Logo

Variety, TVWeek

Actor George Kennedy Dies

Feb 29, 2016  •  Post A Comment

Oscar-winning actor George Kennedy, known for his roles in a series of successful films in the 1960s and 1970s, has died. Variety reports that Kennedy died Sunday in Boise, Idaho, at 91.

Kennedy won an Oscar in 1968 for his supporting role in “Cool Hand Luke,” one of his signature roles. He later appeared in all four of the “Airport” disaster movies of the 1970s, and played police captain Ed Hocken in the “Naked Gun” movies. He was also corrupt oil tycoon Carter McKay on the original “Dallas” TV series.

“He also turned in a powerful performance in 1975’s ‘Earthquake’ as the hearty, sentimental police sergeant Slade, who helps where he can in the wake of the devastating temblor,” Variety notes.

Kennedy was a regular on TV Westerns early in his career, with appearances on “Cheyenne,” “Laramie,” “Maverick,” “Have Gun — Will Travel,” “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke” and many others. He later had a couple of brief runs as the star of his own TV show, first with “Sarge,” in 1971-1972, and then with “The Blue Knight,” in 1975-1976.

Here’s a clip of Kennedy winning Best Supporting Actor in 1968 …

2 Comments

  1. And he was in the classic Audry Hepburn-Cary Grant vehicle, Charade! RIP

    • Audrey, that is. Apologies

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)