus
6.3

Virus

1980Movie6.3
Guns of the Magnificent Seven
5.4

Guns of the Magnificent Seven

1969Movie5.4
Cats Don't Dance
7.2

Cats Don't Dance

1997Movie7.2
The Boston Strangler
6.6

The Boston Strangler

1968Movie6.6
The Flight of the Phoenix
7.2

The Flight of the Phoenix

1965Movie7.2
Shenandoah
6.9

Shenandoah

1965Movie6.9
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!
5.4

Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!

1998Movie5.4
Another Happy Day
5.5

Another Happy Day

2011Movie5.5
Fools' Parade
6.6

Fools' Parade

1971Movie6.6
Bandolero!
6.6

Bandolero!

1968Movie6.6
A Cry in the Wilderness
6.5

A Cry in the Wilderness

1974Movie6.5
Cahill: United States Marshal
6.1

Cahill: United States Marshal

1973Movie6.1
Death Ship
5.1

Death Ship

1980Movie5.1
The Legend of Lylah Clare
6.0

The Legend of Lylah Clare

1968Movie6.0
Mean Dog Blues
4.8

Mean Dog Blues

1978Movie4.8
WWE SummerSlam 1994
6.7

WWE SummerSlam 1994

1994Movie6.7
… tick… tick… tick…
6.7

… tick… tick… tick…

1970Movie6.7
The Blue Knight
7.0

The Blue Knight

1975Movie7.0
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
5.5

The Good Guys and the Bad Guys

1969Movie5.5
Don't Come Knocking
6.2

Don't Come Knocking

2005Movie6.2
The Lion Roars Again
6.5

The Lion Roars Again

1975Movie6.5
Mirage
7.0

Mirage

1965Movie7.0
Lonely are the Brave
7.4

Lonely are the Brave

1962Movie7.4
Good Cops, Bad Cops
4.2

Good Cops, Bad Cops

1990Movie4.2
Modern Romance
6.8

Modern Romance

1981Movie6.8
2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift
6.1

2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

2010Movie6.1
Bolero
3.5

Bolero

1984Movie3.5
Brain Dead
5.7

Brain Dead

1990Movie5.7
Just Before Dawn
6.0

Just Before Dawn

1981Movie6.0
The Gambler: The Legend Continues
6.0

The Gambler: The Legend Continues

1987Movie6.0
Top Line
4.5

Top Line

1988Movie4.5
Uninvited
4.8

Uninvited

1988Movie4.8
Lost Horizon
5.4

Lost Horizon

1973Movie5.4
The Terror Within
4.5

The Terror Within

1989Movie4.5
The Ballad of Josie
6.0

The Ballad of Josie

1967Movie6.0
Distant Justice
5.5

Distant Justice

1992Movie5.5
Demonwarp
4.1

Demonwarp

1988Movie4.1
Bayou Ghost
10.0

Bayou Ghost

1997Movie10.0
Hotwire
6.0

Hotwire

1980Movie6.0
Sands of Oblivion
4.4

Sands of Oblivion

2007Movie4.4
Intensive Care
4.0

Intensive Care

1991Movie4.0
Born to Race
5.5

Born to Race

1988Movie5.5
Brass Target
5.4

Brass Target

1978Movie5.4
A Natural Born World-Shaker: The Making of 'Cool Hand Luke'

A Natural Born World-Shaker: The Making of 'Cool Hand Luke'

2008Movie
Counterforce
5.6

Counterforce

1988Movie5.6
McHale's Navy
5.3

McHale's Navy

1964Movie5.3
The Man Who Came Back
4.6

The Man Who Came Back

2008Movie4.6
Gaily, Gaily
4.3

Gaily, Gaily

1969Movie4.3
Men in White
3.8

Men in White

1998Movie3.8
Steel
5.6

Steel

1979Movie5.6
The Human Factor
5.8

The Human Factor

1975Movie5.8
Dallas: J.R. Returns
5.7

Dallas: J.R. Returns

1996Movie5.7
Savage Dawn
4.4

Savage Dawn

1985Movie4.4
Island of the Blue Dolphins
6.5

Island of the Blue Dolphins

1964Movie6.5
A Great American Tragedy
7.5

A Great American Tragedy

1972Movie7.5
Hired to Kill
4.8

Hired to Kill

1990Movie4.8
Nightmare at Noon
4.7

Nightmare at Noon

1988Movie4.7
Dirty Dingus Magee
4.7

Dirty Dingus Magee

1970Movie4.7
Zig Zag
7.7

Zig Zag

1970Movie7.7
Hangfire
4.7

Hangfire

1991Movie4.7
Rigged
8.9

Rigged

1985Movie8.9
The Gunfighters
4.7

The Gunfighters

1987Movie4.7
The Boneyard Collection
5.3

The Boneyard Collection

2008Movie5.3
Monster Makers
4.0

Monster Makers

2003Movie4.0
Half Nelson

Half Nelson

1985Movie
The Man from the Diners' Club
5.8

The Man from the Diners' Club

1963Movie5.8
What Price Victory

What Price Victory

1988Movie
Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story
10.0

Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story

1992Movie10.0
The Double McGuffin
5.2

The Double McGuffin

1979Movie5.2
Radioactive Dreams
5.3

Radioactive Dreams

1986Movie5.3
The Priest Killer

The Priest Killer

1971Movie
Wacko
5.1

Wacko

1982Movie5.1
Dallas: War of The Ewings
5.6

Dallas: War of The Ewings

1998Movie5.6
Airports

Airports

2025Movie
Ministry of Vengeance
3.8

Ministry of Vengeance

1989Movie3.8
The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire
6.0

The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire

1981Movie6.0
Mayumi: Virgin Terrorist
6.5

Mayumi: Virgin Terrorist

1990Movie6.5
The Jesse Owens Story
8.1

The Jesse Owens Story

1984Movie8.1
Gunfight at Black Horses Canyon
5.8

Gunfight at Black Horses Canyon

1961Movie5.8
Three Bad Men
2.5

Three Bad Men

2005Movie2.5
The Pink Jungle
6.9

The Pink Jungle

1968Movie6.9
Hollyweird
4.2

Hollyweird

1998Movie4.2
The Bull of the West
5.7

The Bull of the West

1972Movie5.7
Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette
7.0

Death on the Nile: Making of Featurette

1978Movie7.0
A Rare Breed
7.0

A Rare Breed

1984Movie7.0
International Airport
6.0

International Airport

1985Movie6.0
Deliver Us from Evil
7.5

Deliver Us from Evil

1973Movie7.5
Chattanooga Choo Choo
6.7

Chattanooga Choo Choo

1984Movie6.7
Sonic Boom
5.6

Sonic Boom

1974Movie5.6
Armed and Deadly: The Making of 'The Dirty Dozen'
6.0

Armed and Deadly: The Making of 'The Dirty Dozen'

2006Movie6.0
Esmeralda Bay
5.2

Esmeralda Bay

1989Movie5.2
The Jupiter Menace
6.2

The Jupiter Menace

1982Movie6.2
See How They Run
6.0

See How They Run

1964Movie6.0
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come
4.3

The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come

1961Movie4.3
Sarge: The Badge or the Cross
8.0

Sarge: The Badge or the Cross

1971Movie8.0
Liberty
6.0

Liberty

1986Movie6.0
Search and Destroy
7.1

Search and Destroy

1979Movie7.1
Six Days in Paradise

Six Days in Paradise

2010Movie
Private Road: No Trespassing
4.5

Private Road: No Trespassing

1988Movie4.5
Truce
5.3

Truce

2005Movie5.3

TV Shows (52)

Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Perry Mason
7.7

Perry Mason

1957Series7.7
Dallas
6.9

Dallas

1978Series6.9
The Andy Griffith Show
7.6

The Andy Griffith Show

1960Series7.6
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
Ironside
6.8

Ironside

1967Series6.8
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
Wings
6.8

Wings

1990Series6.8
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
7.9

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

1962Series7.9
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
Maverick
7.0

Maverick

1957Series7.0
The Virginian
6.5

The Virginian

1962Series6.5
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
5.9

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

1963Series5.9
Dr. Kildare
5.7

Dr. Kildare

1961Series5.7
Have Gun, Will Travel
7.3

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957Series7.3
Peter Gunn
6.6

Peter Gunn

1958Series6.6
Cheyenne
6.2

Cheyenne

1955Series6.2
Rawhide
7.2

Rawhide

1959Series7.2
Daniel Boone
7.0

Daniel Boone

1964Series7.0
Lawman
6.0

Lawman

1958Series6.0
Route 66
6.7

Route 66

1960Series6.7
The Big Valley
6.2

The Big Valley

1965Series6.2
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Tarzan
6.9

Tarzan

1966Series6.9
Surfside 6
6.3

Surfside 6

1960Series6.3
Thriller
6.7

Thriller

1960Series6.7
Duckman
7.2

Duckman

1994Series7.2
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
7.2

The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest

1996Series7.2
Bat Masterson
6.4

Bat Masterson

1958Series6.4
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
The Commish
7.1

The Commish

1991Series7.1
77 Sunset Strip
7.2

77 Sunset Strip

1958Series7.2
Sugarfoot
5.1

Sugarfoot

1957Series5.1
The Phil Silvers Show
7.1

The Phil Silvers Show

1955Series7.1
Laredo
6.4

Laredo

1965Series6.4
Outlaws
6.7

Outlaws

1960Series6.7
Riverboat
6.5

Riverboat

1959Series6.5
The Tall Man
6.9

The Tall Man

1960Series6.9
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
5.4

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

1973Series5.4
The Rogues
8.0

The Rogues

1964Series8.0
The Great Adventure
10.0

The Great Adventure

1963Series10.0
The Legend of Jesse James
5.8

The Legend of Jesse James

1965Series5.8
Going My Way
5.8

Going My Way

1962Series5.8
Kraft Mystery Theatre
7.2

Kraft Mystery Theatre

1961Series7.2
Santo Bugito
7.0

Santo Bugito

1995Series7.0
Gunslinger
6.3

Gunslinger

1961Series6.3
Backstairs at the White House
6.1

Backstairs at the White House

1979Series6.1
Grindl
6.0

Grindl

1963Series6.0
Sarge
7.5

Sarge

1971Series7.5
The Asphalt Jungle
5.0

The Asphalt Jungle

1961Series5.0
The Blue Knight
5.0

The Blue Knight

1975Series5.0