George Kennedy, the brawny, Oscar-winning character actor
known for playing cops, soldiers and blue-collar authority figures in such
films as "Cool Hand Luke," "Airport" and the "Naked
Gun" films, has died. He was 91.
Kennedy died Sunday in Boise, Idaho, said his grandson, Cory
Schenkel.
"He passed Sunday morning, due to old age and some
health issues," Schenkel said.
The New York-born Kennedy came by his military gravitas
honestly; he served in World War II and spent 16 years in the U.S. Army, many
of them with Armed Forces Radio. In the 1950s, he was an adviser to Phil
Silvers' "Sgt. Bilko" show and then started getting acting roles.
Among his early notable films were 1963's
"Charade," in which he played one of the criminal gang threatening
Audrey Hepburn's character, and 1965's "The Flight of the Phoenix,"
in which he played a passenger on James Stewart's stranded airplane.
He broke through with 1967's "Cool Hand Luke," in
which he played Dragline, a convict who resists, and then becomes friendly
with, Paul Newman's Luke character.
"The marvelous thing about that movie was that as my
part progresses, I changed from a bad guy to a good guy," Kennedy said in
1978, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "The moguls in Hollywood must
have said, 'Hey, this fellow can do something besides be a bad guy.' "
His performance won him an Oscar for best supporting actor.
Kennedy was, by then, a go-to character actor. He played Joe
Patroni, the mechanic and problem solver who was the one constant in the 1970s
"Airport" movies. He also starred in 1974's "Earthquake,"
another disaster flick, about a quake that hits Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, he had a number of TV roles, including starring
in the short-lived '70s series "Sarge" and "The Blue
Knight." He played Big Frenchy on two episodes on McHale's Navy.
But he also had a sense of humor about himself, which came
in handy given his beefy, 6-foot-4 frame.
He and Raymond Burr were friendly -- Kennedy guest-starred
on both "Perry Mason" and "Ironside" -- and Kennedy told
the Smashing Interviews website that they used to break each other up.
"Raymond and I were big men," he recalled, noting
their height and that "both of us weighed more than a ton and a half
each."
But they found their size entertaining, not intimidating.
"If you can picture this, we'd talk about being big
guys, and we would giggle. Now, here was 600 pounds of guys sitting between
shots in a couple of chairs and almost breaking them because we're giggling at
jokes. Over all of Raymond's movies and TV shows, I remember him as a guy who'd
giggle with me and didn't care."
Kennedy also got to laugh with Albert Brooks, playing
himself in 1981's "Modern Romance," and Leslie Nielsen, co-starring
as Detective Captain Ed Hocken in the "Naked Gun" movies.
"I love comedy perhaps more than anything else,"
he told Smashing Interviews.
He didn't stop acting until he was in his 80s, by then doing
a seven-year stint on the soap "The Young and the Restless." The
Internet Movie Database lists more than 180 acting credits.
"My grandpa loved acting. Every opportunity he had, he
enjoyed with such a passion," his grandson said. "It was definitely
amazing to see that passion. Acting was natural to him."
Late in life, Kennedy wrote a memoir, "Trust Me,"
in which he described growing up lonely in New York and the joy he found in
acting.
"I considered the time I spent acting a gift from the
beyond," he told interviewer Brad Berkwitt. "It was what I could do
best."
Kennedy wrote three books. In 1983, he wrote the murder mystery Murder On Location, set on a film shoot. A second novel, Murder on High, was released in 1984. In 2011, he wrote his autobiography, Trust Me.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1961 The Little
Shepherd of Kingdom Come Nathan Dillon CinemaScope film directed by Andrew V.
McLaglen.
1962 Lonely Are
the Brave Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez Film adaptation of the Edward
Abbey novel The Brave Cowboy, and directed by David Miller.
The Silent Witness Gus
Jordan
1963 The Man from
the Diners' Club George Comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin.
Charade Herman
Scobie Romantic comedy/mystery film
directed by Stanley Donen.
1964 Strait-Jacket
Leo Krause Thriller film directed and co-produced by William Castle.
McHale's Navy Henri
Le Clerc Based on the 1962–1966 black
and white television sitcom of the same name, and directed by Edward Montagne.
Island of the Blue Dolphins Aleut
Captain Drama film directed by James
B. Clark.
Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte Foreman
Psychological thriller film
directed and produced by Robert Aldrich.
1965 In Harm's Way
Colonel Gregory Epic war film produced and directed by Otto Preminger.
Mirage Willard Thriller film directed by Edward Dmytryk, and
based on the novel Fallen Angel written by Howard Fast under the pseudonym
Walter Ericson.
Shenandoah Colonel
Fairchild American Civil War
film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
The Sons of Katie Elder Curley
Western film directed by Henry Hathaway.
The Flight of the Phoenix Mike
Bellamy Drama film produced &
directed by Robert Aldrich and based on the 1964 novel The Flight of the
Phoenix by Elleston Trevor.
1967 Hurry Sundown
Sheriff Coombs Drama film produced and directed by Otto
Preminger.
The Dirty Dozen Major
Max Armbruster American war film directed
by Robert Aldrich.
Cool Hand Luke Dragline
Prison drama film directed
by Stuart Rosenberg.
The Ballad of Josie Arch
Ogden Comedy western film directed
by Andrew V. McLaglen.
1968 Bandolero! Sheriff July Johnson Western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
The Pink Jungle Sammy
Ryderbeit Thriller film
directed by Delbert Mann.
The Legend of Lylah Clare Matt
Burke Uncredited
The Boston Strangler Det.
Phil DiNatale Neo-noir film
based on the true story of the Boston Strangler and the book by Gerold Frank,
and directed by Richard Fleischer.
1969 Guns of the
Magnificent Seven Chris Adams
A Zapata Western,
and the second sequel to the 1960 western film, The Magnificent Seven, and
directed by Paul Wendkos.
Also known as The
Magnificent Seven 3.
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys Big John McKay Western
film directed by Burt Kennedy.
Gaily, Gaily Axel
P. Johanson
Comedy film
directed by Norman Jewison, and based on the autobiographical novel by Ben
Hecht.
Released in the United
Kingdom as Chicago, Chicago.
1970 ...tick...tick...tick...
John Little Crime drama directed by Ralph
Nelson.
Airport Joe Patroni Drama film directed and written by
George Seaton, and based on Arthur Hailey's 1968 novel of the same name.
Zig Zag Paul R.
Cameron
Drama film
directed by Richard A. Colla
Also released as
False Witness.
Dirty Dingus Magee Herkimer
"Hoke" Birdsill Anti-western
film directed and produced by Burt Kennedy.
1971 Fools' Parade
Dallas "Doc" Council
Comedy-drama film
directed by Andrew McLaglen.
Also known as
Dynamite Man from Glory Jail.
1973 Lost Horizon Sam Cornelius Musical film directed by Charles Jarrott.
Cahill U.S. Marshal Abe
Fraser Western film directed by
Andrew V. McLaglen.
1974 Thunderbolt
and Lightfoot Red Leary Crime film written and directed by
Michael Cimino.
Airport 1975 Joe
Patroni Air disaster film, and
the first sequel to the successful 1970 film, Airport, and directed by Jack
Smight.
Earthquake Sergeant
Lew Slade Ensemble disaster film
directed and produced by Mark Robson.
1975 The Eiger
Sanction Ben Bowman Action-thriller film, based on the novel of
the same name by Trevanian[N 1], and directed by and starring Clint
Eastwood.
The "Human" Factor John Kinsdale Drama
film directed by Edward Dmytryk.
1977 Airport '77 Joe Patroni Air disaster film and the third film of the Airport
franchise, and directed by Jerry Jameson.
Ningen no shōmei Ken
Shuftan
Japanese film
directed by Junya Satō.
Proof of the Man (人間の証明
Ningen no Shōmei)
1978 Mean Dog
Blues Captain Omar Kinsman Drama film directed by Mel Stuart.[59]
Death on the Nile Andrew
Pennington British film based on
the Agatha Christie mystery novel of the same name, directed by John
Guillermin, and adapted by Anthony Shaffer.[60]
Brass Target General
George S. Patton Post-war
suspense film based on the novel The Algonquin Project by Frederick Nolan, and
directed by John Hough.[61]
1979 Search and
Destroy Anthony Fusqua Action-thriller film directed by
William Fruet
The Double McGuffin Chief
Talasek Drama film written and
directed by Joe Camp.[63]
Steel Big Lew
Cassidy Drama film
directed by Steve Carver.[64]
The Concorde ... Airport '79 Captain Joe Patroni
Air disaster film
directed by David Lowell Rich.
Also known as
Airport '80: The Concorde in the United Kingdom.
1980 Death Ship Captain Ashland British-Canadian horror film directed by Alvin Rakoff.
Virus Admiral
Conway
Post-apocalyptic
science fiction film directed by Kinji Fukasaku, and based on a 1964 novel
written by Sakyo Komatsu.
Virus (復活の日
Fukkatsu no hi) — literally "Day of Resurrection"
Hotwire Farley
& Harley Fontenot
1981 Just Before
Dawn Roy McLean
Independent
slasher film directed by Jeff Lieberman.
Also known as
Survivance in France.
Modern Romance Himself;
Zoron Comedy film directed by and
starring Albert Brooks.
The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire Brakus
Sword and sorcery action film written, directed and produced
by Nicholas J. Corea.
1982 Wacko Mr. Doctor Graves Horror-parody film directed by Greydon Clark.
The Jupiter Menace Himself
A documentary, that
examines the theory that the world is doomed, and that nothing can be done
about it.
1984 Chattanooga
Choo Choo Bert Comedy film directed by Bruce Bilson.
A Rare Breed Nathan
Hill
Bolero Cotton Romantic drama film written and directed by
John Derek.
Nominated - Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting
Actor
Rigged Ben
1985 Radioactive
Dreams Spade Chandler Post-apocalyptic science
fiction-comedy film directed by Albert Pyun.
Savage Dawn Tick
Rand Action-drama film
directed by Simon Nuchtern.
1986 The Delta
Force Father O'Malley Action-thriller film directed by
Menahem Golan.
1987 Creepshow 2 Ray Spruce (segment
"Old Chief Wood'nhead"), Live-action/animated horror comedy anthology
film directed by Michael Gornick.
The Gunfighters Deke
Turner Western film directed by Clay
Borris.
1988 Born to Race Vincent Duplain
Counterforce Vince
Colby
Demonwarp Bill
Crafton
Nightmare at Noon Sheriff
Hanks
Alien Terminator Heinrich
Holzmann Italian film
Uninvited Mike
Harvey
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Captain Ed Hocken This film marked the start of the Naked Gun franchise born
out of the cancellation of Police Squad!.
1989 The Terror
Within Hal
Ministry of Vengeance Rev.
Hughes
Esmeralda Bay Wilson Spanish-French film production, directed by
Jesús Franco.
1990 Brain Dead Vance
Hired to Kill Thomas
Mayumi Bahraini
investigator
Korean film
directed by Shin Sang-ok.
Mayumi (Korean: 마유미)
also known as Mayumi: Virgin Terrorist
1991 Hangfire Warden E. Barles
Driving Me Crazy John
McCready
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Captain Ed Hocken
Intensive Care Dr.
Bruckner Dutch film
1992 Final Shot:
The Hank Gathers Story Father
Dave
Distant Justice Tom
Bradfield
1994 Naked Gun
33⅓: The Final Insult Captain
Ed Hocken
River of Stone
1997 Cats Don't
Dance L.B. Mammoth Voice
Bayou Ghost Officer
Lowe
1998 Small
Soldiers Brick Bazooka Voice
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again Grandpa Johnson
2003 View from the
Top Passenger Requesting Vodka Uncredited
2005 Three Bad Men
Ed Fiske
Truce Dr. Peter
Gannon
Don't Come Knocking Director
2007 Sands of
Oblivion John Tevis
2008 The Man Who
Came Back Judge Duke
2010 Six Days in
Paradise Monty Crenshaw
Mad Mad Wagon Party JB
Scotch
2011 Another Happy
Day Joe Baker
2014 The Gambler Ed Final
film role
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1956–1959 The
Phil Silvers Show MP Sergeant Kennedy
14 episodes
1959 Cheyenne Lee Nelson Episode: "Prisoner of Moon Mesa"
Colt .45 Hank
Episode: "The Rival Gun"
The Deputy Tex Episode: "The Big Four"
Sugarfoot Sykes
Episode: "The Canary Kid, Inc."
1960 Gunsmoke Emil Episode:
"The Blacksmith"
Route 66 Thad
Skinner Pilot Episode: "Black
November"
Peter Gunn Karl
Episode: "The Crossbow"
Sugarfoot Ross
Kuhn Episode: "Funeral at
Forty Mile"
Shotgun Slade Tex Episode: "The Spanish Box"
Laramie Gallagher
Henchman Episode: "Duel at Alta
Mesa"
Maverick Deputy
Jones Episode: "Hadley's
Hunters"
Lawman Burt
Episode: "To Capture the
West"
Have Gun – Will Travel Tarnitzer
Episode: "The
Legacy"
Lieutenant John Bryson Episode:
"A Head of Hair"
1961 Bat Masterson
Sheriff Zeke Armitage Episode: "The Fourth Man"
Have Gun – Will Travel Preston
Episode: "The
Road"
Deke Episode:
"The Vigil"
Rud Saxon Episode:
"A Proof of Life"
Brother Grace Episode:
"Squatter's Rights"
Gunsmoke Pat
Swooner Episode: "Big Man"
The Untouchables Birdie
Episode: "The King of
Champagne"
Gunslinger Sheriff
Episode: "The Buried People"
Bonanza Peter
Long Episode: "The Infernal
Machine"
Gunsmoke Jake
Bayloe Episode: "Kitty
Shot"
1962 The Tall Man Hyram Killgore Episode: "One for All"
Rawhide George
Wales Episode: "The Peddler"
Gunsmoke Hug Episode: "The Boys"
Have Gun – Will Travel Big
John Episode: "Don't
Shoot the Piano Player"
Going My Way Mike Episode: "A Man for Mary"
Death Valley Days Steamboat
Sully Episode:
"Miracle at Whiskey Gulch"
Outlaws Joe
Ferris Episode: "Farewell
Performance"
1963 The Andy
Griffith Show State Police Detective Episode: "The Big House"
Have Gun – Will Travel Brother
Grace Episode: "The Eve of St.
Elmo"
Dr. Kildare Joe
Cramer Episode: "To Each His
Own Prison"
Perry Mason George
Spangler Episode: "The
Case of the Greek Goddess"
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters Angus Episode:
"The Day of the Long Night"
1963–1964 McHale's
Navy Big Frenchy Episodes: "French Leave for McHale", "The
Return of Big Frenchy"
1964 Gunsmoke Cyrus Episode:
"Crooked Mile"
Bonanza Waldo
Episode: "The Scapegoat"
The Virginian Jack
Marshman Episode: "A Gallows for Sam
Horn"
Gunsmoke Warden
Stryker Episode: "The
Warden"
1965 Daniel Boone Zach Morgan Episode:
"A Rope for Mingo"
Laredo Jess Moran Episode: "Pride of the
Rangers"
The Virginian Tom
"Bear" Suchette Episode:
"Nobility of Kings"
A Man Called Shenandoah Mitchell
Canady Episode: "A Special
Talent for Killing"
1966 Gunsmoke Ben Payson Episode: "Harvest"
The Legend of Jesse James Blodgett
Episode: "Return to
Lawrence"
Dr. Kildare Sergeant
Hensley Episodes: "Mercy
or Murder", "Strange Sort of Accident"
The Virginian Huck
Harkness Episode: "The Trail to
Ashley Mountain"
The Big Valley Jack
Thatcher Episode: "Barbary
Red"
1967 Tarzan Crandell Episode:
"Thief Catcher"
1971 Ironside Father Samuel Cavanaugh
Episode: "The
Priest Killer"
This was the
second pilot for the Sarge TV series.
It aired the week
before the first episode of Sarge.
Sarge Father Samuel
Patrick "Sarge" Cavanaugh (Swanson) 16
episodes
1975 The Blue
Knight Bumper Morgan 24 episodes
1979 Backstairs at
the White House President Warren G.
Harding Episode: #1.2
1981 Saturday
Night Live Himself/Host Episode: "George Kennedy/Miles
Davis"
1983 Fantasy
Island Adam Cobb Episode: "God Child/Curtain
Call"
1986 Benson Himself
Episode: "Reel
Murder"
1988–1991 Dallas
Carter McKay 67 episodes
1994 Lonesome Dove
Judge J.T. "Rope"
Calder Episode:
"Judgement Day"
1995 The Gambler
Part III: The Legend Continues General
Nelson Miles Television miniseries
1996 Wings Himself Episode:
"What About Larry?"
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest General Axton Episode:
"DNA Doomsday"
Dallas: J.R. Returns Carter
McKay Television film
1998 Dallas: War
of the Ewings Carter McKay Television film
2003 The Young and
the Restless Albert Miller Episodes: #1.7762, #1.7763, #1.7764
2004 The Complete
History of U.S. Wars 1700-2004 Host 8 episodes
2010 The Young and
the Restless Albert Miller (ghost)
Episode: #1.9553