Edgar Kennedy

Biography

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.

Known For

Street Vendor

Duck Soup

Insp. Mulrooney

It Happened Tomorrow

Kennedy

Las fantasmas

Dr. Glenn

Blondie in Society

Spike

Double Wedding

Butler

Cruel, Cruel Love

Striking Baker

Dough and Dynamite

Jake the Bartender

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

Happy Moran

King Kelly of the U.S.A.

Cornelius Cornpone

Li'l Abner

Uncle Charlie

My Dream Is Yours

Pop Randall

A Star Is Born

Oscar McGonigle

Twentieth Century

Cop

The Rural Third Degree

Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)

Caught in a Cabaret

Detective (as Edward Kennedy)

The Trouble With Wives

Kegs McKeever

In Old California

Joe Bledsoe

Air Raid Wardens

Callaghan

Hollywood Hotel

Smiley Dugan

The Falcon Strikes Back

Officer (archive footage)

The Our Gang Story

Maydorf

The Chinese Parrot

Mabel’s Awful Mistakes

Lieutenant Miller

It's a Wonderful World

The Detective

Whose Baby?

A Photographer

The Family Group

The Fight Pest

Imagine My Embarrassment

Is Everybody Happy?

All Parts

The Booster

Chasing Husbands

Off to Buffalo

2nd Sailor

Great Gobs!

Officer Kennedy

Night Owls

The Rival

The Love Thief

Uncle Edgar

Perfect Day

Golfer (uncredited)

Should Married Men Go Home?

Cop (as Ed Kennedy)

The Finishing Touch

Cop

Leave 'Em Laughing

Collis P. Kennedy

Bacon Grabbers

Motorist

Two Tars

Officer Kennedy

Unaccustomed as We Are

Landlady's Husband (uncredited)

The Star Boarder

Lover

Twenty Minutes of Love

Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)

The Knockout

Policeman

Gentlemen of Nerve

Policeman (uncredited)

Getting Acquainted

Crook (uncredited)

A Thief Catcher

Edgar

Giggle Water

Officer Donovan

The Penguin Pool Murder

Sheriff Judd

Robin Hood of El Dorado

Onderdonk

Little Big Shot

Windy

Son of the Border

edited from 'A Pair of Tights' (archive footage)

When Comedy Was King

Captain Mack

Small Town Girl

Daddy Warbucks

Little Orphan Annie

Edgar

Fatty's Tintype Tangle

Tom Grady

Racing for Life

Judge

Tillie and Gus

Willy 'Persimmon' Bates

The Cowboy Millionaire

Darsey

True Confession

Jimmie Pierson

Flirting with Danger

Harry, the Bartender

Three Men on a Horse

Wreck Bystander (uncredited)

Making a Living

Jealous Cop

Fatty Joins the Force

Donovan

Mad Holiday

Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter

The Girl from Monterrey

The Slicker's Chauffeur

Leading Lizzie Astray

Sgt. Buck Martin

The Marines Are Coming

Art in the Raw

Good Housewrecking

Gewilliker Hay

The Golden Princess

The Trouble Mender

Love and Bullets

The Sky Pirate

The Sky Pirate

Police Lt. Garrison

Super-Sleuth

Herbert Green

Money Means Nothing

Edgar

A Blasted Event

Ladrones

Art Gallery Operator

The Late Lamented

Edgar

A Merchant of Menace

Cop

Algy on the Force

Bugs Leary

Hey! Hey! USA

Police Chief Murphy

Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher

Shell Game Operator

Fatty’s Plucky Pup

Edgar Kennedy

Will Power

The Cop

Dumb Daddies

Arthur Bailey

Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

Moan & Groan, Inc.

Sheriff Gregory

Who Killed Aunt Maggie?

Counterman

Living on Velvet

Ptomaine Tommy

Something for Nothing

Four Roles

The Other Fellow

Kelsey

Professional Sweetheart

Edgar

Tramp Trouble

He's a Honey

George Browning

Remedy for Riches

Corporal Austin

The Better 'Ole

Healy, Process Server

We're Rich Again

Now's the Time

Hank Hall

The Little Girl Next Door

Bosun Higgins

The Great Alaskan Mystery

Edgar Kennedy

Beaux and Errors

Edgar Kennedy

Dumb's the Word

Officer Thurston

Gridiron Flash

Mr. Basscombe

When's Your Birthday?

O'Brien

The Silver Streak

Edgar, Movie Director

Wrong Direction

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

When the Wind Blows

Sweeney

Woman Wanted

Inspector Dailey

Charlie McCarthy, Detective

Mayor Moe Carson

There's One Born Every Minute

Henry

The Bride Comes Home

The Husband, Mr Glenders

Limousine Love

Sgt. Ed Cooper

Private Snuffy Smith

Police Captain

Anchors Aweigh

Henchman

The Gangsters

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

The First Seven Years

The Cop

Peeping Pete

Water Policeman

A Muddy Romance

Laughing Spectator

The Speed Kings

Spectator

Rastus and the Game Cock

1st Crook

Safe in Jail

1st Cop

Love and Rubbish

A Noise from the Deep

Cop

The Riot

Cop

Mabel's New Hero

Audience Member / Cop in Movie

Mabel's Dramatic Career

Mug

Mother's Boy

Wedding Guest

A Quiet Little Wedding

Mustached Man

A Ride for a Bride

Rajah

A Flirt's Mistake

Cop

In the Clutches of the Gang

The Groom

Rebecca's Wedding Day

Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)

Tango Tangles

Tough Guy in Bar

His Favorite Pastime

Jealous Boyfriend

A Bath House Beauty

Sam Gilroy

Scarlet River

2nd Thief

The Great Vacuum Robbery

Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)

The Battling Fool

Trayguard

The Wrong Mr. Wright

Sheriff Renick

The Black Doll

Marion's Boyfriend's Boss

A Pair of Tights

Cop

Going Ga-Ga

Chairman - Peace Conference

Diplomaniacs

Inspector Murch

Trent's Last Case

Elmer

Westward Passage

Rudolf Hochstetter

Fatal Lady

Captain Bullwinkle

Captain Tugboat Annie

German Prison Guard (uncredited)

Yankee Doodle in Berlin

Cicero the Cop

The Real McCoy

Their First Execution

Quimby the Lawyer

Dollar Dizzy

3rd Deputy

Bangville Police

Detective

Moonlight and Monkey Business

Police Chief

The Noise of Bombs

Café Proprietor

Ambrose's First Falsehood

The Cop

The Boy Friend

Bicarbonate

Yours for the Asking

Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival

His Bitter Pill

A City Chap

Madcap Ambrose

Pete

Hearts and Flowers

Director (uncredited)

A Film Johnnie

Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)

Mabel at the Wheel

Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)

Mabel's Busy Day

(uncredited)

The Rounders

Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)

Tillie's Punctured Romance

Neighbor

Fatty’s Reckless Fling

Handout-Giver (uncredited)

Fatty's New Role

1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)

Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition

Fatty's Pal

Mabel’s Wilful Way

Cop

Wished on Mabel

Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)

That Little Band Of Gold

Thelma's Last Rescuer

Love Fever

Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)

The Head Guy

Detective

The Big Kick

Herbert - the Husband

Heat Lightning

Edgar Kennedy

Baby Daze

Mahoney

Rendezvous at Midnight

Ed Eggers (uncredited)

They Had to See Paris

Officer Ed Kennedy

Hurdy Gurdy

Cop

King for a Night

George Browning

Dr. Christian Meets the Women

Edgar Kennedy

Quiet Please!

Edgar Kennedy

Gasoloons

Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)

Shivering Shakespeare

Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle

Doctor's Orders

Uncle Ed Sutton

Bigger and Better

Man in Phone Booth

Ladies Last

Night Club Patron

Looser Than Loose

Joe Barton

Everything's on Ice

The Crook

Wall Street Blues

Feed 'em and Weep

Edgar Kennedy

Mutiny in the County

Biff

Gangs Of The City

Herman Wilson

Kid Millions

Orchestra Leader

The Big Squawk

Diner's Owner

Stepping Out

Suitor

Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers

The Adventures of Daredevil Jack

Little Billy's Triumph

Landlord

Angora Love

Ed Wimpy

Cross Fire

Eric Johnson

Oh! What a Nurse!

Warden Elmer Jones

Hold 'Em Jail

Cop (uncredited)

The Gusher

Bill Sproat

My Old Dutch

Edgar Kennedy

Rough on Rents

Police Officer McCarthy

$1,000 a Minute

Pops

The Quarterback

Chauncey

Margie

Officer Rafferty

Sandy Is a Lady

Edgar Kennedy

It's Your Move

Sgt. Homer Gatling

Hillbilly Blitzkrieg

Sweeney

Unfaithfully Yours

Baldy

Carnival Boat

Thelma's Father

All Teed Up

Michael Kennedy

Dad's Day

Judge Kennedy

Madame Q

Cop (uncredited)

Quick Millions

Cop

High Gear

Officer Kennedy

Fifty Million Husbands

Officer Kennedy (archive footage)

The Best of Laurel and Hardy

Edgar Kennedy

Drafted in the Depot

Edgar Kennedy

An Apple in His Eye

Howard J. Green

Next Door Neighbors

Edgar Kennedy

Poisoned Ivory

Edgar

Edgar Hamlet

High and Dry

Edgar Kennedy

In Love at 40

Judge John J. McGuinnis

Laugh It Off

Detective Donahue

Murder on the Blackboard

Detective (uncredited)

Paths to Paradise

Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)

Variety Time

Hotter Than Hot

An American Tourist

The Guide

The Wife's Brother

He Loved the Ladies

Guard (uncredited)

All of Me

Mike Reynolds

Puppets of Fate

Edgar

Hold Your Temper

Edgar

I'll Fix It

Edgar

Westward Ho-Hum

Judd

Heaven Only Knows

Nepomuk - the Hermit

Hitler's Madman

Sheriff

San Francisco

Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)

Rockabye

Ethel's Former Boyfriend

'Curses!' They Remarked

Edgar

'Taint Legal

Fiancee's Father

Girl Shock

Edgar Kennedy

A Night at the Biltmore Bowl

Edgar

Dummy Ache

Edgar

Love on a Ladder

Edgar

Ears of Experience

Edgar

Clock Wise

Edgar

Sunk by the Census

Edgar

Prunes and Politics

Edgar

A Quiet Fourth

Daniel Webster Smith

Scandal Street

Policeman

Crazy Feet

Edgar Kennedy

Vocalizing

Edgar Kennedy

Fish Feathers

Edgar

Brick-a-Brac

Edgar

Bad Housekeeping

Edgar

A Clean Sweep

Edgar Kennedy

A Trailer Tragedy

The Maid's Boyfriend

His Luckless Love

Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent

A Scoundrel's Toll

Edgar

Cooks and Crooks

Edgar

Duck Soup

Help Wanted, Female

SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

Welcome Danger

Four Times Foiled

Edgar

Hot Foot

Judge

Crazy House

Buffington-Doorman

Bad Company

Detective

Going Crooked

Edgar

Feather Your Nest

Edgar

Radio Rampage

Cpl. Ryan

Across the Pacific

Fire Chief Galvin

Sandy Gets Her Man

Warden Bingham

Pardon My Stripes

O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)

Finger Prints

archive footage

The Golden Age of Comedy

Edgar

Edgar & Goliath

Edgar

Maid to Order

Edgar Kennedy

Kennedy the Great

Edgar Kennedy

What, No Cigarettes

Why Is a Plumber?

Edgar

You Drive Me Crazy

Edgar Kennedy

The Big Beef

The cafe waiter (uncredited)

Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day

Detective

La estación de gasolina

Edgar Kennedy

Motor Maniacs

Edgar

Trouble or Nothing

Edgar

I'll Build It Myself

Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader

Bombs!

Paper Hanger

Little Accident

Bowling Alley Operator

The Bowling Match

Edgar

Do or Diet

Fatty's Neighbor

An Incompetent Hero

Caesar - Zuzu's Rival

Zuzu, the Band Leader

Edgar Kennedy

Dig That Gold

Edgar

Contest Crazy

Edgar Kennedy

Brother Knows Best

She Loved Him Plenty

Edgar

What Fur

The Wandering Two

Edgar

Inferior Decorator

Edwin Rowley, Jr.

The Stolen Triumph

All's Swell on the Ocean

Lem Beeman

The Night Message

Chauffeur

The Gay Old Bird

Laurel & Hardy: Year Two

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

313

Gender

Male

Birthday

1890-04-25

Place of Birth

Monterey, California, USA

Also Known As

E. Livingston Kennedy