John F. Kelly (June 6, 1901 – December 9, 1947) was an American actor whose career spanned the very end of the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era through the 1940s. While most of his parts were smaller, often-uncredited roles, he was occasionally given a more substantial supporting or even featured role.

Life and career

John F. Kelly was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 29, 1901. He broke into the film industry in 1928 when he was cast as the chauffeur in the Fox silent film, ''Blindfold''. He would work in two more Fox films in 1928, both directed by

Irving Cummings Irving Cummings (October 9, 1888 – April 18, 1959) was an American movie actor and director. Career Born in New York City, Cummings started his acting career at age 16 in ''Diplomacy (play), Diplomacy''. His Broadway theatre, Broadway, p ...

. The first was '' Dressed To Kill'', starring

Mary Astor Mary Astor (born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke; May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress. Although her career spanned several decades, she may be best remembered for her performance as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in '' The Maltese ...

, where he played the supporting role of Biff Simpson; while the second was in the small role of a window-washer in '' Romance of the Underworld'', again starring Astor. In 1929 he appeared in only one film, in the role of O'Farrell in the Warner Bros. film, ''From Headquarters'', starring

Monte Blue Gerard Montgomery Blue (January 11, 1887 – February 18, 1963) was an American film actor who began his career as a romantic lead in the silent era; and for decades after the advent of sound, he continued to perform as a supporting player ...

. Kelly's first appearance in a

sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...

, was in 1930's '' The Man Hunter'', with its canine hero

Rin Tin Tin Rin Tin Tin or Rin-Tin-Tin (October 10, 1918 – August 10, 1932) was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. He was rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, ...

. During the 1930s, Kelly would appear in numerous films mainly in small, uncredited roles. In 1933 he would have a small role in ''

Morning Glory Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose taxonomy and systematics remain in flux. These species are distributed across numerous genus, gene ...

'', for which

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...

won her first Oscar; as well as having another small role in

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent cinema actor George Walsh. He wa ...

's '' The Bowery'', which starred

Wallace Beery Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in '' Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in '' Grand Hotel'' (1 ...

George Raft George Raft (né Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembe ...

, and Jackie Cooper. In 1934 he would have a featured role as Canvas Back in

Shirley Temple Shirley Temple Black (born Shirley Jane Temple; April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomat, who was Hollywood's number-one box-office draw as a child actress from 1934 to 1938. Later, she was na ...

's starring debut, '' Little Miss Marker''. He would follow this up the same year as one of

Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz; January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Cantor was one of the prominent entertainers of his era. Some of h ...

's stepbrothers in '' Kid Millions'', and then appear in the featured role of Chuck in

Lambert Hillyer Lambert Hillyer (July 8, 1893 – July 5, 1969) was an American film director and screenwriter. He is best known today for his many western features, his horror films ''The Invisible Ray (1936 film), The Invisible Ray'' and ''Dracula's Daugh ...

's 1934 police drama, ''Men of the Night''. Kelly had a small part in the 1935 romantic comedy '' We're in the Money'', starring

Joan Blondell Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years. Blondell began her career in vaudeville. After winning a beauty pageant, she embarked on a film career, estab ...

and Glenda Farrell, followed by another small role in '' Public Hero No. 1'', a 1935 crime drama starring

Lionel Barrymore Lionel Barrymore (born Lionel Herbert Blyth; April 28, 1878 – November 15, 1954) was an American actor of stage, screen and radio as well as a film director. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in '' A Free Soul'' (1931) ...

and

Jean Arthur Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene; October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991) was an American film and theater actress whose career began in silent films in the early 1920s and lasted until the early 1950s. Arthur had feature roles in three F ...

. In 1936 he would play the famous boxer, John L. Sullivan in a featured role in

Irving Pichel Irving Pichel (June 24, 1891 – July 13, 1954) was an American actor and film director, who won acclaim both as an actor and director in his Hollywood career. Career Pichel was born to a American Jews, Jewish family in Pittsburgh. He attended ...

's drama, '' The Gentleman from Louisiana'' (1936). Later in 1936 he would reunite with Shirley Temple in the supporting role of Ferguson in 1936's '' Poor Little Rich Girl''. Later that year he would appear in the role of Harold in the 1936 detective comedy '' After the Thin Man'', starring

William Powell William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor, known primarily for his film career. Under contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the ''The Thin Man (film), Thin M ...

and

Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. As a performer, she was known for her ability to adapt to her screen partner's acting style. Born in Helena, Monta ...

. Kelly would finish out 1936 with two featured roles: that of Rusty in the comedy '' Polo Joe'', starring Joe E. Brown, and as Kid Couch in the 1936 drama '' Fugitive in the Sky''. 1937 saw Kelly in the featured role of Maxie in the comedy, '' Angel's Holiday'', followed by his featured role as Deuces in the 1937 crime film, '' The Big Shot'', starring

Guy Kibbee Guy Bridges Kibbee (March 6, 1882 – May 24, 1956) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Kibbee was born in El Paso, Texas. His father was editor of the ''El Paso Herald-Post'' newspaper, and Kibbee learned how to set type at age ...

. Kelly would close out the decade appearing in almost a dozen films. These would include the featured role of the simple-minded policeman Elmer in the screwball comedy classic, ''

Bringing Up Baby ''Bringing Up Baby'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was released by RKO Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures. The film tells the story of a paleontologist in a numb ...

'' (1938), starring Hepburn and

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English and American actor. Known for his blended British and American accent, debonair demeanor, lighthearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing, he ...

, as Butch in the 1939 comedy, '' Sudden Money'', starring

Charlie Ruggles Charles Sherman Ruggles (February 8, 1886 – December 23, 1970) was an American comic character actor. In a career spanning six decades, Ruggles appeared in close to 100 feature films, often in mild-mannered and comic roles. He was also the e ...

, and as John Cass in the first of the Dr. Christian films, '' Meet Dr. Christian'', starring

Jean Hersholt Jean Pierre Carl Buron (12 July 1886 – 2 June 1956), known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor. He is most famous for starring on the CBS radio series '' Dr. Christian'' from 1937–1954, which later inspired a TV se ...

. He would start off the 1940s by playing Pete Hawks in the 1940 Universal movie serial ''

The Green Hornet The Green Hornet is a superhero created in 1936 by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker, with input from radio director James Jewell (director), James Jewell. Since his 1930s radio debut, the character has appeared in numerous serialized dramas i ...

'', which starred Gordon Jones in the title role. Also in 1940 he had a small role in the first of the

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared ...

and

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

"Road" films, ''

Road to Singapore ''Road to Singapore'' is a 1940 American musical film, musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour and Bob Hope. Based on a story by Harry Hervey, the film is about two playboys trying to avoid ...

''. The following year, Kelly played the feature role of Buffalo Bill Oxenstern in the Warner Bros. comedy, ''

Three Sons o' Guns 3 (three) is a number, numeral (linguistics), numeral and numerical digit, digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious and cul ...

''. He also had a featured role, that of Knockout Riley, in the 1941 sports film, '' The Pittsburgh Kid''. In 1942 he was featured in the role of Snork in ''Jail House Blues'', directed by

Albert S. Rogell Albert S. Rogell (August 21, 1901 – April 7, 1988) was an American film director who was born in Oklahoma City and died in Los Angeles. Rogell directed more than a hundred movies between 1921 and 1958. He was known for an aggressive directing ...

. That same year he also appeared in '' Moontide'', in the featured role of Mac. ''Moontide'' was directed by

Archie Mayo Archibald L. Mayo (January 29, 1891 – December 4, 1968) was a film director, screenwriter and actor. Early years The son of a tailor, Mayo was born in New York City. After attending the city's public schools, he studied at Columbia Unive ...

and

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), better known as Fritz Lang (), was an Austrian-born film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety Obituari ...

, and starred Jean Gabin and

Ida Lupino Ida Lupino (4 February 1918Recorded in ''Births Mar 1918'' Camberwell Vol. 1d, p. 1019 (Free BMD). Transcribed as "Lupine" in the official births index – 3 August 1995) was a British actress, director, writer, and producer. Throughout her 48-y ...

. Kelly would reprise the role of John L. Sullivan, which he had earlier played in 1936, in the 20th Century Fox musical, '' My Gal Sal'', starring

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer, and Pin-up model, pin-up girl. She achieved fame in the 1940s as one of the top stars of the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of ...

and

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include '' One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darli ...

. Over the next few years Kelly would only play smaller roles in such films as '' No Time for Love'' (1943), ''

Coney Island Coney Island is a neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach to its east, Lower New York Bay to the south and west, and Gravesend to ...

'' (1943), '' Sweet Rosie O'Grady'' (1943), '' Up in Arms'' (1944), '' Wing and a Prayer'' (1944), and ''

Nob Hill Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the highe ...

''. He would have his next featured role in the 1945 B-film, ''The Tiger Woman'', in the role of Sylvester. In 1946 he had the featured role of Sammy in ''

Joe Palooka, Champ ''Joe Palooka, Champ'' is a 1946 American film featuring the comic-strip boxer Joe Palooka. This film from Monogram Pictures is the beginning of a series with eleven sequels: * ''Gentleman Joe Palooka'' (1946) * ''Joe Palooka in the Knockout' ...

'', the first film in the Joe Palooka series. After small roles in '' Blue Skies'' (1946), '' The Mighty McGurk'' (1947), and '' Ladies' Man'', Kelly played the role of the Sheriff in the 1947 British drama, '' Captain Boycott''. Kelly's final role would be in the featured role of Lt. Commander Stark in the espionage drama, ''Sofia'', starring Gene Raymond. The film was released after Kelly's death. Kelly died on December 9, 1947, in Los Angeles, California.

Filmography

(Per AFI database) *''

Blindfold A blindfold (from Middle English ') is a garment, usually of cloth, tied to one's head to cover the eyes to disable the wearer's sight. While a properly fitted blindfold prevents sight even if the eyes are open, a poorly tied or trick blindfo ...

'' (1928) *'' Dressed To Kill'' (1928) *'' Romance of the Underworld'' (1928) *''From Headquarters'' (1929) *'' The Man Hunter'' (1930) *''

Subway Express ''Subway Express'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code mystery film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Jack Holt (actor), Jack Holt, Aileen Pringle and Fred Kelsey.Goble p/970 Cast * Jack Holt (actor), Jack Holt as Inspector ...

'' (1931) *'' The Devil Is Driving'' (1932) *'' The All American'' (1932) *'' Ann Vickers'' (1933) *'' Broadway Thru a Keyhole'' (1933) *''

'' (1933) *'' The Bowery'' (1933) *'' Three-Cornered Moon'' (1933) *'' Goodbye Love'' (1933) *'' Kid Millions'' (1934) *''

Murder in the Private Car ''Murder in the Private Car'' is a 1934 American pre-Code mystery romance film starring Mary Carlisle, Charles Ruggles and Una Merkel. Directed by Harry Beaumont, the production is based on the play ''The Rear Car'' by Edward E. Rose. David ...

'' (1934) *'' Little Miss Marker'' (1934) *'' Many Happy Returns'' (1934) *'' The Band Plays On'' (1934) *'' Men of the Night'' (1934) *'' We're in the Money'' (1935) *''

Special Agent In the United States, a special agent is an official title used to refer to certain investigators or detectives of federal, military, tribal, or state agencies who primarily serve in criminal investigatory positions. Additionally, some special ...

'' (1935) *'' Dr. Socrates'' (1935) *''Motive for Revenge'' (1935) *'' Navy Wife'' (1935) *'' Whipsaw'' (1935) *'' West Point of the Air'' (1935) *'' Public Hero No. 1'' (1935) *'' Woman Wanted'' (1935) *'' Stolen Harmony'' (1935) *'' It Had to Happen'' (1936) *'' After the Thin Man'' (1936) *'' Easy Money'' (1936) *'' The Bridge of Sighs'' (1936) *'' The Walking Dead'' (1936) *'' Polo Joe'' (1936) *'' Poor Little Rich Girl'' (1936) *'' Tough Guy'' (1936) *'' Timothy's Quest'' (1936) *'' The Gentleman from Louisiana'' (1936) * '' In Paris, A.W.O.L.'' (1936) *'' Fugitive in the Sky'' (1936) *'' Lady Luck'' (1936) *''

The Devil Is a Sissy ''The Devil Is a Sissy'' is a 1936 American MGM comedy-drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and Rowland Brown. The film stars Freddie Bartholomew, Jackie Cooper and Mickey Rooney, three of the biggest child stars of the 1930s. The film pre ...

'' (1936) *''

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

'' (1936) *'' Our Relations'' (1936) *'' Exclusive'' (1937) *'' Angel's Holiday'' (1937) *'' You Can't Buy Luck'' (1937) *'' Portia on Trial'' (1937) *'' The Last Gangster'' (1937) *'' The Big Shot'' (1937) *'' 23 1/2 Hours Leave'' (1937) *''That's My Story'' (1937) *'' Armored Car'' (1937) *'' Merry-Go-Round of 1938'' (1937) *'' Live, Love and Learn'' (1937) *'' Wings over Honolulu'' (1937) *'' Behind the Mike'' (1937) *'' Female Fugitive'' (1938) *'' The Crowd Roars'' (1938) *'' The Sisters'' (1938) *''

'' (1938) *''

Exposed Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to: News sources * Exposé (journalism), a form of investigative journalism * '' The Exposé'', a British conspiracist website * '' Exeposé'', a student-run newspaper of the University of Exeter Film and TV ...

'' (1938) *''Convicts at Large'' (1938) *'' Meet Dr. Christian'' (1939) * '' Wolf Call'' (1939) as Bull Nelson *'' Sergeant Madden'' (1939) *'' Sudden Money'' (1939) *'' Kid Nightingale'' (1939) *''

East of the River ''East of the River'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. The film stars John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau, George Tobias, William Lundigan and Moroni Olsen. The film was re ...

'' (1940) *''

'' (1940) as Sailor *'' Bowery Boy'' (1940) *''

Castle on the Hudson ''Castle on the Hudson'' (UK title: ''Years Without Days'') is a 1940 American prison film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring John Garfield, Ann Sheridan and Pat O'Brien. The film was based on the book ''Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing ...

'' (1940) *'' I Want a Divorce'' (1940) *'' Sandy Is a Lady'' (1940) *'' Black Friday'' (1940) *'' Blondie in Society'' (1941) *''

Manpower Human resources (HR) is the set of people who make up the workforce of an organization, business sector, industry, or economy. A narrower concept is human capital, the knowledge and skills which the individuals command. Similar terms include ...

'' (1941) *'' The Pittsburgh Kid'' (1941) *'' Reaching for the Sun'' (1941) *'' Shadow of the Thin Man'' (1941) *'' Three Sons O'Guns'' (1941) *''

You're in the Army Now In Modern English, the word "''you''" is the second-person pronoun. It is grammatically plural, and was historically used only for the dative case, but in most modern dialects is used for all cases and numbers. History ''You'' comes from ...

'' (1941) *'' Dr. Broadway'' (1942) *'' Girl Trouble'' (1942) *'' Jail House Blues'' (1942) as Snork *'' Larceny, Inc.'' (1942) *'' Moontide'' (1942) *''

My Favorite Blonde ''My Favorite Blonde'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Bob Hope and Madeleine Carroll. Based on a story by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, the film is about a vaudeville performer who gets mixed up with Br ...

'' (1942) *'' My Gal Sal'' (1942) *'' Tales of Manhattan'' (1942) *'' Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' (1942) *''

'' (1943) *'' It's a Great Life'' (1943) *''

Jack London John Griffith London (; January 12, 1876 – November 22, 1916), better known as Jack London, was an American novelist, journalist and activist. A pioneer of commercial fiction and American magazines, he was one of the first American authors t ...

'' (1943) *'' No Time for Love'' (1943) *'' Sweet Rosie O'Grady'' (1943) *''

See Here, Private Hargrove ''See Here, Private Hargrove'' is a 1942 book by Marion Hargrove, about his experiences in U.S. Army basic training. Origin The author, a North Carolina native, was a correspondent for ''The Charlotte News'' prior to World War II. After he was ...

'' (1944) *''

Once Upon a Time "Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 in storytelling in the English language and has started many narrative ...

'' (1944) *'' Summer Storm'' (1944) *'' Up in Arms'' (1944) *'' Wing and a Prayer'' (1944) *'' Blonde from Brooklyn'' (1945) *''I'll Tell the World'' (1945) *''

'' (1945) *'' That Night with You'' (1945) *'' The Tiger Woman'' (1945) *''

Wonder Man Wonder Man (Simon Williams) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in '' The Avengers'' #9 (October 1964). The character, wh ...

'' (1945) *'' Trail to Vengeance'' (1945) *'' Blue Skies'' (1946) *'' The Dark Corner'' (1946) *''

'' (1946) *'' Cross My Heart'' (1947) *'' The Mighty McGurk'' (1947) *'' Ladies' Man'' (1947) *''

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

'' (1948)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, John 1901 births 1947 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male silent film actors