Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to portray characters whose anger slowly rose in frustrating situations. In many of his roles, he used exasperated facial expressions and performed very deliberately to convey his rising anger or "burn", often rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face in an effort to control his temper. One memorable example of his comedy technique can be seen in the 1933

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

' film '' Duck Soup'', where he plays a sidewalk lemonade vendor who is harassed and increasingly provoked by Harpo and Chico.

Early years

Kennedy was born April 26, 1890, in

Monterey County, California Monterey County ( ), officially the County of Monterey, is a county located on the Pacific coast in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, its population was 439,035. The county's largest city and county seat is Salinas. Monte ...

, to Canadians Neil Kennedy and Annie Quinn. He attended

San Rafael High School San Rafael High School is a public high school located at 150 Third St. in San Rafael, California, United States. The school is part of the San Rafael City Schools school district. Its official nickname is the Bulldog; however, its athletic team ...

before taking up boxing. He was a

light-heavyweight Light heavyweight, also referred to as junior cruiserweight or light cruiserweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserw ...

and once went 14 rounds with

Jack Dempsey William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983), nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. ...

. After

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

, he worked as a singer in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

and

light opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

Film career

After making his debut in 1911, Kennedy performed with some of Hollywood's biggest comedians, including

Roscoe Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked ...

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American Double act, comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–19 ...

, the

W.C. Fields WC or wc may refer to: * Water closet or flush toilet Arts and entertainment * ''W.C.'' (film), an Irish feature film * WC (band), a Polish punk rock band * WC (rapper), a rapper from Los Angeles, California * Westside Connection, former ...

Charley Chase Charles Joseph Parrott (October 20, 1893 – June 20, 1940), known professionally as Charley Chase, was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. He worked for many pioneering comedy studios but is chiefly associated with pro ...

and ''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

''. He was also one of the original

Keystone Kops The Keystone Cops (often spelled "Keystone Kops") are fictional, humorously incompetent policemen featured in silent film slapstick comedies produced by Mack Sennett for his Keystone Film Company between 1912 and 1917. History The idea for the ...

. Lahue, Kalton (1971); ''Mack Sennett's Keystone: The man, the myth and the comedies''; New York: Barnes; ; p. 194 Kennedy's burly frame originally suited him for villainous or threatening roles in silent pictures. By the 1920s, he was working for producer

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

, who kept him busy playing supporting roles in short comedies. He starred in one short, ''A Pair of Tights'' (1928), where he plays a tightwad determined to spend as little as possible on a date. His antics with comedian

Stuart Erwin Stuart Erwin (February 14, 1903 – December 21, 1967) was an American actor of stage, film, and television. Early years Erwin was born in Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California. He attended Porterville High School and the University of ...

are reminiscent of Roach's Laurel and Hardy comedies, produced concurrently. Kennedy also directed half a dozen of Roach's two-reel comedies. Edgar Kennedy in A Star Is Born trailer

In 1930, RKO-Pathe featured Kennedy in a pair of short-subject comedies, ''Next Door Neighbors'' and ''Help Wanted, Female''. His characterization of a short-tempered householder was so effective, RKO built a series around him. The "Average Man" comedies starred Kennedy as a blustery, stubborn everyman determined to accomplish a household project or get ahead professionally, despite the meddling of his featherbrained wife (usually

Florence Lake Florence Lake (born Florence Silverlake, November 27, 1904 – April 11, 1980) was an American actress best known as the leading lady in most of the Edgar Kennedy comedy shorts. Early life Lake was born in Charleston, South Carolina. In t ...

), her freeloading brother (originally William Eugene, then

Jack Rice Jack Rice (May 14, 1893 – December 14, 1968) was an American actor best known for appearing as the scrounging, freeloading brother-in-law in Edgar Kennedy's series of short domestic comedy films at the RKO studio, and also as "Ollie" (aka "Ol ...

) and his dubious mother-in-law (

Dot Farley Dorothea "Dot" Farley (February 6, 1881 – May 2, 1971) was an American film actress who appeared in 280 motion pictures between 1910 and 1950. She was also known as Dorothy Farley. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dorothea Farley was t ...

). Kennedy pioneered the kind of domestic situation comedy that later became familiar on television. Each installment ended with Kennedy embarrassed, humbled or defeated, looking at the camera and doing his patent slow burn. ''The Edgar Kennedy Series'', with its theme song "

Chopsticks Chopsticks ( or ; Pinyin: ''kuaizi'' or ''zhu'') are shaped pairs of equal-length sticks of China, Chinese origin that have been used as Kitchen utensil, kitchen and List of eating utensils, eating utensils in most of East Asia, East and Southe ...

", became a standard part of the moviegoing experience. He made six "Average Man" shorts a year for 17 years. In 1938, he worked as a straight man for British comedian

Will Hay William Thomson Hay (6 December 1888 – 18 April 1949) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film '' O ...

in '' Hey! Hey! USA''. In old California 1942 movie publicity still

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'', he presides over an international tribunal where

Wheeler & Woolsey Wheeler & Woolsey were an American vaudeville comedy double act who performed together in comedy films from the late 1920s. The team comprised Bert Wheeler (1895–1968) of New Jersey and Robert Woolsey (1888–1938) of Illinois. Collaboration a ...

want to do something about world peace. "Well, ya can't do anything about it ," yells Kennedy, "This is a " Kennedy, established as the

poster boy A poster child (sometimes poster boy or poster girl) is, according to the original meaning of the term, a child afflicted by some disease or deformity whose picture is used on posters or other media as part of a campaign to raise money or enlist ...

for frustration, even starred in an instructional film titled ''The Other Fellow'', where he played a loudmouthed roadhog venting his anger on other drivers (each played by Kennedy as well), little realizing that, to them, 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 Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

's last film, ''

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock ''The Sin of Harold Diddlebock'' is a 1947 comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring the silent film comic icon Harold Lloyd, and featuring a supporting cast including female protagonist Frances Ramsden, Jimmy Conlin, Raymond ...

'' (1947). He also played comical detectives opposite two titans of acting:

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

, in ''

Twentieth Century The 20th (twentieth) century began on January 1, 1901 (1901, MCMI), and ended on December 31, 2000 (2000, MM). The 20th century was dominated by significant events that defined the modern era: Spanish flu, Spanish flu pandemic, World War I and ...

'' (1934); and

Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey "Rex" Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play ''French Without Tears'', in what ...

, in '' Unfaithfully Yours'' (1948). In the latter, he tells Harrison's character, a symphony conductor, "Nobody handles Handel like you handle Handel."

Death

Kennedy died of

throat cancer Head and neck cancer develops from tissues in the lip and oral cavity (mouth), larynx (throat), salivary glands, nose, sinuses or the skin of the face. The most common types of head and neck cancers occur in the lip, mouth, and larynx. Symptoms ...

at the Motion Picture Hospital,

San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...

on November 9, 1948.

Tom Kennedy Thomas or Tom Kennedy may refer to: Politics *Thomas Kennedy (Scottish judge) (1673–1754), joint Solicitor General for Scotland 1709–14, Lord Advocate 1714, Member of Parliament for Ayr Burghs 1720–21 * Thomas Kennedy, 9th Earl of Cassilis ...

(no relation) and

Charles Coburn Charles Douville Coburn (June 19, 1877 – August 30, 1961) was an American actor and theatrical producer. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award three times – in ''The Devil and Miss Jones'' (1941), '' The More the M ...

spoke at the funeral service held at St. Gregory's Church, with

Chester Conklin Chester Cooper Conklin (January 11, 1886 – October 11, 1971) was an early American film comedian who started at Keystone Studios as one of Mack Sennett’s Keystone Cops, often paired with Mack Swain. He appeared in a series of films with ...

Jimmy Finlayson James Henderson Finlayson (27 August 1887 – 9 October 1953) was a Scottish actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Bald, with a fake moustache, Finlayson had many trademark comic mannerisms and is known for his squinting, outraged ...

Del Lord Delmer "Del" Lord (October 7, 1894March 23, 1970) was a Canadians, Canadian film director and actor best known as a director of Three Stooges films. Career Delmer Lord was born in the small town of Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. Interested in the the ...

and

Billy Gilbert William Gilbert Barron (September 12, 1894 – September 23, 1971), known professionally as Billy Gilbert, was an American actor and comedian. He was known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects ...

among the mourners. Kennedy was interred at the

Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Holy Cross Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery at 5835 West Slauson Avenue in Culver City, California, operated by the Los Angeles Archdiocese. It is partially in the Culver City city limits. Opened in 1939, Holy Cross comprises . It contains—amo ...

Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County, is the List of the most populous counties in the United States, most populous county in the United States and in the U.S. state of California, ...

Selected filmography

As actor: * '' Brown of Harvard'' (1911, Short) as Claxton Madden * '' Hoffmeyer's Legacy'' (1912, Short) as Keystone Kop (uncredited) * ''

The Bangville Police ''The Bangville Police'' (also known as ''Bangville Police'') is a 1913 comedy short starring Fred Mace, Mabel Normand and the Keystone Cops (Mace, Raymond Hatton, Edgar Kennedy, Ford Sterling, and Al St. John). The one-reel film, generally re ...

'' (1913, Short) as 3rd Deputy (in straw hat) * '' The Star Boarder'' (1914, Short) as Landlady's Husband * ''

The Knockout ''The Knockout'' is a 1914 American silent comedy film starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. It also features Charlie Chaplin in a small role, his seventeenth film for Keystone Studios. It is one of only a few films in which Chaplin's Little ...

'' (1914, Short) as Cyclone Flynn (uncredited) * '' Tillie's Punctured Romance'' (1914) as Restaurant Owner / Butler (uncredited) * ''The Stolen Triumph'' (1916) as Edwin Rowley, Jr. * ''His Bitter Bill'' (1916) as Diamond Dan *'' The Blue Streak'' (1917) * ''

Watch Your Neighbor ''Watch Your Neighbor'' is a 1918 silent film comedy short directed by Hampton Del Ruth and Victor Heerman. It starred Charles Murray and Mary Thurman. It was produced by Mack Sennett in a distribution deal with Paramount Pictures. Cast *Charles ...

'' (1918) * ''

Mickey Mickey is a given name and nickname, almost always masculine and often a short form (hypocorism) of Michael (given name), Michael, and occasionally a surname. Notable people and characters with the name include: People Given name or nickname Men ...

'' (1918) as Stage Driver / Bookie (uncredited) * ''

Yankee Doodle in Berlin ''Yankee Doodle in Berlin'' is a 1919 American silent comedy and World War I propaganda film from producer Mack Sennett. It was Sennett's most expensive production up to that time. Hiram Abrams was the original State's Rights marketer before th ...

'' (1919) as German Prison Guard (uncredited) * ''Daredevil Jack'' (1920) * '' Puppets of Fate'' (1921) as Mike Reynolds * ''

Skirts A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards. At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts are fi ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Leather Pushers ''The Leather Pushers'' is a 1922 American film serial starring Reginald Denny (and Billy Sullivan in the fourth series), and based on boxing stories by H. C. Witwer originally published in ''Collier's Weekly''. The screenplays were written by ...

'' (1922) as Ptomaine Tommy * ''

Bell Boy 13 ''Bell Boy 13'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by William A. Seiter, and starring Douglas MacLean, John Steppling, Margaret Loomis, William Courtright, Emily Gerdes, and Eugene Burr. The film was released by First National Pict ...

'' (1923) as Chef (uncredited) * ''

The Little Girl Next Door ''The Little Girl Next Door'' is a 1912 American silent short drama directed by Lucius Henderson and written by Philip Lonergan. The film starred William Garwood and Marguerite Snow in the lead roles. Prints of the film are in the Library of ...

'' (1923) as Hank Hall * ''The Night Message'' (1924) as Lem Beeman * ''

Racing for Life ''Racing for Life'' is a 1924 American silent action film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Eva Novak, William Fairbanks and Philo McCullough.Munden p.627 Cast * Eva Novak as Grace Danton * William Fairbanks as Jack Grant * Philo McCullo ...

'' (1924) as Tom Grady * ''

Paths to Paradise ''Paths to Paradise'' is a 1925 silent comedy directed by Clarence Badger, produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film is based on a 1914 play, ''The Heart of a Thief'', by Paul Armstrong, and stars Raymond ...

'' (1925) as Detective (uncredited) * ''

The Trouble with Wives ''The Trouble with Wives'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Malcolm St. Clair, written by Sada Cowan and Howard Higgin, and starring Florence Vidor, Tom Moore, Esther Ralston, Ford Sterling, Lucy Beaumont, and Edgar Kennedy. ...

'' (1925) as Detective * '' The Golden Princess'' (1925) as Gewilliker Hay * '' The People vs. Nancy Preston'' (1925) as Gloomy Gus * ''

His People ''His People'' (also known as Proud Heart) is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Edward Sloman about a young, Jewish boxer growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

'' (1925) as Thomas Nolan * ''Oh What a Nurse!'' (1926) as Eric Johnson * '' My Old Dutch'' (1926) as Bill Sproat * ''

Across the Pacific ''Across the Pacific'' is a 1942 American spy film set on the eve of the entry of the United States into World War II. It was directed first by John Huston, then by Vincent Sherman after Huston joined the United States Army Signal Corps. It sta ...

'' (1926) as Cpl. Ryan * ''

The Better 'Ole ''The Better 'Ole'', also called ''The Romance of Old Bill'', is an Edwardian musical comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliot, music by Herman Darewski, and lyrics by Percival Knight and James Heard, based on the cartoon chara ...

'' (1926) as Cpl. Austin * ''

Going Crooked ''Going Crooked'' is a 1926 American silent crime film produced and distributed by the Fox Film Corporation. It was directed by George Melford and stars Bessie Love. The film is preserved at the Museum of Modern Art, the George Eastman House, ...

'' (1926) as Detective * '' Finger Prints'' (1927) as O.K. McDuff * ''

The Gay Old Bird ''The Gay Old Bird'' is a 1927 American comedy film directed by Herman C. Raymaker and written by C. Graham Baker and Edward Clark. The film stars Louise Fazenda, John T. Murray, Jane Winton, William Demarest, John Steppling and Frances Ray ...

'' (1927) as Chauffeur * '' The Wrong Mr. Wright'' (1927) as Trayguard * ''

Wedding Bills ''Wedding Bills'' (also sometimes written as ''Wedding Bill$'') is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and starring Raymond Griffith, Anne Sheridan, and Hallam Cooley.McCaffrey & Jacob p. 141 It is considered lost Lo ...

'' (1927) as Detective * ''

The Chinese Parrot ''The Chinese Parrot'' (1926) is the second novel in the Charlie Chan series of mystery novels by Earl Derr Biggers. It is the first in which Chan travels from Hawaii to mainland California, and involves a crime whose exposure is hastened by t ...

'' (1927) as Maydorf * ''

Leave 'Em Laughing ''Leave 'Em Laughing'' is a 1928 two-reel silent film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Produced by the Hal Roach Studios, it was shot in October 1927 and released January 28, 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Opening title ''What's worse ...

'' (1928, Short) (First appearance with

) * '' The Finishing Touch'' (1928, Short) as Policeman (credited as Ed Kennedy) * ''

Two Tars ''Two Tars'' is a silent short subject directed by James Parrott starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on November 3, 1928 Plot Laurel and Hardy play two sailors on shore leave who decide to rent an autom ...

'' (1928, Short) as Motorist * ''

Trent's Last Case ''Trent's Last Case'' is a detective novel written by E. C. Bentley and first published in 1913. Its central character, the artist and amateur detective Philip Trent, reappeared subsequently in the novel '' Trent's Own Case'' (1936), and the s ...

'' (1929) as Inspector Murch * '' Perfect Day'' (1929, Short) as Uncle Edgar * ''

They Had to See Paris ''They Had to See Paris'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code comedy film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Will Rogers, Irene Rich, and Marguerite Churchill. The screenplay concerns a wealthy American oil tycoon who travels to Paris with his fam ...

'' (1929) as Ed Eggers (uncredited) * ''

Welcome Danger ''Welcome Danger'' is a 1929 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Clyde Bruckman and starring Harold Lloyd. A sound version and silent version were filmed. Ted Wilde began work on the silent version, but became ill and was replaced by Bruck ...

'' (1929) as SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Night Owls'' (1930, Short) as Officer Kennedy * '' Quick Millions'' (1931) as Cop (uncredited) * ''

Bad Company Bad Company are an English rock supergroup that was formed in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell.Bad Company ''AllMusic'' Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, also ...

'' (1931) as Buffington – Doorman * '' The Carnival Boat'' (1932) as Baldy * ''

Westward Passage ''Westward Passage'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Milton and starring Ann Harding, Laurence Olivier, ZaSu Pitts and Irving Pichel. The screenplay concerns a woman who falls in love and marries, but soon discovers ho ...

'' (1932) as Elmer * ''

Hold 'Em Jail ''Hold 'Em Jail'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film starring Wheeler and Woolsey. They play a couple of boobs who are wrongfully convicted for firearm possession and sent to prison, where they somehow end up playing on the warden's footbal ...

'' (1932) as Warden Elmer Jones * ''

Little Orphan Annie ''Little Orphan Annie'' is a daily American comic strip created by Harold Gray and syndicated by the Tribune Media Services. The strip took its name from the 1885 poem "Little Orphant Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley, and it made its debut on Aug ...

'' (1932) as Daddy Warbucks * '' Rockabye'' (1932) as Water Wagon-Driver (uncredited) * ''

The Penguin Pool murder ''The Penguin Pool Murder'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy/mystery film starring Edna May Oliver as Hildegarde Withers, a witness in a murder case at the New York Aquarium, with James Gleason as the police inspector in charge of the case, ...

'' (1932) as Donovan * ''

Scarlet River ''Scarlet River'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Western film directed by Otto Brower, written by Harold Shumate, and starring Tom Keene, Dorothy Wilson, Roscoe Ates, Lon Chaney Jr. and Edgar Kennedy. It was released on March 10, 1933, by RKO ...

'' (1933) as Sam Gilroy * ''

Diplomaniacs ''Diplomaniacs'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film starring Wheeler and Woolsey. The film in noted for its absurdist political satire, somewhat in the manner of '' Million Dollar Legs'' or '' Duck Soup'', both of which were released within ...

'' (1933) as chairman – Peace Conference * ''

Son of the Border ''Son of the Border'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Western film directed by Lloyd Nosler, written by Wellyn Totman, and starring Tom Keene, Julie Haydon, Edgar Kennedy, Lon Chaney, Jr. and David Durand. It was released on May 5, 1933 by RKO ...

'' (1933) as Windy * '' Cross Fire'' (1933) as Ed Wimpy * ''

Professional Sweetheart ''Professional Sweetheart'' is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic comedy directed by William A. Seiter from a screenplay by Maurine Watkins. It stars Ginger Rogers in her first film for RKO Radio Pictures, with Norman Foster, ZaSu Pitts and F ...

'' (1933) as Tim Kelsey * '' Good Housewrecking'' (1933, Short) as Mr. Kennedy * ''

Tillie and Gus ''Tillie and Gus'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Francis Martin, co-written by Martin and Walter DeLeon, and starring W.C. Fields, Alison Skipworth, Baby LeRoy, Julie Bishop, and Clarence Wilson. It is based on a short ...

'' (1933) as Judge * '' Duck Soup'' (1933) as Lemonade Vendor * '' King for a Night'' (1933) as Cop (uncredited) * '' All of Me'' (1934) as Guard (uncredited) * ''

Heat Lightning Heat lightning, also known as silent lightning, summer lightning, or dry lightning (not to be confused with dry thunderstorms, which are also often called dry lightning), is a misnomer used for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or o ...

'' (1934) as Herbert – the Husband * ''

'' (1934) as McGonigle * ''

Operator 13 ''Operator 13'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romance film directed by Richard Boleslawski and starring Marion Davies, Gary Cooper, and Jean Parker. Based on stories written by Robert W. Chambers, the film is about a Union spy who impersonates a ...

'' (1934) as Confederate Officer Jealous of Artilleryman (uncredited) * ''

Murder on the Blackboard ''Murder on the Blackboard'' is a 1934 American pre-Code mystery/comedy film starring Edna May Oliver as schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers and James Gleason as Police Inspector Oscar Piper. Together, they investigate a murder at Withers' school. I ...

'' (1934) as Detective Donahue * '' Money Means Nothing'' (1934) as Herbert Green * '' We're Rich Again'' (1934) as Healy, Process Server * ''

Bachelor Bait ''Bachelor Bait'' is a 1934 American comedy film about a man (William Watts) who is fired from his job issuing marriage licenses at city hall because of the actions of a co-worker. He starts a match making business which becomes very successful b ...

'' (1934) (scenes deleted) * ''

King Kelly of the U.S.A. ''King Kelly of the U.S.A.'' is a 1934 American romantic musical film directed by Leonard Fields. The film stars then popular singer Guy Robertson in his only feature film appearance.https://earlysoundguy.com/2018/07/22/where-did-you-go-guy-robe ...

'' (1934) as Happy Moran * ''

Gridiron Flash ''Gridiron Flash'' is a 1934 American sports film directed by Glenn Tryon and starring Eddie Quillan, Betty Furness and Grant Mitchell. It was produced and distributed by RKO Pictures. It made a profit of $43,000. Plot Belford College's football ...

'' (1934) as Officer Thurston * ''

Kid Millions ''Kid Millions'' (1934) is an American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions, and starring Eddie Cantor. Its elaborate "Ice Cream Fantasy Finale" production number was filmed in three-strip Technicolor, one ...

'' (1934) as Herman Wilson * ''

The Marines Are Coming ''The Marines Are Coming'' is a 1934 American action drama film directed by David Howard and starring William Haines, Conrad Nagel and Esther Ralston. It was produced and distributed by the independent Mascot Pictures. It was the final film ac ...

'' (1934) as Sgt. Buck Martin * ''

Flirting with Danger ''Flirting with Danger'' is a 1934 American comedy adventure film directed by Vin Moore and starring Robert Armstrong, Edgar Kennedy and William Cagney ( James Cagney's lookalike brother). The picture was released by Monogram Pictures and has a ...

'' (1934) as Jimmie Pierson * ''

The Silver Streak ''The Silver Streak'' is a 1934 American black-and-white film drama from RKO, loosely based on the record-setting "dawn-to-dusk" run of the '' Pioneer Zephyr'' on May 26, 1934. The film stars Sally Blane, Charles Starrett, William Farnum, and ...

'' (1934) as Dan O'Brien * ''

Affairs of a Gentleman ''Affairs of a Gentleman'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by Cyril Hume, Peter Ruric and Milton Krims, adapted from the play by Edith Ellis and Edward Ellis (actor). The film stars Paul Lukas, Le ...

'' (1934) * ''

Rendezvous at Midnight ''Rendezvous at Midnight'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Ralph Bellamy, Valerie Hobson, Catherine Doucet and Irene Ware. The film was produced and distributed by Hollywood studio Universal Pictures. T ...

'' (1935) as Mahoney * ''

Living on Velvet ''Living on Velvet'' is a 1935 American romantic drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Kay Francis, Warren William and George Brent. Plot One day, Terry Parker, an airplane pilot, is in a plane crash that kills his family. He feel ...

'' (1935) as Counterman * '' The Cowboy Millionaire'' (1935) as Willy Persimmon Bates * ''

Woman Wanted ''Woman Wanted'' is a 1999 film directed by Kiefer Sutherland (later credited as Alan Smithee). It is based on a novel by Joanna Glass, who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Sutherland, Holly Hunter, Michael Moriarty, and Sutherland's mother ...

'' (1935) as Sweeney * '' Little Big Shot'' (1935) as Onderdonk * ''

1,000 Dollars a Minute ''1,000 Dollars a Minute'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Aubrey Scotto and starring Roger Pryor and Leila Hyams. The film was released on October 22, 1935. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Sound Recordin ...

'' (1935) as Police Officer McCarthy * '' In Person'' (1935) as Man (uncredited) * ''

The Bride Comes Home ''The Bride Comes Home'' is a 1935 comedy film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Wesley Ruggles, and starring Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray and Robert Young (actor), Robert Young. It was written by Claude Binyon and Elisabeth Sanxay Hol ...

'' (1935) as Henry * ''It's Up to You'' (1936) as Elmer Block * ''

The Return of Jimmy Valentine ''The Return of Jimmy Valentine'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Lewis D. Collins and written by Olive Cooper and Jack Natteford. The film stars Roger Pryor, Charlotte Henry, Robert Warwick, James P. Burtis, Edgar Kennedy and J. Carr ...

'' (1936) as Callahan * ''Will Power'' (1936, Short) as Himself * ''

The Robin Hood of El Dorado ''Robin Hood of El Dorado'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman for MGM. It stars Warner Baxter as real-life Mexican folk hero Joaquin Murrieta and Ann Loring as his love interest, with Bruce Cabot as Bill Warren and ...

'' (1936) as Sheriff Judd * '' Small Town Girl'' (1936) as Captain Mack * ''

Fatal Lady ''Fatal Lady'' is a 1936 American musical film, musical mystery film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Walter Pidgeon, Mary Ellis and Ruth Donnelly. It recorded a loss of $296,665. The film's sets were designed by art director Alexander Tol ...

'' (1936) as Rudolf Hochstetter * ''

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

'' (1936) as Sheriff * ''

Yours for the Asking ''Yours for the Asking'' is a 1936 American comedy film film starring George Raft as a casino owner and Dolores Costello as the socialite he hires as hostess. The movie also features Ida Lupino and was directed by Alexander Hall. Plot Johnny L ...

'' (1936) as Bicarbonate * ''

Mad Holiday ''Mad Holiday'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by George B. Seitz and written by Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf. The film stars Edmund Lowe, Elissa Landi, ZaSu Pitts, Ted Healy, Edmund Gwenn and Edgar Kennedy. The film was relea ...

'' (1936) as Donovan * ''

Three Men on a Horse ''Three Men on a Horse'' is a three-act farce co-authored by John Cecil Holm and George Abbott. The comedy focuses on a man who discovers he has a talent for choosing the winning horse in a race as long as he never places a bet himself. Originally ...

'' (1936) as Harry * ''

When's Your Birthday? ''When's Your Birthday?'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Joe E. Brown. While original prints of this film had a cartoon sequence in Technicolor directed by Bob Clampett and Leon Schlesinger, mos ...

'' (1937) as Mr. Basscombe * '' The Other Fellow'' (1937, Short) as Various Roles * '' A Star Is Born'' (1937) as Pop Randall * ''

Super-Sleuth ''Super-Sleuth'' is a 1937 comedy film directed by Ben Stoloff. It was an early lead role for Jack Oakie. ''Super Sleuth'' was a remade in 1946 as ''Genius at Work'', with comedy team of Wally Brown and Alan Carney. Plot A film detective believ ...

'' (1937) as Police Lt. Garrison * ''

Double Wedding A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vo ...

'' (1937) as Spike * ''

Hollywood Hotel The Hollywood Hotel was a famous hotel, society venue of early Hollywood, and landmark, formerly located at 6811 Hollywood Boulevard, on the north side, extending from Highland Avenue to Orchid Avenue, in central Hollywood, Los Angeles, Califor ...

'' (1937) as Callaghan * ''

True Confession ''True Confession'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, and John Barrymore. It was based on the 1934 play ''Mon Crime'', written by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil. I ...

'' (1937) as Darsey * ''

The Black Doll ''The Black Doll'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett and starring Donald Woods and Edgar Kennedy. The film was the second in Universal's Crime Club series following ''The Westland Case''. Production In 1937, Universal ...

'' (1938) as Sheriff Renick * ''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as ...

'' (1938) as Daniel Webster Smith * ''

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus ''Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline, based on the book of the same name by George W. Peck, one of his stories of Peck's Bad Boy. Plot summary Bill Peck receives ten dollars from his p ...

'' (1938) as Arthur Bailey * '' Hey! Hey! USA'' (1938) as Bugs Leary * '' It's a Wonderful World'' (1939) as Police Lieutenant Miller * ''

Everything's on Ice ''Everything's on Ice'' is a 1939 American musical film produced by Sol Lesser for RKO Pictures, directed by Erle C. Kenton and stars six year old Irene Dare, Edgar Kennedy and Lynne Roberts. The film was released on October 6, 1939 and is also kn ...

'' (1939) as Joe Barton * ''

Little Accident ''Little Accident'' was a 1928 Broadway three-act comedy written by Floyd Dell and Thomas Mitchell (who also played Norman Overbeck in the play). It was based on Dell's 1927 novel ''An Unmarried Father''. It was produced by Crosby Gaige and direc ...

'' (1939) as Paper Hanger * '' Laugh it Off'' (1939) as Judge John J. McGuinnis * ''Charlie McCarthy, Detective'' (1939) as Inspector Dailey * ''

Sandy Is a Lady ''Sandy Is a Lady'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Charles Grayson. The film stars Baby Sandy, Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Eugene Pallette, Nan Grey, Tom Brown, Mischa Auer, Billy Gilbert and Edgar K ...

'' (1940) as Officer Rafferty * ''

Dr. Christian Meets the Women ''Dr. Christian Meets the Women'' is a 1940 American film directed by William C. McGann, one of the series of six Dr. Christian films featuring Jean Hersholt. Plot summary Professor Kenneth Parker, a God-fearing physical culturist, arrives to ...

'' (1940) as George Browning * ''

The Bride Wore Crutches ''The Bride Wore Crutches'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Shepard Traube and written by Edward Verdier. The film stars Lynne Roberts, Ted North, Edgar Kennedy, Robert Armstrong, Lionel Stander and Richard Lane. The film was release ...

'' (1940) as Police Captain McGuire * ''

Margie Margie is a feminine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Margaret, Marjorie or Margarita. Margie may refer to: People * Margie Ackles (born 1939), American retired figure skater * Marjorie Margie Alexander (1948–2013), American ...

'' (1940) as Chauncey * '' The Quarterback'' (1940) as Pops * ''

Who Killed Aunt Maggie? ''Who Killed Aunt Maggie?'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring John Hubbard, Wendy Barrie and Mona Barrie. It was produced and distributed by Republic Pictures. Plot Radio-mystery script writer Sally Ambler is ...

'' (1940) as Sheriff Gregory * ''

Sandy Gets Her Man ''Sandy Gets Her Man'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Otis Garrett and Paul Gerard Smith and written by Sy Bartlett and Jane Storm. The film stars Baby Sandy, Stuart Erwin, Una Merkel, Edgar Kennedy, William Frawley, Edward Brophy, ...

'' (1940) as Fire Chief Galvin * ''

Li'l Abner ''Li'l Abner'' is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe. It featured a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished mountain village of Dogpatch, USA. Written and drawn ...

'' (1940) as Cornelius Cornpone * '' Remedy for Riches'' (1940) as George Browning * ''

Too Many Blondes ''Too Many Blondes'' is a 1941 American musical comedy film directed by Thornton Freeland and starring Rudy Vallee, Helen Parrish and Lon Chaney Jr. Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon ...

'' (1941) as Hotel Manager (uncredited) * ''

Blondie in Society ''Blondie in Society'' is a 1941 black-and-white comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the ninth of the 28 features in the Blondie film series. Plot Dagwood is given a Great D ...

'' (1941) as Doctor * '' Public Enemies'' (1941) as Biff * ''

Private Snuffy Smith ''Private Snuffy Smith'' (reissued as ''Snuffy Smith, Yardbird'') is a 1942 American army comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and starring Bud Duncan as comic-strip character Snuffy Smith and Edgar Kennedy as his commanding officer. A se ...

'' (1942) as Sergeant Ed Cooper * '' Pardon My Stripes'' (1942) as Warden Bingham * '' In Old California'' (1942) as Kegs McKeever * ''

There's One Born Every Minute ''There's One Born Every Minute'', also known as ''Man or Mouse'', is a 1942 American Universal Pictures comedy film directed by Harold Young. It was Elizabeth Taylor's first film and one of her only films with Universal Studios. The film is ...

'' (1942) as Mayor Moe Carson * '' Hillbilly Blitzkrieg'' (1942) as Sgt. Homer Gatling * ''

The Crime Smasher ''The Crime Smasher'' is a 1943 American crime comedy film directed by James Tinling and starring Edgar Kennedy, Richard Cromwell and Gale Storm.Tucker p.67 It is based on the Radio program ''Cosmo Jones'' featuring Frank Graham. The film's set ...

'' (1943) as Police Chief Murphy * '' Hold Your Temper'' (1943, Short) as Himself * '' The Falcon Strikes Back'' (1943) as Smiley Dugan * ''

Air Raid Wardens ''Air Raid Wardens'' is a 1943 comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was the first of two feature films the duo made at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Set during World War II, just after Pearl Harbor, Stan (Stan La ...

'' (1943) as Joe Bledsoe * ''

Hitler's Madman ''Hitler's Madman'' is a 1943 World War II drama directed by Douglas Sirk. It is a highly fictionalized account of the 1942 Operation Anthropoid, assassination of Nazi official Reinhard Heydrich and the resulting Lidice massacre, which the Nazi G ...

'' (1943) as Nepomuk – the Hermit * ''

The Girl from Monterrey ''The Girl from Monterrey'' is a 1943 American film directed by Wallace Fox starring Armida Vendrell as PRCs version of the Mexican Spitfire. The film is also known as ''The Girl from Monterey'' (American alternative spelling). Plot summary In ...

'' (1943) as Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter * '' Crazy House'' (1943) as Judge * ''

It Happened Tomorrow ''It Happened Tomorrow'' is a 1944 American fantasy film directed by René Clair, starring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell and Jack Oakie, and featuring Edgar Kennedy and John Philliber. It is based on the one-act play "The Jest of Haha Laba" by L ...

'' (1944) as Inspector Mulrooney * '' Radio Rampage'' (1944, Short) as Himself * ''

The Great Alaskan Mystery ''The Great Alaskan Mystery'' is a 1944 Universal film serial about government agents trying to stop Nazi spies from getting their hands on futuristic weapons. Plot James 'Jim' Hudson, an adventurer and accompanied by allies, goes after Nazi age ...

'' (1944, Serial) as Bosun Higgins * ''

Anchors Aweigh "Anchors Aweigh" is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy and unofficial march song of the United States Navy. It was composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmermann with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles. When he composed "Anchors Aweigh", Zim ...

'' (1945) as Police Captain * ''

Captain Tugboat Annie ''Captain Tugboat Annie'' is a 1945 second sequel to the classic ''Tugboat Annie'' (1933), this time starring Jane Darwell as Annie and Edgar Kennedy as Horatio Bullwinkle. The movie was directed by Phil Rosen, and is also known as ''Tugboat Ann ...

'' (1945) as Captain Bullwinkle * ''It's Your Move'' (1945, Short) as Himself * '' You Drive Me Crazy'' (1945, Short) as Himself * ''

'' (1947) (a.k.a. ''Mad Wednesday'') as Jake the Bartender * '' Television Turmoil'' (1947, Short) as Himself * '' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947) as Judd * '' Unfaithfully Yours'' (1948) as Detective Sweeney * ''

My Dream Is Yours ''My Dream Is Yours'' is a 1949 Technicolor musical romantic comedy film starring Jack Carson, Doris Day, and Lee Bowman. Plot The film opens in Los Angeles, where Doug Blake is dumped as a manager by Gary Mitchell. He goes to New York City to ...

'' (1949) as Uncle Charlie (final film role) As director: * ''

From Soup to Nuts ''From Soup to Nuts'' is a silent short subject directed by E. Livingston Kennedy starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released on March 24, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Stan and Ollie are hired as waiters at an upper class dinn ...

'' (1928) —

two-reeler (silent) * ''

You're Darn Tootin' ''You're Darn Tootin is a silent short subject directed by E. Livingston Kennedy starring comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. It was released on April 21, 1928, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Members of a municipal band, Stanley and Oliver seem to be ...

'' (1928) — Laurel and Hardy two-reeler (silent)

References

External links

*
Edgar Kennedy
a

The Sons of the Desert The Sons of the Desert is an international fraternal organization devoted to the lives and films of comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The group takes its name from a fictional lodge that Laurel and Hardy belonged to in the 1933 film ''Son ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Edgar 1890 births 1948 deaths 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American male actors American male boxers American male comedians American male comedy actors American male film actors American male silent film actors American people of Canadian descent Hal Roach Studios short film series Boxers from California Burials at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City Comedians from California Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from esophageal cancer Hal Roach Studios actors Light-heavyweight boxers Male actors from California People from Monterey County, California Silent film comedians