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