Movies
TV Shows
People

Edgar Kennedy

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
328

Gender
Male

Birthday
April 25, 1890 (136 years old)

Place of Birth
Monterey, California, USA

Edgar Kennedy

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

2024Laurel & Hardy: Year Twoas (archive footage) (uncredited)
1994The Our Gang Storyas Officer (archive footage)
1976Bob Hope's World of Comedyas Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
1968The Best of Laurel and Hardyas Officer Kennedy (archive footage)
1960When Comedy Was Kingas (archive footage) (uncredited)
1957The Golden Age of Comedyas archive footage
1949My Dream Is Yoursas Uncle Charlie
1948Unfaithfully Yoursas Sweeney
1948Contest Crazyas Edgar
1948Variety Timeas Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
1948Dig That Goldas Edgar Kennedy
1948Brother Knows Bestas Edgar Kennedy
1947Heaven Only Knowsas Judd
1947The Sin of Harold Diddlebockas Jake the Bartender
1947Do or Dietas Edgar
1946I'll Build It Myselfas Edgar
1946Motor Maniacsas Edgar Kennedy
1946Trouble or Nothingas Edgar
1945Captain Tugboat Annieas Captain Bullwinkle
1945The Big Beefas Edgar Kennedy
1945You Drive Me Crazyas Edgar
1945Anchors Aweighas Police Captain
1945It's Your Moveas Edgar Kennedy
1945What, No Cigarettesas Edgar Kennedy
1944Feather Your Nestas Edgar
1944The Great Alaskan Mysteryas Bosun Higgins
1944It Happened Tomorrowas Insp. Mulrooney
1944Radio Rampageas Edgar
1944Prunes and Politicsas Edgar
1943Crazy Houseas Judge
1943The Girl from Monterreyas Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
1943Hitler's Madmanas Nepomuk - the Hermit
1943Hot Footas Edgar
1943Inferior Decoratoras Edgar
1943Air Raid Wardensas Joe Bledsoe
1943The Falcon Strikes Backas Smiley Dugan
1943Hold Your Temperas Edgar
1943Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasheras Police Chief Murphy
1942Duck Soupas Edgar
1942Hillbilly Blitzkriegas Sgt. Homer Gatling
1942There's One Born Every Minuteas Mayor Moe Carson
1942Cooks and Crooksas Edgar
1942In Old Californiaas Kegs McKeever
1942Pardon My Stripesas Warden Bingham
1942Private Snuffy Smithas Sgt. Ed Cooper
1942Rough on Rentsas Edgar Kennedy
1941A Quiet Fourthas Edgar
1941Gangs Of The Cityas Biff
1941I'll Fix Itas Edgar
1941Westward Ho-Humas Edgar
1941Blondie in Societyas Dr. Glenn
1941An Apple in His Eyeas Edgar Kennedy
1940Drafted in the Depotas Edgar Kennedy
1940Remedy for Richesas George Browning
1940Li'l Abneras Cornelius Cornpone
1940Sandy Gets Her Manas Fire Chief Galvin
1940Who Killed Aunt Maggie?as Sheriff Gregory
1940A Trailer Tragedyas Edgar Kennedy
1940The Quarterbackas Pops
1940The Bride Wore Crutchesas Police Captain McGuire
1940Margieas Chauncey
1940Sunk by the Censusas Edgar
1940Dr. Christian Meets the Womenas George Browning
1940'Taint Legalas Edgar
1940Sandy Is a Ladyas Officer Rafferty
1940Mutiny in the Countyas Edgar Kennedy
1939Charlie McCarthy, Detectiveas Inspector Dailey
1939Kennedy the Greatas Edgar Kennedy
1939Laugh It Offas Judge John J. McGuinnis
1939Little Accidentas Paper Hanger
1939Act Your Ageas Edgar
1939Everything's on Iceas Joe Barton
1939Maid to Orderas Edgar
1939It's a Wonderful Worldas Lieutenant Miller
1939Baby Dazeas Edgar Kennedy
1939Clock Wiseas Edgar
1938A Clean Sweepas Edgar
1938Peck's Bad Boy with the Circusas Arthur Bailey
1938Beaux and Errorsas Edgar Kennedy
1938Hey! Hey! USAas Bugs Leary
1938Scandal Streetas Daniel Webster Smith
1938The Black Dollas Sheriff Renick
1938Ears of Experienceas Edgar
1938Hollywood Hotelas Callaghan
1937True Confessionas Darsey
1937Edgar & Goliathas Edgar
1937Double Weddingas Spike
1937Tramp Troubleas Edgar
1937Super-Sleuthas Police Lt. Garrison
1937Dumb's the Wordas Edgar Kennedy
1937A Star Is Bornas Pop Randall
1937Bad Housekeepingas Edgar
1937When's Your Birthday?as Mr. Basscombe
1937The Other Fellowas Four Roles
1936Three Men on a Horseas Harry, the Bartender
1936Mad Holidayas Donovan
1936Vocalizingas Edgar Kennedy
1936Yours for the Askingas Bicarbonate
1936Dummy Acheas Edgar
1936San Franciscoas Sheriff
1936Fatal Ladyas Rudolf Hochstetter
1936Small Town Girlas Captain Mack
1936Robin Hood of El Doradoas Sheriff Judd
1936Will Poweras Edgar Kennedy
1936The Return of Jimmy Valentineas Callahan
1936Gasoloonsas Edgar Kennedy
1935The Bride Comes Homeas Henry
1935$1,000 a Minuteas Police Officer McCarthy
1935Little Big Shotas Onderdonk
1935In Love at 40as Edgar Kennedy
1935Woman Wantedas Sweeney
1935Edgar Hamletas Edgar
1935A Night at the Biltmore Bowlas Edgar Kennedy
1935Sock Me to Sleepas Edgar
1935The Cowboy Millionaireas Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
1935Living on Velvetas Counterman
1935Rendezvous at Midnightas Mahoney
1935Brick-a-Bracas Edgar
1934The Silver Streakas O'Brien
1934Flirting with Dangeras Jimmie Pierson
1934The Marines Are Comingas Sgt. Buck Martin
1934Poisoned Ivoryas Edgar Kennedy
1934Kid Millionsas Herman Wilson
1934Gridiron Flashas Officer Thurston
1934King Kelly of the U.S.A.as Happy Moran
1934A Blasted Eventas Edgar
1934We're Rich Againas Healy, Process Server
1934Murder on the Blackboardas Detective Donahue
1934Money Means Nothingas Herbert Green
1934Wrong Directionas Edgar, Movie Director
1934Twentieth Centuryas Oscar McGonigle
1934Love on a Ladderas Edgar
1934Heat Lightningas Herbert
1934All of Meas Guard (uncredited)
1933King for a Nightas Cop
1933Duck Soupas Street Vendor
1933What Furas Edgar
1933Tillie and Gusas Judge
1933Quiet Please!as Edgar Kennedy
1933Good Housewreckingas
1933Professional Sweetheartas Kelsey
1933Cross Fireas Ed Wimpy
1933Son of the Borderas Windy
1933Diplomaniacsas Chairman - Peace Conference
1933A Merchant of Menaceas Edgar
1933Scarlet Riveras Sam Gilroy
1933Art in the Rawas
1932Fish Feathersas Edgar Kennedy
1932The Penguin Pool Murderas Officer Donovan
1932Rockabyeas Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
1932Little Orphan Annieas Daddy Warbucks
1932Hold 'Em Jailas Warden Elmer Jones
1932Giggle Wateras Edgar
1932Now's the Timeas
1932Westward Passageas Elmer
1932The Spot on the Rugas Jake
1932He's a Honeyas
1932Carnival Boatas Baldy
1932Never the Twins Shall Meetas Mr. Carp
1931Bad Companyas Buffington-Doorman
1931Quick Millionsas Cop (uncredited)
1931Love Feveras Thelma's Last Rescuer
1931High Gearas Cop
1931Next Door Neighborsas Howard J. Green
1931Help Wanted, Femaleas
1930Ladies Lastas Man in Phone Booth
1930Moonlight and Monkey Businessas Detective
1930Looser Than Looseas Night Club Patron
1930Bigger and Betteras Uncle Ed Sutton
1930Dollar Dizzyas Quimby the Lawyer
1930Doctor's Ordersas Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
1930Girl Shockas Fiancee's Father
1930Fifty Million Husbandsas Officer Kennedy
1930All Teed Upas Thelma's Father (uncredited)
1930The Ghostsas Kennedy
1930When the Wind Blowsas Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930The Big Kickas Detective
1930The Gas Stationas Detective
1930The First Seven Yearsas Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930The Real McCoyas Cicero the Cop
1930Shivering Shakespeareas Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930The Head Guyas Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)
1930Thievesas
1930Night Owlsas Officer Kennedy
1929Great Gobs!as 2nd Sailor
1929Angora Loveas Landlord
1929Moan & Groan, Inc.as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1929Stepping Outas Diner's Owner
1929Bacon Grabbersas Collis P. Kennedy
1929Welcome Dangeras SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1929They Had to See Parisas Ed Eggers (uncredited)
1929Crazy Feetas Policeman
1929Hotter Than Hotas
1929Perfect Dayas Uncle Edgar
1929Dad's Dayas Michael Kennedy
1929Madame Qas Judge Kennedy
1929The Big Squawkas Orchestra Leader
1929Hurdy Gurdyas Officer Ed Kennedy
1929Unaccustomed as We Areas Officer Kennedy
1929Trent's Last Caseas Inspector Murch
1929Why Is a Plumber?as
1929Off to Buffaloas
1929A Pair of Tightsas Marion's Boyfriend's Boss
1929Going Ga-Gaas Cop
1928Chasing Husbandsas
1928Feed 'em and Weepas
1928The Boosteras
1928The Boy Friendas The Cop
1928Two Tarsas Motorist
1928All Partsas
1928Is Everybody Happy?as
1928Should Married Men Go Home?as Golfer (uncredited)
1928Imagine My Embarrassmentas
1928The Fight Pestas
1928Limousine Loveas The Husband, Mr Glenders
1928The Finishing Touchas Cop (as Ed Kennedy)
1928The Family Groupas A Photographer
1928Dumb Daddiesas The Cop
1928Leave 'Em Laughingas Cop
1927The Chinese Parrotas Maydorf
1927Wedding Billsas Detective
1927The Wrong Mr. Wrightas Trayguard
1927The Gay Old Birdas Chauffeur
1927Finger Printsas O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)
1926Going Crookedas Detective
1926The Better 'Oleas Corporal Austin
1926Across the Pacificas Cpl. Ryan
1926My Old Dutchas Bill Sproat
1926Oh! What a Nurse!as Eric Johnson
1925The People vs. Nancy Prestonas Gloomy Gus
1925The Golden Princessas Gewilliker Hay
1925The Trouble With Wivesas Detective (as Edward Kennedy)
1925Paths to Paradiseas Detective (uncredited)
1924All's Swell on the Oceanas
1924Wall Street Bluesas The Crook
1924Racing for Lifeas Tom Grady
1924The Battling Foolas Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)
1924Fight and Winas
1924The Night Messageas Lem Beeman
1923Something for Nothingas Ptomaine Tommy
1923The Wandering Twoas
1923The Little Girl Next Dooras Hank Hall
1922High and Dryas
1921The Guideas An American Tourist
1921Skirtsas
1921Puppets of Fateas Mike Reynolds
1920The Adventures of Daredevil Jackas
1920Four Times Foiledas
1919Hearts and Flowersas Pete
1919Yankee Doodle in Berlinas German Prison Guard (uncredited)
1918She Loved Him Plentyas
1918Watch Your Neighboras An Innocent Bystander
1917The Late Lamentedas Art Gallery Operator
1917Whose Baby?as The Detective
1917The Blue Streakas
1916The Stolen Triumphas Edwin Rowley, Jr.
1916Bombs!as Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader
1916A Scoundrel's Tollas Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent
1916Madcap Ambroseas A City Chap
1916His Bitter Pillas Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival
1915Fatty's Tintype Tangleas Edgar
1915Fatty’s Plucky Pupas Shell Game Operator
1915Miss Fatty's Seaside Loversas Suitor
1915Mabel’s Wilful Wayas Fatty's Pal
1915Wished on Mabelas Cop
1915His Luckless Loveas The Maid's Boyfriend
1915That Little Band Of Goldas Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)
1915Fatty’s Reckless Flingas Neighbor
1915Fatty's New Roleas Handout-Giver (uncredited)
1915Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Expositionas 1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
1915Mabel and Fatty's Wash Dayas The cafe waiter (uncredited)
1915The Great Vacuum Robberyas 2nd Thief
1914Tillie's Punctured Romanceas Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
1914Ambrose's First Falsehoodas Café Proprietor
1914Getting Acquaintedas Policeman (uncredited)
1914Leading Lizzie Astrayas The Slicker's Chauffeur
1914The Noise of Bombsas Police Chief
1914An Incompetent Heroas Fatty's Neighbor
1914'Curses!' They Remarkedas Ethel's Former Boyfriend
1914Gentlemen of Nerveas Policeman
1914Dough and Dynamiteas Striking Baker
1914The Love Thiefas The Rival
1914He Loved the Ladiesas The Wife's Brother
1914The Roundersas (uncredited)
1914The Sky Pirateas The Sky Pirate
1914Love and Bulletsas The Trouble Mender
1914Mabel's Busy Dayas Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)
1914The Knockoutas Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)
1914Caught in a Cabaretas Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
1914Twenty Minutes of Loveas Lover
1914Mabel at the Wheelas Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)
1914A Bath House Beautyas Jealous Boyfriend
1914The Star Boarderas Landlady's Husband (uncredited)
1914Cruel, Cruel Loveas Butler
1914His Favorite Pastimeas Tough Guy in Bar
1914Tango Tanglesas Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
1914A Film Johnnieas Director (uncredited)
1914A Thief Catcheras Crook (uncredited)
1914Making a Livingas Wreck Bystander (uncredited)
1914Little Billy's Triumphas
1914Rebecca's Wedding Dayas The Groom
1914In the Clutches of the Gangas Cop
1914A Flirt's Mistakeas Rajah
1913Zuzu, the Band Leaderas Caesar - Zuzu's Rival
1913The Gusheras Cop (uncredited)
1913A Ride for a Brideas Mustached Man
1913Fatty Joins the Forceas Jealous Cop
1913A Muddy Romanceas Water Policeman
1913The Speed Kingsas Laughing Spectator
1913A Quiet Little Weddingas Wedding Guest
1913The Bowling Matchas Bowling Alley Operator
1913Mother's Boyas Mug
1913Mabel's Dramatic Careeras Audience Member / Cop in Movie
1913Mabel's New Heroas Cop
1913The Riotas Cop
1913A Noise from the Deepas
1913Love and Rubbishas 1st Cop
1913Safe in Jailas 1st Crook
1913Rastus and the Game Cockas Spectator
1913Peeping Peteas The Cop
1913The Gangstersas Henchman
1913Their First Executionas
1913Mabel’s Awful Mistakesas
1913Algy on the Forceas Cop
1913Bangville Policeas 3rd Deputy
1913The Rural Third Degreeas Cop
Parlor, Bedroom and Wrathas Edgar
Mad About Moonshineas Edgar

Production

1930Bigger and Better...Director
1930Fifty Million Husbands...Director
1930The golf player...Director
1930The golfer...Director
1930All Teed Up...Director
1928You're Darn Tootin'...Director
1928From Soup to Nuts...Director
1925The Marriage Circus...Director
1924Three Foolish Weeks...Director
1922Step Lively, Please...Director