John Kelly

Biography

John Kelly was an American actor whose career stretched from the very end of the silent era through the 1940s. Born in Boston, he made his screen debut in 1928 playing a chauffeur in the Fox silent Blindfold, and he worked steadily in small or uncredited parts, with the occasional featured role. His first sound film was The Man Hunter in 1930. His part in the screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby (1938) was Elmer, a simple-minded policeman, and he also had featured roles as Canvas Back in Little Miss Marker (1934) and Mac in Moontide (1942). His other credits included the serial The Green Hornet, the detective comedy After the Thin Man, and Meet Dr. Christian. He died in 1947.

46years old at death

Born June 29, 1901Boston
Died December 9, 1947Los Angeles
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 92 years1928 to 2020

Genres

Drama75%, 6 films
Romance38%, 3 films
Comedy25%, 2 films
Crime25%, 2 films
Family25%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Kelly entered the film industry in 1928, when Fox gave him the part of the chauffeur in the silent movie Blindfold.
A first
Kelly's first appearance in a sound film came in 1930's The Man Hunter, which featured the canine star Rin Tin Tin.

John Kelly movies on Netflix

Wendy2020IMDb rating 5.7as The Olds
The Dark Corner1946IMDb rating 7.1as Policeman at Gallery
Moontide1942IMDb rating 6.8as Mac
Black Friday1940IMDb rating 6.3as Taxi Driver
Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8as Elmer
Little Miss Marker1934IMDb rating 6.9as Canvas Back
The Doorway to Hell1930IMDb rating 6.5as Whitey Eckhart
The Docks of New York1928IMDb rating 7.5as Sailor Barfly

Best known for

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

Top

Bringing Up Baby1938 Comedy, Family, Romanceas Elmer
IMDb rating 7.870K votes
Wendy2020 Drama, Fantasyas The Olds
IMDb rating 5.74.0K votes
Little Miss Marker1934as Canvas Back
IMDb rating 6.91.6K votes
Black Friday1940as Taxi Driver
IMDb rating 6.33.4K votes
Moontide1942as Mac
IMDb rating 6.82.6K votes
The Docks of New York1928as Sailor Barfly
IMDb rating 7.55.6K votes
The Doorway to Hell1930as Whitey Eckhart
IMDb rating 6.51.6K votes
The Dark Corner1946as Policeman at Gallery
IMDb rating 7.15.8K votes

Worked with

John Kelly shares two films with George Irving, 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.

Top

George Irving

Ralph Dunn

Boris Karloff

Ward Bond

Cary Grant

Paul FixArchie MayoDirector, 2 films

Films together

George Irving2 films together, 1928 to 1938
George Irving's page
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Kelly as ElmerIrving as Alexander Peabody
- The Docks of New York1928IMDb rating 7.5Kelly as Sailor BarflyIrving as Night Court Judge
Ralph Dunn2 films together, 1942 to 1946
Ralph Dunn's page
- The Dark Corner1946IMDb rating 7.1Kelly as Policeman at GalleryDunn as Policeman at Gallery
- Moontide1942IMDb rating 6.8Kelly as MacDunn as Policeman
Boris Karloff1 film together, 1940
Boris Karloff's page
- Black Friday1940IMDb rating 6.3Kelly as Taxi DriverKarloff as Dr. Ernest Sovac
Ward Bond1 film together, 1938
Ward Bond's page
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Kelly as ElmerBond as Motorcycle Cop
Cary Grant1 film together, 1938
Cary Grant's page
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Kelly as ElmerGrant as David Huxley
Paul Fix1 film together, 1940
Paul Fix's page
- Black Friday1940IMDb rating 6.3Kelly as Taxi DriverFix as William Kane
Archie MayoDirector, 2 films, 1930 to 1942
All films by Archie Mayo
- Moontide1942IMDb rating 6.8Kelly as Mac
- The Doorway to Hell1930IMDb rating 6.5Kelly as Whitey Eckhart

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top