Bill Kennedy

Biography

Bill Kennedy was an American actor, voice artist and television host who worked as a staff announcer on radio at WWJ in Detroit before moving into film and broadcasting. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he signed a contract with Warner Bros. in 1941 and went on to parts in many Hollywood pictures until 1955, frequently as detectives and police officers. His screen credits included Destination Tokyo (1943) with Cary Grant and Joan of Arc (1948), in which he played the executioner. He supplied the narration for the opening of Adventures of Superman, served as the show's announcer, and had small uncredited appearances in episodes, while guesting on series including The Lone Ranger and Death Valley Days. From 1956 he hosted Bill Kennedy's Showtime in the Detroit area, a program renamed Bill Kennedy at the Movies, on which he presented old films, told Hollywood stories and talked with visiting stars until his retirement in 1983. He died in 1997.

88years old at death

Born June 27, 1908Cleveland Heights
Died January 27, 1997Palm Beach
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 5
Career span: 12 years1943 to 1955

Every film, newest first

1955I Died a Thousand TimesIMDb rating 6.4
1948I Wouldn't Be in Your ShoesIMDb rating 6.5
1947Seven Were SavedIMDb rating 5.8
1944Mr. SkeffingtonIMDb rating 7.5
1943Destination TokyoIMDb rating 7.1

Genres

Did you know?!

A change of course
Kennedy started out in media as a staff announcer at WWJ, The Detroit News. In 1941 he signed with Warner Bros. as a contract player, and from 1941 through 1955 he appeared in dozens of Hollywood movies.
A change of course
On his show, Kennedy introduced Dragonwyck (1946) by telling viewers, "Today we have one of the most boring movies ever made."

Bill Kennedy movies on Netflix

I Died a Thousand Times1955IMDb rating 6.4as Sheriff
I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes1948IMDb rating 6.5as Second Detective
Seven Were Saved1947IMDb rating 5.8as Colonel
Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5as Bill Thatcher
Destination Tokyo1943IMDb rating 7.1as Torpedo Gunnery Officer

Worked with

Bill Kennedy shares two films with Peter Whitney, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Peter Whitney

Don Castle

Bess Flowers

Bette Davis

Cary Grant

Jack Palance

Vincent ShermanDirector, 1 film Delmer DavesDirector, 1 film Stuart HeislerDirector, 1 film

Films together

Peter Whitney2 films together, 1943 to 1944
Peter Whitney's page
- Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Bill ThatcherWhitney as Chester Forbish
- Destination Tokyo1943IMDb rating 7.1Kennedy as Torpedo Gunnery OfficerWhitney as Dakota
Don Castle2 films together, 1947 to 1948
Don Castle's page
- I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes1948IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as Second DetectiveCastle as ThomJ. 'Tom' Quinn
- Seven Were Saved1947IMDb rating 5.8Kennedy as ColonelCastle as Lt. Pete Sturdevant
Bess Flowers1 film together, 1944
Bess Flowers's page
- Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Bill ThatcherFlowers as Mrs. Thatcher
Bette Davis1 film together, 1944
Bette Davis's page
- Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Bill ThatcherDavis as Fanny Trellis
Cary Grant1 film together, 1943
Cary Grant's page
- Destination Tokyo1943IMDb rating 7.1Kennedy as Torpedo Gunnery OfficerGrant as Captain Cassidy
Jack Palance1 film together, 1955
Jack Palance's page
- I Died a Thousand Times1955IMDb rating 6.4Kennedy as SheriffPalance as Roy Earle / Roy Collins
Vincent ShermanDirector, 1 film, 1944
All films by Vincent Sherman
- Mr. Skeffington1944IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Bill Thatcher
Delmer DavesDirector, 1 film, 1943
All films by Delmer Daves
- Destination Tokyo1943IMDb rating 7.1Kennedy as Torpedo Gunnery Officer
Stuart HeislerDirector, 1 film, 1955
All films by Stuart Heisler
- I Died a Thousand Times1955IMDb rating 6.4Kennedy as Sheriff

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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