Edgar Kennedy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic film character actor, known as "Slow Burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper. Kennedy is best known for a small role as a lemonade vendor in the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, as well as the many Hal Roach films he appeared in.
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, Kennedy presides over an international tribunal, where Wheeler & Woolsey want to do something about world peace. "Well, ya can't do anything about it here", yells Kennedy, "this is a peace conference!" Kennedy, established as the poster boy for frustration, even starred in an instructional film titled The Other Fellow, in which loudmouthed roadhog Edgar always vents his anger on other drivers (each one played by Kennedy as well), little realizing that, to them, he 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's last film, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947). He also played comical detectives opposite two titans of acting: John Barrymore in Twentieth Century (1934) and Rex Harrison in Unfaithfully Yours (1948); in the latter, he tells conductor Harrison that "Nobody handles Handel like you handle Handel."
Kennedy died of throat cancer at the Motion Picture Hospital, San Fernando Valley on 9 November 1948. His body was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California.
Acted in
The Our Gang Story
1994
as Officer (archive footage)
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
1968
as Officer Kennedy (archive footage)
When Comedy Was King
1960
as edited from 'A Pair of Tights' (archive footage)
The Golden Age of Comedy
1957
as archive footage
My Dream Is Yours
1949
as Uncle Charlie
Unfaithfully Yours
1948
as Sweeney
Contest Crazy
1948
as Edgar
Variety Time
1948
as Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
Dig That Gold
1948
as Edgar Kennedy
Brother Knows Best
1948
as Edgar Kennedy
Heaven Only Knows
1947
as Judd
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
1947
as Jake the Bartender
Do or Diet
1947
as Edgar
I'll Build It Myself
1946
as Edgar
Motor Maniacs
1946
as Edgar Kennedy
Trouble or Nothing
1946
as Edgar
Captain Tugboat Annie
1945
as Captain Bullwinkle
The Big Beef
1945
as Edgar Kennedy
You Drive Me Crazy
1945
as Edgar
Anchors Aweigh
1945
as Police Captain
It's Your Move
1945
as Edgar Kennedy
What, No Cigarettes
1945
as Edgar Kennedy
Feather Your Nest
1944
as Edgar
The Great Alaskan Mystery
1944
as Bosun Higgins
It Happened Tomorrow
1944
as Insp. Mulrooney
Radio Rampage
1944
as Edgar
Prunes and Politics
1944
as Edgar
Crazy House
1943
as Judge
The Girl from Monterrey
1943
as Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
Hitler's Madman
1943
as Nepomuk - the Hermit
Hot Foot
1943
as Edgar
Inferior Decorator
1943
as Edgar
Air Raid Wardens
1943
as Joe Bledsoe
The Falcon Strikes Back
1943
as Smiley Dugan
Hold Your Temper
1943
as Edgar
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
1943
as Police Chief Murphy
Duck Soup
1942
as Edgar
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
1942
as Sgt. Homer Gatling
There's One Born Every Minute
1942
as Mayor Moe Carson
Cooks and Crooks
1942
as Edgar
In Old California
1942
as Kegs McKeever
Pardon My Stripes
1942
as Warden Bingham
Private Snuffy Smith
1942
as Sgt. Ed Cooper
Rough on Rents
1942
as Edgar Kennedy
A Quiet Fourth
1941
as Edgar
Gangs Of The City
1941
as Biff
I'll Fix It
1941
as Edgar
Westward Ho-Hum
1941
as Edgar
Blondie in Society
1941
as Dr. Glenn
An Apple in His Eye
1941
as Edgar Kennedy
Drafted in the Depot
1940
as Edgar Kennedy
Remedy for Riches
1940
as George Browning
Li'l Abner
1940
as Cornelius Cornpone
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940
as Fire Chief Galvin
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
1940
as Sheriff Gregory
A Trailer Tragedy
1940
as Edgar Kennedy
The Quarterback
1940
as Pops
Margie
1940
as Chauncey
Sunk by the Census
1940
as Edgar
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
1940
as George Browning
'Taint Legal
1940
as Edgar
Sandy Is a Lady
1940
as Officer Rafferty
Mutiny in the County
1940
as Edgar Kennedy
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
1939
as Inspector Dailey
Kennedy the Great
1939
as Edgar Kennedy
Laugh It Off
1939
as Judge John J. McGuinnis
Little Accident
1939
as Paper Hanger
Everything's on Ice
1939
as Joe Barton
Maid to Order
1939
as Edgar
It's a Wonderful World
1939
as Lieutenant Miller
Baby Daze
1939
as Edgar Kennedy
Clock Wise
1939
as Edgar
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
1938
as Arthur Bailey
A Clean Sweep
1938
as Edgar
Beaux and Errors
1938
as Edgar Kennedy
Hey! Hey! USA
1938
as Bugs Leary
Scandal Street
1938
as Daniel Webster Smith
The Black Doll
1938
as Sheriff Renick
Ears of Experience
1938
as Edgar
Hollywood Hotel
1938
as Callaghan
True Confession
1937
as Darsey
Edgar & Goliath
1937
as Edgar
Double Wedding
1937
as Spike
Tramp Trouble
1937
as Edgar
Super-Sleuth
1937
as Police Lt. Garrison
Dumb's the Word
1937
as Edgar Kennedy
A Star Is Born
1937
as Pop Randall
Bad Housekeeping
1937
as Edgar
When's Your Birthday?
1937
as Mr. Basscombe
The Other Fellow
1937
as Four Roles
Three Men on a Horse
1936
as Harry, the Bartender
Mad Holiday
1936
as Donovan
Vocalizing
1936
as Edgar Kennedy
Yours for the Asking
1936
as Bicarbonate
Dummy Ache
1936
as Edgar
San Francisco
1936
as Sheriff
Fatal Lady
1936
as Rudolf Hochstetter
Small Town Girl
1936
as Captain Mack
Robin Hood of El Dorado
1936
as Sheriff Judd
Will Power
1936
as Edgar Kennedy
Gasoloons
1936
as Edgar Kennedy
The Bride Comes Home
1935
as Henry
$1,000 a Minute
1935
as Police Officer McCarthy
Little Big Shot
1935
as Onderdonk
In Love at 40
1935
as Edgar Kennedy
Woman Wanted
1935
as Sweeney
Edgar Hamlet
1935
as Edgar
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
1935
as Edgar Kennedy
The Cowboy Millionaire
1935
as Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
Living on Velvet
1935
as Counterman
Rendezvous at Midnight
1935
as Mahoney
Brick-a-Brac
1935
as Edgar
The Silver Streak
1934
as O'Brien
Flirting with Danger
1934
as Jimmie Pierson
The Marines Are Coming
1934
as Sgt. Buck Martin
Poisoned Ivory
1934
as Edgar Kennedy
Kid Millions
1934
as Herman Wilson
Gridiron Flash
1934
as Officer Thurston
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
1934
as Happy Moran
A Blasted Event
1934
We're Rich Again
1934
as Healy, Process Server
Murder on the Blackboard
1934
as Detective Donahue
Money Means Nothing
1934
as Herbert Green
Wrong Direction
1934
as Edgar, Movie Director
Twentieth Century
1934
as Oscar McGonigle
Love on a Ladder
1934
as Edgar
Heat Lightning
1934
as Herbert - the Husband
All of Me
1934
as Guard (uncredited)
King for a Night
1933
as Cop
Duck Soup
1933
as Street Vendor
What Fur
1933
as Edgar
Tillie and Gus
1933
as Judge
Quiet Please!
1933
as Edgar Kennedy
Good Housewrecking
1933
Professional Sweetheart
1933
as Tim Kelsey
Cross Fire
1933
as Ed Wimpy
Son of the Border
1933
as Windy
Diplomaniacs
1933
as Chairman - Peace Conference
A Merchant of Menace
1933
as Edgar
Scarlet River
1933
as Sam Gilroy
Art in the Raw
1933
Fish Feathers
1932
as Edgar Kennedy
The Penguin Pool Murder
1932
as Officer Donovan
Rockabye
1932
as Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
Little Orphan Annie
1932
as Daddy Warbucks
Hold 'Em Jail
1932
as Warden Elmer Jones
Giggle Water
1932
as Edgar
Now's the Time
1932
Westward Passage
1932
as Elmer
He's a Honey
1932
Carnival Boat
1932
as Baldy
Bad Company
1931
as Buffington-Doorman
Quick Millions
1931
as Cop (uncredited)
Love Fever
1931
as Thelma's Last Rescuer
High Gear
1931
as Cop
Next Door Neighbors
1931
as Howard J. Green
Help Wanted, Female
1931
Ladies Last
1930
as Man in Phone Booth
Moonlight and Monkey Business
1930
as Detective
Looser Than Loose
1930
as Night Club Patron
Bigger and Better
1930
as Uncle Ed Sutton
Dollar Dizzy
1930
as Quimby the Lawyer
Doctor's Orders
1930
as Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
Girl Shock
1930
as Fiancee's Father
Fifty Million Husbands
1930
as Officer Kennedy
All Teed Up
1930
as Thelma's Father
The Ghosts
1930
as Kennedy
When the Wind Blows
1930
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
The Big Kick
1930
as Detective
The Gas Station
1930
as Detective
The First Seven Years
1930
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
The Real McCoy
1930
as Cicero the Cop
Shivering Shakespeare
1930
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
The Head Guy
1930
as Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)
Thieves
1930
Night Owls
1930
as Officer Kennedy
Great Gobs!
1929
as 2nd Sailor
Angora Love
1929
as Landlord
Moan & Groan, Inc.
1929
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
Stepping Out
1929
as Diner's Owner
Bacon Grabbers
1929
as Collis P. Kennedy
Welcome Danger
1929
as SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
They Had to See Paris
1929
as Ed Eggers (uncredited)
Crazy Feet
1929
as Policeman
Hotter Than Hot
1929
Perfect Day
1929
as Uncle Edgar
Dad's Day
1929
as Michael Kennedy
Madame Q
1929
as Judge Kennedy
The Big Squawk
1929
as Orchestra Leader
Hurdy Gurdy
1929
as Officer Ed Kennedy
Unaccustomed as We Are
1929
as Officer Kennedy
Trent's Last Case
1929
as Inspector Murch
Why Is a Plumber?
1929
Off to Buffalo
1929
A Pair of Tights
1929
as Marion's Boyfriend's Boss
Going Ga-Ga
1929
as Cop
Chasing Husbands
1928
Feed 'em and Weep
1928
The Booster
1928
The Boy Friend
1928
as The Cop
Two Tars
1928
as Motorist
All Parts
1928
Is Everybody Happy?
1928
Should Married Men Go Home?
1928
as Golfer (uncredited)
Imagine My Embarrassment
1928
The Fight Pest
1928
Limousine Love
1928
as The Husband, Mr Glenders
The Finishing Touch
1928
as Cop (as Ed Kennedy)
The Family Group
1928
as A Photographer
Dumb Daddies
1928
as The Cop
Leave 'Em Laughing
1928
as Cop
The Chinese Parrot
1927
as Maydorf
The Wrong Mr. Wright
1927
as Trayguard
Finger Prints
1927
as O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)
Going Crooked
1926
as Detective
The Better 'Ole
1926
as Corporal Austin
Across the Pacific
1926
as Cpl. Ryan
My Old Dutch
1926
as Bill Sproat
Oh! What a Nurse!
1926
as Eric Johnson
The Golden Princess
1925
as Gewilliker Hay
The Trouble With Wives
1925
as Detective (as Edward Kennedy)
Paths to Paradise
1925
as Detective (uncredited)
All's Swell on the Ocean
1924
Wall Street Blues
1924
as The Crook
Racing for Life
1924
as Tom Grady
The Battling Fool
1924
as Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)
The Night Message
1924
as Lem Beeman
Something for Nothing
1923
as Ptomaine Tommy
The Wandering Two
1923
The Little Girl Next Door
1923
as Hank Hall
High and Dry
1922
The Guide
1921
as An American Tourist
Puppets of Fate
1921
as Mike Reynolds
The Adventures of Daredevil Jack
1920
Four Times Foiled
1920
Hearts and Flowers
1919
as Pete
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
1919
as German Prison Guard (uncredited)
She Loved Him Plenty
1918
The Late Lamented
1917
as Art Gallery Operator
Whose Baby?
1917
as The Detective
The Stolen Triumph
1916
as Edwin Rowley, Jr.
Bombs!
1916
as Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader
A Scoundrel's Toll
1916
as Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent
Madcap Ambrose
1916
as A City Chap
His Bitter Pill
1916
as Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
1915
as Edgar
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
1915
as Shell Game Operator
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
1915
as Suitor
Mabel’s Wilful Way
1915
as Fatty's Pal
Wished on Mabel
1915
as Cop
His Luckless Love
1915
as The Maid's Boyfriend
That Little Band Of Gold
1915
as Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
1915
as Neighbor
Fatty's New Role
1915
as Handout-Giver (uncredited)
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
1915
as 1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
1915
as The cafe waiter (uncredited)
The Great Vacuum Robbery
1915
as 2nd Thief
Tillie's Punctured Romance
1914
as Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
Ambrose's First Falsehood
1914
as Café Proprietor
Getting Acquainted
1914
as Policeman (uncredited)
Leading Lizzie Astray
1914
as The Slicker's Chauffeur
The Noise of Bombs
1914
as Police Chief
An Incompetent Hero
1914
as Fatty's Neighbor
'Curses!' They Remarked
1914
as Ethel's Former Boyfriend
Gentlemen of Nerve
1914
as Policeman
Dough and Dynamite
1914
as Striking Baker
The Love Thief
1914
as The Rival
He Loved the Ladies
1914
as The Wife's Brother
The Rounders
1914
as (uncredited)
The Sky Pirate
1914
as The Sky Pirate
Love and Bullets
1914
as The Trouble Mender
Mabel's Busy Day
1914
as Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)
The Knockout
1914
as Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)
Caught in a Cabaret
1914
as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Twenty Minutes of Love
1914
as Lover
Mabel at the Wheel
1914
as Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)
A Bath House Beauty
1914
as Jealous Boyfriend
The Star Boarder
1914
as Landlady's Husband (uncredited)
Cruel, Cruel Love
1914
as Butler
His Favorite Pastime
1914
as Tough Guy in Bar
Tango Tangles
1914
as Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
A Film Johnnie
1914
as Director (uncredited)
A Thief Catcher
1914
as Crook (uncredited)
Making a Living
1914
as Wreck Bystander (uncredited)
Little Billy's Triumph
1914
Rebecca's Wedding Day
1914
as The Groom
In the Clutches of the Gang
1914
as Cop
A Flirt's Mistake
1914
as Rajah
Zuzu, the Band Leader
1913
as Caesar - Zuzu's Rival
The Gusher
1913
as Cop (uncredited)
A Ride for a Bride
1913
as Mustached Man
Fatty Joins the Force
1913
as Jealous Cop
A Muddy Romance
1913
as Water Policeman
The Speed Kings
1913
as Laughing Spectator
A Quiet Little Wedding
1913
as Wedding Guest
The Bowling Match
1913
as Bowling Alley Operator
Mother's Boy
1913
as Mug
Mabel's Dramatic Career
1913
as Audience Member / Cop in Movie
Mabel's New Hero
1913
as Cop
The Riot
1913
as Cop
A Noise from the Deep
1913
Love and Rubbish
1913
as 1st Cop
Safe in Jail
1913
as 1st Crook
Rastus and the Game Cock
1913
as Spectator
Peeping Pete
1913
as The Cop
The Gangsters
1913
as Henchman
Their First Execution
1913
Mabel’s Awful Mistakes
1913
Algy on the Force
1913
as Cop
Bangville Police
1913
as 3rd Deputy
The Rural Third Degree
1913
as Cop