Barry Kelley (actor)

Edward Barry Kelley (August 19, 1908 – June 5, 1991) was an American actor on Broadway in the 1930s and 1940s and in films during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The heavy-set actor created the role of Ike in '' Oklahoma!'' on Broadway. His large size and acting range had him playing primarily judges, detectives, and police officers.

Early years

The 6'4", 230-pound Kelley was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University).

Stage

Kelley began acting on the stage in the 1930s. His Broadway credits include ''Within the Gates'' (1934-1935), ''Parnell'' (1935-1936), ''Saint Joan'' (1936), ''Hamlet'' (1936-1937), ''The Wingless Victory'' (1936-1937), ''The Star-Wagon'' (1937-1938), ''Mamba's Daughters'' (1940), ''Strip for Action'' (1942-1943), ''Oklahoma!'' (1943-1948), ''Loco'' (1946), ''Wonderful Journey'' (1946-1947), and ''Portrait in Black'' (1947).

Film

In films, Kelley often portrayed cops or judges in films, including '' Boomerang'' (his first film in 1947), '' Knock on Any Door'', '' Ma and Pa Kettle'', and '' The Asphalt Jungle''. (Another source says, "His film debut was in the 1948 film noir '' Force of Evil''.") One of his best roles (for which he received third billing) was as the good-bad half brother of Joel McCrea in ''The Tall Stranger'' (1957). Kelley had an uncredited role as a police chief in the 1964 Frank Sinatra musical ''Robin and the 7 Hoods''.

Television

Kelley also appeared in dozens of television series. As in the movies, he was usually in westerns or crime dramas. In 1954 he appeared in a TV episode of '' The Lone Ranger'' entitled Texas Draw.

In 1959, Kelley appeared as Josh Teller on '' Lawman'' in the episode titled "The Outsider." He portrayed the recurring character Jim Rafferty in five episodes of the 1960–1961 situation comedy '' The Tom Ewell Show''. In 1961 he appeared as Governor Johnson on the TV western '' Lawman'' in the episode titled "Owny O'Reilly."

In 1961, Kelley played Mr. Slocum, the boss of insurance agent Pete Porter, in six episodes of the CBS situation comedy, ''Pete and Gladys'', starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams. Also in 1961, he played "Danceman" in the episode "Everyman" in '' Have Gun-Will Travel'', plus as villain Frank Williams in the episode "Ledger of Guilt" in '' Bat Masterson''. Other western series he appeared in during this period included: ''Tales of Wells Fargo'', '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'', '' Laramie'' and '' Bronco.''

In 1962, Kelley played Captain Donovan in the episode "The Parish Car" of the ABC drama series, '' Going My Way'', starring Gene Kelly. Kelley guest starred three times in the western television series ''Bonanza'' between 1959 and 1965, playing different roles. He played Judge Bryant in the episode "Trial at Tablerock" in Have Gun - Will Travel. He also appeared occasionally as Alan Young's father-in-law on the situation comedy '' Mister Ed'' (1961–1966).

In 1964, he portrayed Hurley Feasel in the episode "Kate Flat on Her Back" of the CBS sitcom '' Petticoat Junction''; in the credits of that episode his last name was spelled "Kelly." In 1966 he played Park Milgrave in the '' Perry Mason'' episode, "The Case of the Fanciful Frail." He portrayed a mayor on '' Rango'' in 1967 in the episode ""If You Can't Take It with You, Don't Go."

Kelley's last television role was as Sheriff Vic Crandall in three more episodes of ''Petticoat Junction'' in 1967 and 1968.

Death

Kelley died in 1991 at the age of 82 in Woodland Hills, California.

Broadway roles

* ''Within the Gates'' (1934) as the gardener
* ''Parnell'' (1935) as first leader
* ''The Wingless Victory'' (1936) as Happy Penny
* ''The Star-Wagon'' (1937) as first thug

Selected filmography

* '' Boomerang'' (1947) - Desk Sgt. Dugan (uncredited)
* '' Force of Evil'' (1948) - Det. Egan
* '' Knock on Any Door'' (1949) - Judge Drake
* '' The Undercover Man'' (1949) - Attorney Edward J. O'Rourke
* '' Ma and Pa Kettle'' (1949) - Mr. Victor Tomkins
* '' Mr. Belvedere Goes to College'' (1949) - Police Sgt. Griggs
* '' Too Late for Tears'' (1949) - Police Lt. Breach
* '' Johnny Stool Pigeon'' (1949) - William McCandles
* '' Red, Hot and Blue'' (1949) - Lt. Gorman
* '' Fighting Man of the Plains'' (1949) - Slocum
* '' The File on Thelma Jordon'' (1950) - District Attorney Melvin Pierce
* '' Singing Guns'' (1950) - Mike Murphy
* ''Black Hand'' (1950) - Police Capt. Thompson
* '' Wabash Avenue'' (1950) - Sam - Bouncer
* '' The Capture'' (1950) - Mahoney
* ''Love That Brute'' (1950) - Burly Lieutenant
* '' The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950) - Lt. Ditrich
* '' 711 Ocean Drive'' (1950) - Vince Walters
* ''The Killer That Stalked New York'' (1950) - Treasury Agent Johnson
* '' Right Cross'' (1950) - Allan Goff
* '' Southside 1-1000'' (1950) - Bill Evans
* '' The Great Missouri Raid'' (1951) - Mr. Bauer
* '' Francis Goes to the Races'' (1951) - Roy Square Deal Mallory
* '' Flying Leathernecks'' (1951) - Brigadier General
* '' The Well'' (1951) - Sam Packard
* ''Carrie'' (1952) - Slawson
* '' Woman of the North Country'' (1952) - O'Hara
* '' Back at the Front'' (1952) - Brig. Gen. Dixon
* '' Law and Order'' (1953) - Fin Elder
* '' Remains to Be Seen'' (1953) - Lt. O'Flair
* '' South Sea Woman'' (1953) - Col. Hickman
* '' Vice Squad'' (1953) - Dwight Foreman
* '' Champ for a Day'' (1953) - Tom Healy
* ''The Long Wait'' (1954) - Tucker
* '' The Shanghai Story'' (1954) - Ricki Dolmine
* ''Women's Prison'' (1955) - Warden Brock
* '' New York Confidential'' (1955) - Robert Frawley
* '' Trial'' (1955) - Jim Brackett
* '' Accused of Murder'' (1956) - Police Capt. Art Smedley
* '' The Wings of Eagles'' (1957) - Capt. Jock Clark
* ''Monkey on My Back'' (1957) - Big Ralph
* '' The Joker Is Wild'' (1957) - Captain Hugh McCarthy
* ''The Tall Stranger'' (1957) - Hardy Bishop
* '' Gunfire at Indian Gap'' (1957) - Sheriff Daniel Harris
* ''Buchanan Rides Alone'' (1958) - Lew Agry
* '' The Buccaneer'' (1958) - Commodore Patterson
* '' Ice Palace'' (1960) - Einer Wendt
* '' Elmer Gantry'' (1960) - Police Capt. Holt
* ''The Police Dog Story

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