Edgar Kennedy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic film character actor, known as "Slow Burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper. Kennedy is best known for a small role as a lemonade vendor in the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, as well as the many Hal Roach films he appeared in. Kennedy became so identified with frustration that practically every studio hired him to play hotheads. He often played dumb cops, detectives, and even a prison warden; sometimes he was a grouchy moving man, truck driver, or blue-collar workman. His character usually lost his temper at least once. In Diplomaniacs, Kennedy presides over an international tribunal, where Wheeler & Woolsey want to do something about world peace. "Well, ya can't do anything about it here", yells Kennedy, "this is a peace conference!" Kennedy, established as the poster boy for frustration, even starred in an instructional film titled The Other Fellow, in which loudmouthed roadhog Edgar always vents his anger on other drivers (each one played by Kennedy as well), little realizing that, to them, he is "the other fellow." Perhaps his most unusual roles were as a puppeteer in the detective mystery The Falcon Strikes Back and as a philosophical bartender inspired to create exotic cocktails in Harold Lloyd's last film, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947). He also played comical detectives opposite two titans of acting: John Barrymore in Twentieth Century (1934) and Rex Harrison in Unfaithfully Yours (1948); in the latter, he tells conductor Harrison that "Nobody handles Handel like you handle Handel." Kennedy died of throat cancer at the Motion Picture Hospital, San Fernando Valley on 9 November 1948. His body was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California.
Filmography
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Our Gang Story
as Officer (archive footage)
The Our Gang Story
as Officer (archive footage)
The Muppets Go to the Movies
as Keystone Kop (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Muppets Go to the Movies
as Keystone Kop (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
The Golden Age of Comedy
as archive footage
The Golden Age of Comedy
as archive footage
My Dream Is Yours
as Uncle Charlie
My Dream Is Yours
as Uncle Charlie
Unfaithfully Yours
as Sweeney
Unfaithfully Yours
as Sweeney
Contest Crazy
as Edgar
Contest Crazy
as Edgar
Variety Time
as Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
Variety Time
as Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
Dig That Gold
as Edgar Kennedy
Dig That Gold
as Edgar Kennedy
Brother Knows Best
as Edgar Kennedy
Brother Knows Best
as Edgar Kennedy
Heaven Only Knows
as Judd
Heaven Only Knows
as Judd
Do or Diet
as Edgar
Do or Diet
as Edgar
I'll Build It Myself
as Edgar
I'll Build It Myself
as Edgar
Trouble or Nothing
as Edgar
Trouble or Nothing
as Edgar
Captain Tugboat Annie
as Captain Bullwinkle
Captain Tugboat Annie
as Captain Bullwinkle
The Big Beef
as Edgar Kennedy
The Big Beef
as Edgar Kennedy
You Drive Me Crazy
as Edgar
You Drive Me Crazy
as Edgar
Anchors Aweigh
as Police Captain
Anchors Aweigh
as Police Captain
It's Your Move
as Edgar Kennedy
It's Your Move
as Edgar Kennedy
What, No Cigarettes
as Edgar Kennedy
What, No Cigarettes
as Edgar Kennedy
Feather Your Nest
as Edgar
Feather Your Nest
as Edgar
The Great Alaskan Mystery
as Bosun Higgins
The Great Alaskan Mystery
as Bosun Higgins
It Happened Tomorrow
as Insp. Mulrooney
It Happened Tomorrow
as Insp. Mulrooney
Radio Rampage
as Edgar
Radio Rampage
as Edgar
Prunes and Politics
as Edgar
Prunes and Politics
as Edgar
Crazy House
as Judge
Crazy House
as Judge
The Girl from Monterrey
as Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
The Girl from Monterrey
as Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
Hitler's Madman
as Nepomuk - the Hermit
Hitler's Madman
as Nepomuk - the Hermit
Hot Foot
as Edgar
Hot Foot
as Edgar
Inferior Decorator
as Edgar
Inferior Decorator
as Edgar
Air Raid Wardens
as Joe Bledsoe
Air Raid Wardens
as Joe Bledsoe
The Falcon Strikes Back
as Smiley Dugan
The Falcon Strikes Back
as Smiley Dugan
Hold Your Temper
as Edgar
Hold Your Temper
as Edgar
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
as Police Chief Murphy
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
as Police Chief Murphy
Duck Soup
as Edgar
Duck Soup
as Edgar
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
as Sgt. Homer Gatling
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
as Sgt. Homer Gatling
There's One Born Every Minute
as Mayor Moe Carson
There's One Born Every Minute
as Mayor Moe Carson
Cooks and Crooks
as Edgar
Cooks and Crooks
as Edgar
In Old California
as Kegs McKeever
In Old California
as Kegs McKeever
Pardon My Stripes
as Warden Bingham
Pardon My Stripes
as Warden Bingham
Private Snuffy Smith
as Sgt. Ed Cooper
Private Snuffy Smith
as Sgt. Ed Cooper
Rough on Rents
as Edgar Kennedy
Rough on Rents
as Edgar Kennedy
A Quiet Fourth
as Edgar
A Quiet Fourth
as Edgar
Gangs Of The City
as Biff
Gangs Of The City
as Biff
I'll Fix It
as Edgar
I'll Fix It
as Edgar
Westward Ho-Hum
as Edgar
Westward Ho-Hum
as Edgar
Blondie in Society
as Dr. Glenn
Blondie in Society
as Dr. Glenn
An Apple in His Eye
as Edgar Kennedy
An Apple in His Eye
as Edgar Kennedy
Drafted in the Depot
as Edgar Kennedy
Drafted in the Depot
as Edgar Kennedy
Remedy for Riches
as George Browning
Remedy for Riches
as George Browning
Li'l Abner
as Cornelius Cornpone
Li'l Abner
as Cornelius Cornpone
Sandy Gets Her Man
as Fire Chief Galvin
Sandy Gets Her Man
as Fire Chief Galvin
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
as Sheriff Gregory
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
as Sheriff Gregory
A Trailer Tragedy
as Edgar Kennedy
A Trailer Tragedy
as Edgar Kennedy
The Quarterback
as Pops
The Quarterback
as Pops
The Bride Wore Crutches
as Police Captain McGuire
The Bride Wore Crutches
as Police Captain McGuire
Margie
as Chauncey
Margie
as Chauncey
Sunk by the Census
as Edgar
Sunk by the Census
as Edgar
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
as George Browning
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
as George Browning
'Taint Legal
as Edgar
'Taint Legal
as Edgar
Sandy Is a Lady
as Officer Rafferty
Sandy Is a Lady
as Officer Rafferty
Mutiny in the County
as Edgar Kennedy
Mutiny in the County
as Edgar Kennedy
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
as Inspector Dailey
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
as Inspector Dailey
Kennedy the Great
as Edgar Kennedy
Kennedy the Great
as Edgar Kennedy
Laugh It Off
as Judge John J. McGuinnis
Laugh It Off
as Judge John J. McGuinnis
Little Accident
as Paper Hanger
Little Accident
as Paper Hanger
Act Your Age
as Edgar
Act Your Age
as Edgar
Everything's on Ice
as Joe Barton
Everything's on Ice
as Joe Barton
Maid to Order
as Edgar
Maid to Order
as Edgar
It's a Wonderful World
as Lieutenant Miller
It's a Wonderful World
as Lieutenant Miller
Baby Daze
as Edgar Kennedy
Baby Daze
as Edgar Kennedy
Clock Wise
as Edgar
Clock Wise
as Edgar
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
as Arthur Bailey
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
as Arthur Bailey
A Clean Sweep
as Edgar
A Clean Sweep
as Edgar
Beaux and Errors
as Edgar Kennedy
Beaux and Errors
as Edgar Kennedy
Hey! Hey! USA
as Bugs Leary
Hey! Hey! USA
as Bugs Leary
Scandal Street
as Daniel Webster Smith
Scandal Street
as Daniel Webster Smith
The Black Doll
as Sheriff Renick
The Black Doll
as Sheriff Renick
Ears of Experience
as Edgar
Ears of Experience
as Edgar
Hollywood Hotel
as Callaghan
Hollywood Hotel
as Callaghan
True Confession
as Darsey
True Confession
as Darsey
Edgar & Goliath
as Edgar
Edgar & Goliath
as Edgar
Double Wedding
as Spike
Double Wedding
as Spike
Tramp Trouble
as Edgar
Tramp Trouble
as Edgar
Super-Sleuth
as Police Lt. Garrison
Super-Sleuth
as Police Lt. Garrison
Dumb's the Word
as Edgar Kennedy
Dumb's the Word
as Edgar Kennedy
A Star Is Born
as Pop Randall
A Star Is Born
as Pop Randall
Bad Housekeeping
as Edgar
Bad Housekeeping
as Edgar
When's Your Birthday?
as Mr. Basscombe
When's Your Birthday?
as Mr. Basscombe
The Other Fellow
as Four Roles
The Other Fellow
as Four Roles
Three Men on a Horse
as Harry, the Bartender
Three Men on a Horse
as Harry, the Bartender
Mad Holiday
as Donovan
Mad Holiday
as Donovan
Vocalizing
as Edgar Kennedy
Vocalizing
as Edgar Kennedy
Yours for the Asking
as Bicarbonate
Yours for the Asking
as Bicarbonate
Dummy Ache
as Edgar
Dummy Ache
as Edgar
San Francisco
as Sheriff
San Francisco
as Sheriff
Fatal Lady
as Rudolf Hochstetter
Fatal Lady
as Rudolf Hochstetter
Small Town Girl
as Captain Mack
Small Town Girl
as Captain Mack
Robin Hood of El Dorado
as Sheriff Judd
Robin Hood of El Dorado
as Sheriff Judd
Will Power
as Edgar Kennedy
Will Power
as Edgar Kennedy
The Return of Jimmy Valentine
as Callahan
The Return of Jimmy Valentine
as Callahan
Gasoloons
as Edgar Kennedy
Gasoloons
as Edgar Kennedy
The Bride Comes Home
as Henry
The Bride Comes Home
as Henry
$1,000 a Minute
as Police Officer McCarthy
$1,000 a Minute
as Police Officer McCarthy
Little Big Shot
as Onderdonk
Little Big Shot
as Onderdonk
In Love at 40
as Edgar Kennedy
In Love at 40
as Edgar Kennedy
Woman Wanted
as Sweeney
Woman Wanted
as Sweeney
Edgar Hamlet
as Edgar
Edgar Hamlet
as Edgar
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Edgar Kennedy
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Edgar Kennedy
Sock Me to Sleep
as Edgar
Sock Me to Sleep
as Edgar
The Cowboy Millionaire
as Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
The Cowboy Millionaire
as Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
Living on Velvet
as Counterman
Living on Velvet
as Counterman
Rendezvous at Midnight
as Mahoney
Rendezvous at Midnight
as Mahoney
Brick-a-Brac
as Edgar
Brick-a-Brac
as Edgar
The Silver Streak
as O'Brien
The Silver Streak
as O'Brien
Flirting with Danger
as Jimmie Pierson
Flirting with Danger
as Jimmie Pierson
Poisoned Ivory
as Edgar Kennedy
Poisoned Ivory
as Edgar Kennedy
Kid Millions
as Herman Wilson
Kid Millions
as Herman Wilson
Gridiron Flash
as Officer Thurston
Gridiron Flash
as Officer Thurston
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
as Happy Moran
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
as Happy Moran
A Blasted Event
as Edgar
A Blasted Event
as Edgar
We're Rich Again
as Healy, Process Server
We're Rich Again
as Healy, Process Server
Murder on the Blackboard
as Detective Donahue
Murder on the Blackboard
as Detective Donahue
Money Means Nothing
as Herbert Green
Money Means Nothing
as Herbert Green
Wrong Direction
as Edgar, Movie Director
Wrong Direction
as Edgar, Movie Director
Twentieth Century
as Oscar McGonigle
Twentieth Century
as Oscar McGonigle
Love on a Ladder
as Edgar
Love on a Ladder
as Edgar
Heat Lightning
as Herbert
Heat Lightning
as Herbert
All of Me
as Guard (uncredited)
All of Me
as Guard (uncredited)
King for a Night
as Cop
King for a Night
as Cop
Duck Soup
as Street Vendor
Duck Soup
as Street Vendor
What Fur
as Edgar
What Fur
as Edgar
Good Housewrecking
Good Housewrecking
Professional Sweetheart
as Kelsey
Professional Sweetheart
as Kelsey
Cross Fire
as Ed Wimpy
Cross Fire
as Ed Wimpy
Art in the Raw
Art in the Raw
Fish Feathers
as Edgar Kennedy
Fish Feathers
as Edgar Kennedy
The Penguin Pool Murder
as Officer Donovan
The Penguin Pool Murder
as Officer Donovan
Now's the Time
Now's the Time
The Spot on the Rug
as Jake
The Spot on the Rug
as Jake
Love Fever
as Thelma's Last Rescuer
Love Fever
as Thelma's Last Rescuer
High Gear
as Cop
High Gear
as Cop
Next Door Neighbors
as Howard J. Green
Next Door Neighbors
as Howard J. Green
Doctor's Orders
as Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
Doctor's Orders
as Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
Great Gobs!
as 2nd Sailor
Great Gobs!
as 2nd Sailor
They Had to See Paris
as Ed Eggers (uncredited)
They Had to See Paris
as Ed Eggers (uncredited)
Feed 'em and Weep
Feed 'em and Weep
The Boy Friend
as The Cop
The Boy Friend
as The Cop
The Fight Pest
The Fight Pest
Across the Pacific
as Cpl. Ryan
Across the Pacific
as Cpl. Ryan
The People vs. Nancy Preston
as Gloomy Gus
The People vs. Nancy Preston
as Gloomy Gus
The Golden Princess
as Gewilliker Hay
The Golden Princess
as Gewilliker Hay
All's Swell on the Ocean
All's Swell on the Ocean
Fight and Win
Fight and Win
Hearts and Flowers
as Pete
Hearts and Flowers
as Pete
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
as German Prison Guard (uncredited)
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
as German Prison Guard (uncredited)
Madcap Ambrose
as A City Chap
Madcap Ambrose
as A City Chap
Mabel’s Wilful Way
as Fatty's Pal
Mabel’s Wilful Way
as Fatty's Pal
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
as Neighbor
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
as Neighbor
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
as 1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
as 1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
Tillie's Punctured Romance
as Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
Tillie's Punctured Romance
as Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
Leading Lizzie Astray
as The Slicker's Chauffeur
Leading Lizzie Astray
as The Slicker's Chauffeur
Twenty Minutes of Love
as Lover
Twenty Minutes of Love
as Lover
Cruel, Cruel Love
as Butler
Cruel, Cruel Love
as Butler
Bangville Police
as 3rd Deputy
Bangville Police
as 3rd Deputy