Edgar Kennedy
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1890-04-25
Day of Death
1948-11-09 (58 years old)
Place of Birth
Monterey, California, USA
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.
Acting
(2024)
(1994)
The Our Gang Story
as Officer (archive footage)
(1968)
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
as Officer Kennedy (archive footage)
(1960)
When Comedy Was King
as edited from 'A Pair of Tights' (archive footage)
(1957)
The Golden Age of Comedy
as archive footage
(1949)
My Dream Is Yours
as Uncle Charlie
(1948)
Unfaithfully Yours
as Sweeney
(1948)
Brother Knows Best
as Edgar Kennedy
(1948)
Contest Crazy
as Edgar
(1948)
Dig That Gold
as Edgar Kennedy
(1948)
Variety Time
as Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
(1947)
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as Jake the Bartender
(1947)
Heaven Only Knows
as Judd
(1947)
Do or Diet
as Edgar
(1946)
Motor Maniacs
as Edgar Kennedy
(1946)
I'll Build It Myself
as Edgar
(1946)
Trouble or Nothing
as Edgar
(1945)
Anchors Aweigh
as Police Captain
(1945)
Captain Tugboat Annie
as Captain Bullwinkle
(1945)
You Drive Me Crazy
as Edgar
(1945)
What, No Cigarettes
as Edgar Kennedy
(1945)
It's Your Move
as Edgar Kennedy
(1945)
The Big Beef
as Edgar Kennedy
(1944)
It Happened Tomorrow
as Insp. Mulrooney
(1944)
Radio Rampage
as Edgar
(1944)
The Great Alaskan Mystery
as Bosun Higgins
(1944)
Prunes and Politics
as Edgar
(1944)
Feather Your Nest
as Edgar
(1943)
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
as Police Chief Murphy
(1943)
Air Raid Wardens
as Joe Bledsoe
(1943)
Crazy House
as Judge
(1943)
The Falcon Strikes Back
as Smiley Dugan
(1943)
Hitler's Madman
as Nepomuk - the Hermit
(1943)
Hot Foot
as Edgar
(1943)
The Girl from Monterrey
as Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
(1943)
Inferior Decorator
as Edgar
(1943)
Hold Your Temper
as Edgar
(1942)
In Old California
as Kegs McKeever
(1942)
Pardon My Stripes
as Warden Bingham
(1942)
There's One Born Every Minute
as Mayor Moe Carson
(1942)
Private Snuffy Smith
as Sgt. Ed Cooper
(1942)
Duck Soup
as Edgar
(1942)
Rough on Rents
as Edgar Kennedy
(1942)
Cooks and Crooks
as Edgar
(1942)
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
as Sgt. Homer Gatling
(1941)
Gangs Of The City
as Biff
(1941)
Blondie in Society
as Dr. Glenn
(1941)
A Quiet Fourth
as Edgar
(1941)
Westward Ho-Hum
as Edgar
(1941)
I'll Fix It
as Edgar
(1941)
An Apple in His Eye
as Edgar Kennedy
(1940)
Li'l Abner
as Cornelius Cornpone
(1940)
Margie
as Chauncey
(1940)
Drafted in the Depot
as Edgar Kennedy
(1940)
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
as George Browning
(1940)
'Taint Legal
as Edgar
(1940)
The Quarterback
as Pops
(1940)
Sandy Gets Her Man
as Fire Chief Galvin
(1940)
Remedy for Riches
as George Browning
(1940)
A Trailer Tragedy
as Edgar Kennedy
(1940)
Sandy Is a Lady
as Officer Rafferty
(1940)
Sunk by the Census
as Edgar
(1940)
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
as Sheriff Gregory
(1940)
Mutiny in the County
as Edgar Kennedy
(1939)
It's a Wonderful World
as Lieutenant Miller
(1939)
Everything's on Ice
as Joe Barton
(1939)
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
as Inspector Dailey
(1939)
Little Accident
as Paper Hanger
(1939)
Maid to Order
as Edgar
(1939)
Clock Wise
as Edgar
(1939)
Kennedy the Great
as Edgar Kennedy
(1939)
Baby Daze
as Edgar Kennedy
(1939)
Laugh It Off
as Judge John J. McGuinnis
(1938)
Scandal Street
as Daniel Webster Smith
(1938)
Hollywood Hotel
as Callaghan
(1938)
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
as Arthur Bailey
(1938)
A Clean Sweep
as Edgar
(1938)
Hey! Hey! USA
as Bugs Leary
(1938)
The Black Doll
as Sheriff Renick
(1938)
Beaux and Errors
as Edgar Kennedy
(1938)
Ears of Experience
as Edgar
(1937)
A Star Is Born
as Pop Randall
(1937)
Double Wedding
as Spike
(1937)
True Confession
as Darsey
(1937)
Super-Sleuth
as Police Lt. Garrison
(1937)
Tramp Trouble
as Edgar
(1937)
Dumb's the Word
as Edgar Kennedy
(1937)
Bad Housekeeping
as Edgar
(1937)
When's Your Birthday?
as Mr. Basscombe
(1937)
Edgar & Goliath
as Edgar
(1937)
The Other Fellow
as Four Roles
(1936)
San Francisco
as Sheriff
(1936)
Small Town Girl
as Captain Mack
(1936)
Robin Hood of El Dorado
as Sheriff Judd
(1936)
Three Men on a Horse
as Harry, the Bartender
(1936)
Fatal Lady
as Rudolf Hochstetter
(1936)
Yours for the Asking
as Bicarbonate
(1936)
Mad Holiday
as Donovan
(1936)
Will Power
as Edgar Kennedy
(1936)
Vocalizing
as Edgar Kennedy
(1936)
Gasoloons
as Edgar Kennedy
(1936)
Dummy Ache
as Edgar
(1935)
Woman Wanted
as Sweeney
(1935)
$1,000 a Minute
as Police Officer McCarthy
(1935)
The Bride Comes Home
as Henry
(1935)
Little Big Shot
as Onderdonk
(1935)
Living on Velvet
as Counterman
(1935)
The Cowboy Millionaire
as Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
(1935)
Rendezvous at Midnight
as Mahoney
(1935)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Edgar Kennedy
(1935)
Brick-a-Brac
as Edgar
(1935)
In Love at 40
as Edgar Kennedy
(1935)
Edgar Hamlet
as Edgar
(1934)
Twentieth Century
as Oscar McGonigle
(1934)
Heat Lightning
as Herbert - the Husband
(1934)
The Silver Streak
as O'Brien
(1934)
Money Means Nothing
as Herbert Green
(1934)
Murder on the Blackboard
as Detective Donahue
(1934)
The Marines Are Coming
as Sgt. Buck Martin
(1934)
Kid Millions
as Herman Wilson
(1934)
We're Rich Again
as Healy, Process Server
(1934)
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
as Happy Moran
(1934)
Love on a Ladder
as Edgar
(1934)
Flirting with Danger
as Jimmie Pierson
(1934)
Wrong Direction
as Edgar, Movie Director
(1934)
All of Me
as Guard (uncredited)
(1934)
Gridiron Flash
as Officer Thurston
(1934)
Poisoned Ivory
as Edgar Kennedy
(1934)
A Blasted Event
as Edgar
(1933)
Duck Soup
as Street Vendor
(1933)
Tillie and Gus
as Judge
(1933)
Cross Fire
as Ed Wimpy
(1933)
Son of the Border
as Windy
(1933)
Professional Sweetheart
as Kelsey
(1933)
(1933)
(1933)
Scarlet River
as Sam Gilroy
(1933)
What Fur
as Edgar
(1933)
Quiet Please!
as Edgar Kennedy
(1933)
Diplomaniacs
as Chairman - Peace Conference
(1933)
King for a Night
as Cop
(1933)
A Merchant of Menace
as Edgar
(1932)
Fish Feathers
as Edgar Kennedy
(1932)
The Penguin Pool Murder
as Officer Donovan
(1932)
Hold 'Em Jail
as Warden Elmer Jones
(1932)
Westward Passage
as Elmer
(1932)
Little Orphan Annie
as Daddy Warbucks
(1932)
(1932)
(1932)
Rockabye
as Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
(1932)
Carnival Boat
as Baldy
(1932)
Giggle Water
as Edgar
(1931)
Bad Company
as Buffington-Doorman
(1931)
Quick Millions
as Cop (uncredited)
(1931)
(1931)
Love Fever
as Thelma's Last Rescuer
(1931)
Next Door Neighbors
as Howard J. Green
(1931)
High Gear
as Cop
(1930)
Dollar Dizzy
as Quimby the Lawyer
(1930)
Shivering Shakespeare
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
(1930)
The First Seven Years
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
(1930)
The Big Kick
as Detective
(1930)
Night Owls
as Officer Kennedy
(1930)
Looser Than Loose
as Night Club Patron
(1930)
(1930)
Bigger and Better
as Uncle Ed Sutton
(1930)
The Head Guy
as Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)
(1930)
Fifty Million Husbands
as Officer Kennedy
(1930)
All Teed Up
as Thelma's Father
(1930)
Doctor's Orders
as Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
(1930)
Girl Shock
as Fiancee's Father
(1930)
The Real McCoy
as Cicero the Cop
(1930)
Moonlight and Monkey Business
as Detective
(1930)
When the Wind Blows
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
(1930)
Ladies Last
as Man in Phone Booth
(1930)
The Ghosts
as Kennedy
(1930)
The Gas Station
as Detective
(1929)
Perfect Day
as Uncle Edgar
(1929)
A Pair of Tights
as Marion's Boyfriend's Boss
(1929)
Unaccustomed as We Are
as Officer Kennedy
(1929)
Madame Q
as Judge Kennedy
(1929)
Going Ga-Ga
as Cop
(1929)
Angora Love
as Landlord
(1929)
They Had to See Paris
as Ed Eggers (uncredited)
(1929)
Welcome Danger
as SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
(1929)
Moan & Groan, Inc.
as Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
(1929)
The Big Squawk
as Orchestra Leader
(1929)
Trent's Last Case
as Inspector Murch
(1929)
Stepping Out
as Diner's Owner
(1929)
Dad's Day
as Michael Kennedy
(1929)
Bacon Grabbers
as Collis P. Kennedy
(1929)
(1929)
Hurdy Gurdy
as Officer Ed Kennedy
(1929)
(1929)
(1929)
Crazy Feet
as Policeman
(1929)
Great Gobs!
as 2nd Sailor
(1928)
Should Married Men Go Home?
as Golfer (uncredited)
(1928)
Two Tars
as Motorist
(1928)
Leave 'Em Laughing
as Cop
(1928)
The Finishing Touch
as Cop (as Ed Kennedy)
(1928)
(1928)
The Boy Friend
as The Cop
(1928)
(1928)
(1928)
(1928)
Dumb Daddies
as The Cop
(1928)
Limousine Love
as The Husband, Mr Glenders
(1928)
(1928)
The Family Group
as A Photographer
(1928)
(1928)
(1927)
The Chinese Parrot
as Maydorf
(1927)
The Gay Old Bird
as Chauffeur
(1927)
Finger Prints
as O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)
(1927)
The Wrong Mr. Wright
as Trayguard
(1926)
Across the Pacific
as Cpl. Ryan
(1926)
My Old Dutch
as Bill Sproat
(1926)
Going Crooked
as Detective
(1926)
Oh! What a Nurse!
as Eric Johnson
(1926)
The Better 'Ole
as Corporal Austin
(1925)
The Trouble With Wives
as Detective (as Edward Kennedy)
(1925)
Paths to Paradise
as Detective (uncredited)
(1925)
The Golden Princess
as Gewilliker Hay
(1924)
(1924)
The Night Message
as Lem Beeman
(1924)
Racing for Life
as Tom Grady
(1924)
The Battling Fool
as Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)
(1924)
Wall Street Blues
as The Crook
(1923)
The Little Girl Next Door
as Hank Hall
(1923)
Something for Nothing
as Ptomaine Tommy
(1923)
(1922)
(1921)
Puppets of Fate
as Mike Reynolds
(1921)
The Guide
as An American Tourist
(1920)
(1920)
(1919)
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
as German Prison Guard (uncredited)
(1919)
Hearts and Flowers
as Pete
(1918)
(1917)
The Late Lamented
as Art Gallery Operator
(1917)
Whose Baby?
as The Detective
(1916)
Madcap Ambrose
as A City Chap
(1916)
His Bitter Pill
as Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival
(1916)
Bombs!
as Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader
(1916)
A Scoundrel's Toll
as Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent
(1916)
The Stolen Triumph
as Edwin Rowley, Jr.
(1915)
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
as The cafe waiter (uncredited)
(1915)
The Great Vacuum Robbery
as 2nd Thief
(1915)
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
as Edgar
(1915)
That Little Band Of Gold
as Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)
(1915)
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
as Neighbor
(1915)
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
as Suitor
(1915)
Wished on Mabel
as Cop
(1915)
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
as 1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
(1915)
His Luckless Love
as The Maid's Boyfriend
(1915)
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
as Shell Game Operator
(1915)
Fatty's New Role
as Handout-Giver (uncredited)
(1915)
Mabel’s Wilful Way
as Fatty's Pal
(1914)
A Film Johnnie
as Director (uncredited)
(1914)
Tillie's Punctured Romance
as Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
(1914)
Mabel's Busy Day
as Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)
(1914)
Tango Tangles
as Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
(1914)
The Knockout
as Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)
(1914)
Caught in a Cabaret
as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
(1914)
The Star Boarder
as Landlady's Husband (uncredited)
(1914)
Cruel, Cruel Love
as Butler
(1914)
The Rounders
as (uncredited)
(1914)
Dough and Dynamite
as Striking Baker
(1914)
Making a Living
as Wreck Bystander (uncredited)
(1914)
A Thief Catcher
as Crook (uncredited)
(1914)
Gentlemen of Nerve
as Policeman
(1914)
Mabel at the Wheel
as Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)
(1914)
His Favorite Pastime
as Tough Guy in Bar
(1914)
Love and Bullets
as The Trouble Mender
(1914)
Getting Acquainted
as Policeman (uncredited)
(1914)
Twenty Minutes of Love
as Lover
(1914)
The Noise of Bombs
as Police Chief
(1914)
An Incompetent Hero
as Fatty's Neighbor
(1914)
Leading Lizzie Astray
as The Slicker's Chauffeur
(1914)
Rebecca's Wedding Day
as The Groom
(1914)
(1914)
The Sky Pirate
as The Sky Pirate
(1914)
(1914)
Ambrose's First Falsehood
as Café Proprietor
(1914)
He Loved the Ladies
as The Wife's Brother
(1914)
The Love Thief
as The Rival
(1914)
A Bath House Beauty
as Jealous Boyfriend
(1914)
'Curses!' They Remarked
as Ethel's Former Boyfriend
(1914)
A Flirt's Mistake
as Rajah
(1913)
A Muddy Romance
as Water Policeman
(1913)
Peeping Pete
as The Cop
(1913)
Mabel's Dramatic Career
as Audience Member / Cop in Movie
(1913)
The Riot
as Cop
(1913)
Mother's Boy
as Mug
(1913)
The Speed Kings
as Laughing Spectator
(1913)
(1913)
Algy on the Force
as Cop
(1913)
The Gusher
as Cop (uncredited)
(1913)
Mabel's New Hero
as Cop
(1913)
Rastus and the Game Cock
as Spectator
(1913)
Love and Rubbish
as 1st Cop
(1913)
Bangville Police
as 3rd Deputy
(1913)
A Ride for a Bride
as Mustached Man
(1913)
The Rural Third Degree
as Cop
(1913)
A Quiet Little Wedding
as Wedding Guest
(1913)
Safe in Jail
as 1st Crook
(1913)
Fatty Joins the Force
as Jealous Cop
(1913)
The Gangsters
as Henchman
(1913)
(1913)
The Bowling Match
as Bowling Alley Operator
(1913)
Zuzu, the Band Leader
as Caesar - Zuzu's Rival
(1913)
Crew
(2024)
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
Director
(1930)
Bigger and Better
Director
(1930)
The golfer
Director
(1930)
The golf player
Director
(1930)
All Teed Up
Director
(1930)
Fifty Million Husbands
Director
(1928)
You're Darn Tootin'
Director
(1928)
From Soup to Nuts
Director
(1925)
The Marriage Circus
Director
(1924)
Three Foolish Weeks
Director
(1922)
Step Lively, Please
Director