George Kennedy

Biography

George Kennedy was an American actor, born in New York City, who appeared in over a hundred film and television productions, starting with a screen part on The Phil Silvers Show after he had been assigned there as a military advisor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Dragline in Cool Hand Luke (1967) and earned a Golden Globe nomination for that performance, then a second nomination as airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni in Airport (1970), a part he played again in every entry of the Airport series, the only actor to do so. His other films included Lonely Are the Brave (1962), Charade (1963), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), The Delta Force (1986) and The Gambler (2014), his final one. He played Captain Ed Hocken in the three Naked Gun comedies and Carter McKay on Dallas, and wrote two mystery novels and an autobiography.

91years old at death

Born February 18, 1925New York City
Died February 28, 2016Middleton
Star sign: AquariusLast day of the sign, on the Pisces cusp
George Harris Kennedy Jr. (birth name)Also credited as George Harris Kennedy

Movie Career

Films: 61
Career span: 53 years1961 to 2014

Genres

Drama51%, 31 films
Comedy28%, 17 films
Action26%, 16 films
Thriller26%, 16 films
Crime20%, 12 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Kennedy got his first screen role through his last Army assignment: while serving as military advisor on The Phil Silvers Show, he was cast as a military policeman and called it a great training ground.
A first
Kennedy was the only actor to appear in every one of the four Airport films, playing Joe Patroni each time.
A role that slipped away
The Airport films helped inspire Airplane!, and its makers wanted Kennedy as the bumbling plane dispatcher. Jerry Zucker said in 2010 that Lloyd Bridges got the part because Kennedy could not kill off his Airport cash cow.

George Kennedy movies on Netflix

The Gambler2014IMDb rating 6.0as Ed
Another Happy Day2011IMDb rating 6.0as Joe Baker
Sands of Oblivion2007IMDb rating 3.7as John Tevis
Don't Come Knocking2005IMDb rating 6.6as Director
Monster Makers2003IMDb rating 4.9as Dexter Brisbane
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!1998IMDb rating 4.4as Grandpa
Men in White1998IMDb rating 2.8as Army
Cats Don't Dance1997IMDb rating 6.9as L.B. Mammoth (voice)
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994IMDb rating 6.5as Ed Hocken
Driving Me Crazy1991IMDb rating 3.5as John McCready
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991IMDb rating 6.9as Det. Captain Ed Hocken
Brain Dead1990IMDb rating 5.8as Vance
The Terror Within1989IMDb rating 4.7as Hal
Demonwarp1988IMDb rating 4.8as Bill Crafton
Nightmare at Noon1988IMDb rating 5.1as Sherrif Hanks
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988IMDb rating 7.6as Ed Hocken
Uninvited1988IMDb rating 4.5as Mike Harvey
Creepshow 21987IMDb rating 6.1as Ray Spruce (segment "Old Chief Wood'nhead")
The Delta Force1986IMDb rating 5.7as Father O'Malley
Radioactive Dreams1985IMDb rating 5.5as Spade Chandler
Savage Dawn1985IMDb rating 5.1as Tick Rand
The Jesse Owens Story1984IMDb rating 7.1as Charles 'Charley' Riley
Wacko1982IMDb rating 4.9as Mr. Doctor Graves
Just Before Dawn1981IMDb rating 6.0as Roy McLean
Modern Romance1981IMDb rating 7.0as Himself and Zeron
Day of Resurrection1980IMDb rating 6.2as Adm. Conway
Death Ship1980IMDb rating 4.8as Captain Ashland
The Concorde... Airport '791979IMDb rating 4.5as Capt. Joe Patroni
Brass Target1978IMDb rating 6.0as Gen. George S. Patton
Death on the Nile1978IMDb rating 7.3as Andrew Pennington
Airport '771977IMDb rating 5.8as Joe Patroni
Proof of the Man1977IMDb rating 6.6as Ken Shuftan
The Eiger Sanction1975IMDb rating 6.4as Ben Bowman
The Human Factor1975IMDb rating 5.7as John Kinsdale
Airport 19751974IMDb rating 5.8as Joe Patroni
Earthquake1974IMDb rating 6.0as Slade
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot1974IMDb rating 7.0as Red Leary
Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5as Fraser
Lost Horizon1973IMDb rating 5.3as Sam Cornelius
Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4as Dallas 'Doc' Council
Airport1970IMDb rating 6.6as Patroni
… tick… tick… tick…1970IMDb rating 6.7as John Little
Guns of the Magnificent Seven1969IMDb rating 5.8as Chris
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys1969IMDb rating 6.1as McKay
Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5as Sheriff July Johnson
The Boston Strangler1968IMDb rating 7.0as Phil DiNatale
The Legend of Lylah Clare1968IMDb rating 5.7as Matt Burke
Cool Hand Luke1967IMDb rating 8.0as Dragline
Hurry Sundown1967IMDb rating 5.9as Sheriff Coombs
The Ballad of Josie1967IMDb rating 5.7as Arch Ogden
The Dirty Dozen1967IMDb rating 7.7as Maj. Max Armbruster
In Harm's Way1965IMDb rating 7.3as Colonel Gregory
Mirage1965IMDb rating 7.2as Willard
Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3as Col. Fairchild
The Flight of the Phoenix1965IMDb rating 7.5as Bellamy
The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1as Curley
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964IMDb rating 7.5as Foreman
Strait-Jacket1964IMDb rating 6.8as Leo Krause
Charade1963IMDb rating 7.8as Herman Scobie
Lonely Are the Brave1962IMDb rating 7.5as Deputy Sheriff Gutierrez
The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come1961IMDb rating 6.0as Nathan Dillon

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Cool Hand Luke1967 Crime, Dramaas Dragline
IMDb rating 8.0197K votes
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988 Comedy, Crimeas Ed Hocken
IMDb rating 7.6226K votes
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991as Det. Captain Ed Hocken
IMDb rating 6.9143K votes
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994as Ed Hocken
IMDb rating 6.5130K votes
Charade1963as Herman Scobie
IMDb rating 7.895K votes
The Gambler2014as Ed
IMDb rating 6.079K votes
Creepshow 21987as Ray Spruce (segment "Old Chief Wood'nhead")
IMDb rating 6.131K votes
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot1974as Red Leary
IMDb rating 7.034K votes

Most often with

Andrew V. McLaglen directed six of these films, Robert Aldrich four and David Zucker two. James Stewart appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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James Stewart

Paul Fix

Walter Matthau

John Wayne

Ernest Borgnine

Harry Carey Jr.

Andrew V. McLaglenDirector, 6 films

Robert AldrichDirector, 4 films

David ZuckerDirector, 2 films

Films together

James Stewart5 films together, 1965 to 1977
James Stewart's page
- Airport '771977IMDb rating 5.8Kennedy as Joe PatroniStewart as Philip Stevens
- Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4Kennedy as Dallas 'Doc' CouncilStewart as Mattie Appleyard
- Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as Sheriff July JohnsonStewart as Mace Bishop
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Kennedy as Col. FairchildStewart as Charlie
- The Flight of the Phoenix1965IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as BellamyStewart as Frank Towns
Paul Fix4 films together, 1965 to 1973
Paul Fix's page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as FraserFix as Old Man
- The Ballad of Josie1967IMDb rating 5.7Kennedy as Arch OgdenFix as Alpheus
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Kennedy as Col. FairchildFix as Dr. Tom Witherspoon
- The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Kennedy as CurleyFix as Sheriff Billy Wilson
Walter Matthau4 films together, 1962 to 1974
Walter Matthau's page
- Earthquake1974IMDb rating 6.0Kennedy as SladeMatthau as Drunk
- Mirage1965IMDb rating 7.2Kennedy as WillardMatthau as Ted Caselle
- Charade1963IMDb rating 7.8Kennedy as Herman ScobieMatthau as Hamilton Bartholomew
- Lonely Are the Brave1962IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Deputy Sheriff GutierrezMatthau as Sheriff Morey Johnson
John Wayne3 films together, 1965 to 1973
John Wayne's page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as FraserWayne as J. D. Cahill
- In Harm's Way1965IMDb rating 7.3Kennedy as Colonel GregoryWayne as Rock
- The Sons of Katie Elder1965IMDb rating 7.1Kennedy as CurleyWayne as John Elder
Ernest Borgnine3 films together, 1965 to 1968
Ernest Borgnine's page
- The Legend of Lylah Clare1968IMDb rating 5.7Kennedy as Matt BurkeBorgnine as Barney Sheean
- The Dirty Dozen1967IMDb rating 7.7Kennedy as Maj. Max ArmbrusterBorgnine as Gen. Worden
- The Flight of the Phoenix1965IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as BellamyBorgnine as Trucker Cobb
Harry Carey Jr.3 films together, 1965 to 1973
Harry Carey Jr.'s page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as FraserCarey as Hank
- Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as Sheriff July JohnsonCarey as Cort Hayjack
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Kennedy as Col. FairchildCarey as Jenkins - Rebel Soldier
Andrew V. McLaglenDirector, 6 films, 1961 to 1973
All films by Andrew V. McLaglen
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as Fraser
- Fools' Parade1971IMDb rating 6.4Kennedy as Dallas 'Doc' Council
- Bandolero!1968IMDb rating 6.5Kennedy as Sheriff July Johnson
- The Ballad of Josie1967IMDb rating 5.7Kennedy as Arch Ogden
- Shenandoah1965IMDb rating 7.3Kennedy as Col. Fairchild
- The Little Shepherd Of Kingdom Come1961IMDb rating 6.0Kennedy as Nathan Dillon
Robert AldrichDirector, 4 films, 1964 to 1968
All films by Robert Aldrich
- The Legend of Lylah Clare1968IMDb rating 5.7Kennedy as Matt Burke
- The Dirty Dozen1967IMDb rating 7.7Kennedy as Maj. Max Armbruster
- The Flight of the Phoenix1965IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Bellamy
- Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte1964IMDb rating 7.5Kennedy as Foreman
David ZuckerDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 1991
All films by David Zucker
- The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991IMDb rating 6.9Kennedy as Det. Captain Ed Hocken
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988IMDb rating 7.6Kennedy as Ed Hocken
Also three films together15 more actors
- Dean MartinAirport (1970), Bandolero! (1968) and The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
- Leslie NielsenNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
- Dub TaylorThunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), … tick… tick… tick… (1970) and Bandolero! (1968)
- Robert VaughnThe Delta Force (1986), Day of Resurrection (1980) and Brass Target (1978)
- Denver PyleCahill U.S. Marshal (1973), Bandolero! (1968) and Shenandoah (1965)
- Strother MartinFools' Parade (1971), Cool Hand Luke (1967) and The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
- Joe Don BakerWacko (1982), Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) and Cool Hand Luke (1967)
- Don StroudMen in White (1998), … tick… tick… tick… (1970) and The Ballad of Josie (1967)
- Karl Swenson… tick… tick… tick… (1970), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
- Peter FinchLost Horizon (1973), The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
- Anthony JamesThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991), Wacko (1982) and … tick… tick… tick… (1970)
- Mike KellinJust Before Dawn (1981), Fools' Parade (1971) and The Boston Strangler (1968)
- O.J. SimpsonNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
- Priscilla PresleyNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
- Ed WilliamsNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What George Kennedy's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.2 billion

31 of the 61 films have a worldwide figure.

31Worldwide figure
6US gross only
4Never in cinemas
20Figure not found

Top grosser

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991Det. Captain Ed Hocken$192 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 77% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991as Det. Captain Ed Hocken
$192M16.5% of the total
2
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988as Ed Hocken
$152M13.1% of the total
3
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994as Ed Hocken
$132M11.3% of the total
4
Airport 19751974as Joe Patroni
$103M8.8% of the total
5
Airport1970as Patroni
$100M8.6% of the total
6
Airport '771977as Joe Patroni
$91M7.8% of the total
7
Earthquake1974as Slade
$80M6.8% of the total
8
The Dirty Dozen1967as Maj. Max Armbruster
$45M3.9% of the total