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On this day, February 18, 1925, George Kennedy was born.
George Kennedy
Publicity photo of George Kennedy (1975)
Born: George Harris Kennedy Jr.; February 18, 1925; New York City, U.S.
Died: February 28, 2016 (aged 91); Middleton, Idaho, U.S.
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1956–2014
George Harris Kennedy Jr. (February 18, 1925 – February 28, 2016) was an American actor who appeared in more than 100 film and television productions. He played "Dragline" opposite Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967), winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role and being nominated for the corresponding Golden Globe. He received a second Golden Globe nomination for portraying Joe Patroni in Airport (1970).
Among the notable films he had a significant role in are Cool Hand Luke, Charade, Strait-Jacket, McHale's Navy, Shenandoah, The Sons of Katie Elder, The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, The Boston Strangler, Guns of the Magnificent Seven, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Good Guys and the Bad Guys, Airport 1975, Earthquake, The Eiger Sanction, and The Naked Gun.
Kennedy was the only actor to appear in all four films in the Airport series, reprising the role of Joe Patroni three times. He also played Police Captain Ed Hocken in the Naked Gun series of comedy films, and corrupt oil tycoon Carter McKay on the original Dallas television series.
Early life, education and military service
Kennedy was born on February 18, 1925, in New York City, into a show business family. His father, George Harris Kennedy, a musician and orchestra leader, died when Kennedy was four years old. He was raised by his mother, Helen A. (née Kieselbach), a ballet dancer. His maternal grandfather was a German immigrant; his other ancestry was Irish and English.
Kennedy made his stage debut at age two in a touring company of Bringing Up Father, and by seven was a New York City radio DJ.
Kennedy graduated in 1943 from Chaminade High School in Mineola, Long Island, New York.
Kennedy enlisted in the United States Army during World War II in 1943. He served 16 years, reaching the rank of captain. Kennedy served in the infantry under George S. Patton, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and earned two Bronze Stars. He re-enlisted after the war and was discharged in the late 1950s due to a back injury.
{snip}
Publicity photo of George Kennedy (1975)
Born: George Harris Kennedy Jr.; February 18, 1925; New York City, U.S.
Died: February 28, 2016 (aged 91); Middleton, Idaho, U.S.
Occupation: Actor
Years active: 1956–2014
George Harris Kennedy Jr. (February 18, 1925 – February 28, 2016) was an American actor who appeared in more than 100 film and television productions. He played "Dragline" opposite Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke (1967), winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role and being nominated for the corresponding Golden Globe. He received a second Golden Globe nomination for portraying Joe Patroni in Airport (1970).
Among the notable films he had a significant role in are Cool Hand Luke, Charade, Strait-Jacket, McHale's Navy, Shenandoah, The Sons of Katie Elder, The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, The Boston Strangler, Guns of the Magnificent Seven, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, The Good Guys and the Bad Guys, Airport 1975, Earthquake, The Eiger Sanction, and The Naked Gun.
Kennedy was the only actor to appear in all four films in the Airport series, reprising the role of Joe Patroni three times. He also played Police Captain Ed Hocken in the Naked Gun series of comedy films, and corrupt oil tycoon Carter McKay on the original Dallas television series.
Early life, education and military service
Kennedy was born on February 18, 1925, in New York City, into a show business family. His father, George Harris Kennedy, a musician and orchestra leader, died when Kennedy was four years old. He was raised by his mother, Helen A. (née Kieselbach), a ballet dancer. His maternal grandfather was a German immigrant; his other ancestry was Irish and English.
Kennedy made his stage debut at age two in a touring company of Bringing Up Father, and by seven was a New York City radio DJ.
Kennedy graduated in 1943 from Chaminade High School in Mineola, Long Island, New York.
Kennedy enlisted in the United States Army during World War II in 1943. He served 16 years, reaching the rank of captain. Kennedy served in the infantry under George S. Patton, fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and earned two Bronze Stars. He re-enlisted after the war and was discharged in the late 1950s due to a back injury.
{snip}
Best of Joe Patroni (Airport)
CaptainJZH
110K subscribers
1,073 views Dec 20, 2022
Select clips of George Kennedy's character in the Airport movies!
For fan-trailers, tributes, intros, compilations, and other mash-up videos, subscribe to me (if you want to)
Check out My Best Work playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjlAmr_sE-mJaLd1JcdI3TmSLg6Rvo2ph
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainJZH
My Tumblr: http://captainjzh.tumblr.com
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captainjzh
CaptainJZH
110K subscribers
1,073 views Dec 20, 2022
Select clips of George Kennedy's character in the Airport movies!
For fan-trailers, tributes, intros, compilations, and other mash-up videos, subscribe to me (if you want to)
Check out My Best Work playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjlAmr_sE-mJaLd1JcdI3TmSLg6Rvo2ph
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainJZH
My Tumblr: http://captainjzh.tumblr.com
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captainjzh
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
HD Retro Trailers
76.2K subscribers
7,126 views Apr 12, 2018
The original trailer in high definition of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot directed by Michael Cimino and starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis and Catherine Bach.
{snip}
HD Retro Trailers
76.2K subscribers
7,126 views Apr 12, 2018
The original trailer in high definition of Thunderbolt and Lightfoot directed by Michael Cimino and starring Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges, George Kennedy, Geoffrey Lewis and Catherine Bach.
{snip}