George Kennedy is a famous American actor who has starred in the films Charade, Cold-blooded Luke and The Naked Pistol. He is best known for playing Carter McKay on the television series Dallas.
Biography and personal life
George Kennedy was born on February 18, 1925 in New York. His father - George Harris Kennedy - was a musician and directed the orchestra. George lost him in early childhood. He was raised only by his mother, Helen Kisselbach, who was a ballet dancer. As a child, George began to participate in theatrical performances. Later he performed in radio plays.
Kennedy survived World War II, during which he served in the American infantry. For military service, the actor received awards. In the middle of the 20th century, he continued to work on radio and began appearing on television. At first he was a member of the troupe of the American armed forces, but after an injury he returned to show business.
Since 1955, George has worked as a technical consultant on one of the television series. He then starred in it as an actor. George was tall and played courageous heroes. In 1968 he received an Oscar for his supporting role. Kennedy was married three times: to Norma Wurman, with whom they had two children, to Dorothy Gillouly and to Joan McCarthy. The actor had one child from Joan. At the age of 91, on February 28, 2016, George passed away in the United States.
Career
Kennedy's film career began in the 1950s. He landed a role in The Red Skelton Show and starred in Days in Death Valley. He could then be seen as Ben in the action movie Trunk Smoke and as Lee Nelson in the Cheyenne series. George's next television credits included roles in Wells Fargo Stories and With Weapons, There Will Be Travel. Kennedy played George Splangeler in the acclaimed TV series Perry Mason. This crime drama is about a professional lawyer who deals with complex criminal cases.
Further, George was invited to the series "Maverick", "Peter Gunn" and "Bailiff". In the drama "Bat Masterson" the actor played the sheriff, and in the action movie "Sunset Strip, 77" - Armstrong. Kennedy can be seen in the TV series Rawhide, about a cattle farmer on an adventure. Kennedy's character is George Wallace. Later, the actor played Peter Long in the TV series "Bonanza" and played the role in "The Deputy". In the late 1950s, he was invited to appear on the series River Boat, Laramie and The Untouchables.
Creation
In 1960, George got the role of John Peterson in the crime detective Thriller. He then played Joe Ferris in the drama Outlaw, about a federal marshal and his assistants fighting crime. Kennedy was cast as Ted Skinner in Highway 66, Hensley in Dr. Kildare, and Jake in Alcoa Premiere.
In 1962, the actor got a role in the western "The Lonely Brave" about how a cowboy decided to save his friend from prison. He went on to play Huck in The Virginian and George Martin in Alfred Hitchcock's Hour. Kennedy was invited to appear on The Journey of Jaime McFeathers and The Farmer's Daughter. In 1963, the actor played Herman in the famous thriller Charade. The heroine of the film filed for divorce and left for a resort, where she started a new romance. Upon her return, she learned that her husband had been killed and the money had been withdrawn from her bank account. This comedy melodrama won the British Academy Prize and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe.
The following year, George landed the role of Leo in the successful film Straightjacket. The plot tells about a woman who killed her husband and mistress. She spent 20 years in a psychiatric hospital, left a medical institution and wants to improve relations with her daughter. In the same year, the actor played in the crime thriller "Hush … Hush, dear Charlotte." The film tells about a woman suffering from hallucinations. George also got roles in the films "Island of the Blue Dolphins" and "Watch them run."
Then Kennedy played Henry in the drama "McHale's Fleet" and Gregory in the action movie "Harm's Method" about the attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base. In 1965 he was offered a role in the thriller Mirage about strange events in an office building. One employee falls out of the window, the other suffers from amnesia. Later, the actor got roles in the rating westerns "Shinendoa" and "Sons of Katie Elder". He has starred in The Legend of Jesse James, Big Valley and Laredo.
The actor could be seen in the adventure drama Flight of the Phoenix about a plane crash caught in a sandstorm. In 1967, George played in the military action movie The Dirty Dozen. In the story, 12 criminals during World War II get a chance for an amnesty if they complete a difficult military mission. The film won an Oscar and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
In the 1970s, George starred in the thriller Airport, based on the novel of the same name by Arthur Haley. According to the plot, the head of the international airport needs to maintain work in a severe blizzard. The film won an Oscar and a Golden Globe. Then Kennedy played in the comedy action movie "The Thug and the Runner." The film tells about a gang of robbers, in which a split occurs after a large robbery. One of the criminals is looking for hidden money, and his former comrades follow. The drama was nominated for an Oscar in 1975.
In 1977, the actor starred in the US-Japanese co-production crime drama Human Test. The plot tells the story of the investigation into the murder of an American citizen in Tokyo. Then the actor got a role in the crime detective "Death on the Nile". The film tells the story of a wealthy heiress and her newly-minted wife, who set off on a journey. The film received an Oscar and a British Academy Prize.
In 1988, the actor starred in the famous comedy "The Naked Pistol". The plot tells about the adventures of an incompetent police officer who constantly finds himself in stupid situations. In 1991, Kennedy could be seen in the sequel to this crime comedy Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear. Three years later, the picture "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Last Attack" was released, where George also got the role.
In 2011, the actor played Joe Baker in the comedy "Relatives". The plot revolves around a wedding attended by relatives from different parts of the world. After 3 years, Kennedy could be seen in the thriller The Gambler. The main character is unable to resist the excitement. He becomes more and more bogged down in his pernicious passion and puts his own life on the line.
