Edgar Kennedy
Known for: Acting
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
Film
Duck Soup
Street Vendor
1933
Film
A Star Is Born
Pop Randall
1937
Film
Anchors Aweigh
Police Captain
1945
Film
It's a Wonderful World
Lieutenant Miller
1939
Film
San Francisco
Sheriff
1936
Film
Unfaithfully Yours
Sweeney
1948
Film
Professional Sweetheart
Kelsey
1933
Film
It Happened Tomorrow
Insp. Mulrooney
1944
Film
There's One Born Every Minute
Mayor Moe Carson
1942
Film
My Dream Is Yours
Uncle Charlie
1949
Film
Perfect Day
Uncle Edgar
1929
Film
Air Raid Wardens
Joe Bledsoe
1943
Film
The Muppets Go to the Movies
Keystone Kop (archive footage) (uncredited)
1981
Film
Yours for the Asking
Bicarbonate
1936
Film
Two Tars
Motorist
1928
Film
Twentieth Century
Oscar McGonigle
1934
Film
Angora Love
Landlord
1929
Film
Caught in a Cabaret
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
1914
Film
Murder on the Blackboard
Detective Donahue
1934
Film
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Jake the Bartender
1947
Film
In Old California
Kegs McKeever
1942
Film
Bacon Grabbers
Collis P. Kennedy
1929
Film
The Penguin Pool Murder
Officer Donovan
1932
Film
Dummy Ache
Edgar
1936
Film
King for a Night
Cop
1933
Film
Chasing Husbands
1928
Film
$1,000 a Minute
Police Officer McCarthy
1935
Film
Limousine Love
The Husband, Mr Glenders
1928
Film
Tango Tangles
Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
1914
Film
Westward Passage
Elmer
1932
Film
When Comedy Was King
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1960
Radio Rampage
Edgar
1944
Film
Leave 'Em Laughing
Cop
1928
Film
Double Wedding
Spike
1937
Film
What Fur
Edgar
1933
Edgar Hamlet
Edgar
1935
The Guide
An American Tourist
1921
Film
Hitler's Madman
Nepomuk - the Hermit
1943
Film
Wedding Bills
Detective
1927
Film
Thieves
1930
Film
The Silver Streak
O'Brien
1934
Film
Unaccustomed as We Are
Officer Kennedy
1929
Film
Making a Living
Wreck Bystander (uncredited)
1914
Film
Tillie's Punctured Romance
Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
1914
Film
True Confession
Darsey
1937
Film
Should Married Men Go Home?
Golfer (uncredited)
1928
Gangs Of The City
Biff
1941
Good Housewrecking
1933
Film
The Golden Age of Comedy
archive footage
1957
Film
When the Wind Blows
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930
Film
The Adventures of Daredevil Jack
1920
Motor Maniacs
Edgar Kennedy
1946
Film
Diplomaniacs
Chairman - Peace Conference
1933
Never the Twins Shall Meet
Mr. Carp
1932
Film
Heaven Only Knows
Judd
1947
Film
Small Town Girl
Captain Mack
1936
Film
Mabel's Busy Day
Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)
1914
Film
Clock Wise
Edgar
1939
Film
When's Your Birthday?
Mr. Basscombe
1937
Tramp Trouble
Edgar
1937
Film
The Bride Comes Home
Henry
1935
Film
Twenty Minutes of Love
Lover
1914
Film
Woman Wanted
Sweeney
1935
Vocalizing
Edgar Kennedy
1936
Film
Peeping Pete
The Cop
1913
Gasoloons
Edgar Kennedy
1936
Film
Cruel, Cruel Love
Butler
1914
I'll Fix It
Edgar
1941
Film
Super-Sleuth
Police Lt. Garrison
1937
Film
The Return of Jimmy Valentine
Callahan
1936
Parlor, Bedroom and Wrath
Edgar
Film
Kid Millions
Herman Wilson
1934
Film
Night Owls
Officer Kennedy
1930
Film
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
George Browning
1940
Film
The People vs. Nancy Preston
Gloomy Gus
1925
Film
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
Happy Moran
1934
Film
Crazy House
Judge
1943
Film
We're Rich Again
Healy, Process Server
1934
Film
The Great Alaskan Mystery
Bosun Higgins
1944
Love on a Ladder
Edgar
1934
Film
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
The cafe waiter (uncredited)
1915
Giggle Water
Edgar
1932
All Parts
1928
Rebecca's Wedding Day
The Groom
1914
Film
Whose Baby?
The Detective
1917
Film
The Falcon Strikes Back
Smiley Dugan
1943
Sock Me to Sleep
Edgar
1935
Film
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
Edgar
1915
Film
Poisoned Ivory
Edgar Kennedy
1934
Film
Everything's on Ice
Joe Barton
1939
Algy on the Force
Cop
1913
Film
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
German Prison Guard (uncredited)
1919
Film
Dough and Dynamite
Striking Baker
1914
Film
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
(archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
Film
Mabel at the Wheel
Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)
1914
Film
The Cowboy Millionaire
Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
1935
Moonlight and Monkey Business
Detective
1930
Film
Ladies Last
Man in Phone Booth
1930
Film
Great Gobs!
2nd Sailor
1929
Film
The Gay Old Bird
Chauffeur
1927
Film
Skirts
1921
Film
The Stolen Triumph
Edwin Rowley, Jr.
1916
Film
Sandy Gets Her Man
Fire Chief Galvin
1940
Film
A Film Johnnie
Director (uncredited)
1914
Film
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Edgar Kennedy
1935
Film
The Our Gang Story
Officer (archive footage)
1994
Film
Little Orphan Annie
Daddy Warbucks
1932
Film
Son of the Border
Windy
1933
Film
Oh! What a Nurse!
Eric Johnson
1926
Film
The Head Guy
Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)
1930
The Rural Third Degree
Cop
1913
Film
Flirting with Danger
Jimmie Pierson
1934
Film
Robin Hood of El Dorado
Sheriff Judd
1936
Cooks and Crooks
Edgar
1942
Dumb's the Word
Edgar Kennedy
1937
Film
Three Men on a Horse
Harry, the Bartender
1936
Film
A Pair of Tights
Marion's Boyfriend's Boss
1929
The Spot on the Rug
Jake
1932
Film
The Finishing Touch
Cop (as Ed Kennedy)
1928
A Quiet Little Wedding
Wedding Guest
1913
Film
Trent's Last Case
Inspector Murch
1929
Film
Hotter Than Hot
1929
Film
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
Sheriff Gregory
1940
Film
That Little Band Of Gold
Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)
1915
Film
Mabel's Dramatic Career
Audience Member / Cop in Movie
1913
Film
They Had to See Paris
Ed Eggers (uncredited)
1929
Film
Quick Millions
Cop (uncredited)
1931
Film
Gentlemen of Nerve
Policeman
1914
Film
You Drive Me Crazy
Edgar
1945
Film
Rockabye
Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
1932
Film
Captain Tugboat Annie
Captain Bullwinkle
1945
Their First Execution
1913
Film
Gridiron Flash
Officer Thurston
1934
Now's the Time
1932
Film
The Knockout
Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)
1914
Film
A Flirt's Mistake
Rajah
1914
Film
Li'l Abner
Cornelius Cornpone
1940
Film
The Battling Fool
Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)
1924
Film
The Rounders
(uncredited)
1914
Laugh It Off
Judge John J. McGuinnis
1939
Film
Wall Street Blues
The Crook
1924
Film
Living on Velvet
Counterman
1935
Film
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
Arthur Bailey
1938
Film
The Great Vacuum Robbery
2nd Thief
1915
Film
Across the Pacific
Cpl. Ryan
1926
Film
A Thief Catcher
Crook (uncredited)
1914
Film
The Star Boarder
Landlady's Husband (uncredited)
1914
Rastus and the Game Cock
Spectator
1913
Film
The Little Girl Next Door
Hank Hall
1923
Film
The Chinese Parrot
Maydorf
1927
Film
Hollywood Hotel
Callaghan
1938
Film
Tillie and Gus
Judge
1933
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
Sgt. Homer Gatling
1942
Film
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
1915
Film
Something for Nothing
Ptomaine Tommy
1923
Film
Looser Than Loose
Night Club Patron
1930
Film
The Big Kick
Detective
1930
Film
Sandy Is a Lady
Officer Rafferty
1940
Film
The Marines Are Coming
Sgt. Buck Martin
1934
Film
The Golden Princess
Gewilliker Hay
1925
Film
The Better 'Ole
Corporal Austin
1926
Film
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
Inspector Dailey
1939
Film
Heat Lightning
Herbert
1934
Film
Finger Prints
O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)
1927
Film
The Bride Wore Crutches
Police Captain McGuire
1940
Film
Dollar Dizzy
Quimby the Lawyer
1930
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
Officer Kennedy (archive footage)
1968
Madame Q
Judge Kennedy
1929
Art in the Raw
1933
Film
The First Seven Years
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930
Film
Racing for Life
Tom Grady
1924
Film
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
Shell Game Operator
1915
Film
Money Means Nothing
Herbert Green
1934
I'll Build It Myself
Edgar
1946
Film
Little Accident
Paper Hanger
1939
Film
Do or Diet
Edgar
1947
Film
Ambrose's First Falsehood
Café Proprietor
1914
Film
Fight and Win
1924
Film
Hold 'Em Jail
Warden Elmer Jones
1932
Film
Fatty Joins the Force
Jealous Cop
1913
Film
Why Is a Plumber?
1929
Film
A Noise from the Deep
1913
Film
Welcome Danger
SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1929
Film
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
Police Chief Murphy
1943
Film
All Teed Up
Thelma's Father (uncredited)
1930
Film
Mabel's New Hero
Cop
1913
Film
Paths to Paradise
Detective (uncredited)
1925
Film
Fatal Lady
Rudolf Hochstetter
1936
Film
The Girl from Monterrey
Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
1943
Film
The Trouble With Wives
Detective (as Edward Kennedy)
1925
Film
His Favorite Pastime
Tough Guy in Bar
1914
Film
Getting Acquainted
Policeman (uncredited)
1914
Film
The Wrong Mr. Wright
Trayguard
1927
Film
Hearts and Flowers
Pete
1919
Film
Private Snuffy Smith
Sgt. Ed Cooper
1942
Film
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
Suitor
1915
He's a Honey
1932
Film
Rendezvous at Midnight
Mahoney
1935
Film
Blondie in Society
Dr. Glenn
1941
Help Wanted, Female
1931
Film
Love and Rubbish
1st Cop
1913
Film
The Blue Streak
1917
'Curses!' They Remarked
Ethel's Former Boyfriend
1914
The Gas Station
Detective
1930
Quiet Please!
Edgar Kennedy
1933
Film
Little Big Shot
Onderdonk
1935
Film
Prunes and Politics
Edgar
1944
Film
The Quarterback
Pops
1940
Film
Westward Ho-Hum
Edgar
1941
Film
A Merchant of Menace
Edgar
1933
Film
Fifty Million Husbands
Officer Kennedy
1930
Film
Crazy Feet
Policeman
1929
Film
The Real McCoy
Cicero the Cop
1930
Film
The Riot
Cop
1913
Film
All's Swell on the Ocean
1924
Film
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
Neighbor
1915
Film
The Wandering Two
1923
Film
Mad Holiday
Donovan
1936
Film
The Family Group
A Photographer
1928
Film
In the Clutches of the Gang
Cop
1914
Duck Soup
Edgar
1942
Film
His Bitter Pill
Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival
1916
Film
The Boy Friend
The Cop
1928
Film
Shivering Shakespeare
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1930
Film
Fatty's New Role
Handout-Giver (uncredited)
1915
Film
Hey! Hey! USA
Bugs Leary
1938
Film
Little Billy's Triumph
1914
Film
The Big Beef
Edgar Kennedy
1945
Fish Feathers
Edgar Kennedy
1932
Film
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Fatty's Pal
1915
It's Your Move
Edgar Kennedy
1945
Film
Pardon My Stripes
Warden Bingham
1942
Film
Carnival Boat
Baldy
1932
Film
Bangville Police
3rd Deputy
1913
Film
Scarlet River
Sam Gilroy
1933
A Bath House Beauty
Jealous Boyfriend
1914
Film
Remedy for Riches
George Browning
1940
Film
She Loved Him Plenty
1918
Film
Bad Company
Buffington-Doorman
1931
Zuzu, the Band Leader
Caesar - Zuzu's Rival
1913
In Love at 40
Edgar Kennedy
1935
Film
Variety Time
Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
1948
Hot Foot
Edgar
1943
Feather Your Nest
Edgar
1944
Film
A Ride for a Bride
Mustached Man
1913
Rough on Rents
Edgar Kennedy
1942
The Bowling Match
Bowling Alley Operator
1913
Film
The Other Fellow
Four Roles
1937
Film
Leading Lizzie Astray
The Slicker's Chauffeur
1914
Film
All of Me
Guard (uncredited)
1934
Film
Scandal Street
Daniel Webster Smith
1938
Film
The Big Squawk
Orchestra Leader
1929
What, No Cigarettes
Edgar Kennedy
1945
Film
A Scoundrel's Toll
Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent
1916
His Luckless Love
The Maid's Boyfriend
1915
Film
An Apple in His Eye
Edgar Kennedy
1941
Sunk by the Census
Edgar
1940
Film
Cross Fire
Ed Wimpy
1933
Mutiny in the County
Edgar Kennedy
1940
The Fight Pest
1928
Film
A Muddy Romance
Water Policeman
1913
Watch Your Neighbor
An Innocent Bystander
1918
Brick-a-Brac
Edgar
1935
Dad's Day
Michael Kennedy
1929
Film
The Noise of Bombs
Police Chief
1914
Film
Feed 'em and Weep
1928
Act Your Age
Edgar
1939
Film
The Black Doll
Sheriff Renick
1938
Maid to Order
Edgar
1939
Puppets of Fate
Mike Reynolds
1921
The Night Message
Lem Beeman
1924
Drafted in the Depot
Edgar Kennedy
1940
Bigger and Better
Uncle Ed Sutton
1930
Going Ga-Ga
Cop
1929
An Incompetent Hero
Fatty's Neighbor
1914
He Loved the Ladies
The Wife's Brother
1914
The Sky Pirate
The Sky Pirate
1914
Mabel’s Awful Mistakes
1913
Four Times Foiled
1920
Love and Bullets
The Trouble Mender
1914
Film
Margie
Chauncey
1940
Off to Buffalo
Mr. Brown
1929
Film
Doctor's Orders
Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
1930
Film
High Gear
Cop
1931
Film
My Old Dutch
Bill Sproat
1926
Hold Your Temper
Edgar
1943
Film
The Speed Kings
Laughing Spectator
1913
Film
Love Fever
Thelma's Last Rescuer
1931
Mad About Moonshine
Edgar
1941
Film
Moan & Groan, Inc.
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
1929
Film
The Gusher
Cop (uncredited)
1913
The Love Thief
The Rival
1914
High and Dry
1922
Ears of Experience
Edgar
1938
A Trailer Tragedy
Edgar Kennedy
1940
Film
Safe in Jail
1st Crook
1913
Film
Wished on Mabel
Cop
1915
Film
The Gangsters
Henchman
1913
Film
Madcap Ambrose
A City Chap
1916
Film
Girl Shock
Fiancee's Father
1930
Film
The Late Lamented
Art Gallery Operator
1917
Mother's Boy
Mug
1913
Bad Housekeeping
Edgar
1937
Film
'Taint Legal
Edgar
1940
Film
Hurdy Gurdy
Officer Ed Kennedy
1929
A Clean Sweep
Edgar
1938
Film
Stepping Out
Diner's Owner
1929
Film
Imagine My Embarrassment
1928
Film
Will Power
Edgar Kennedy
1936
The Ghosts
Kennedy
1930
Film
Going Crooked
Detective
1926
Edgar & Goliath
Edgar
1937
Film
Is Everybody Happy?
1928
Beaux and Errors
Edgar Kennedy
1938
Dig That Gold
Edgar Kennedy
1948
Film
Dumb Daddies
The Cop
1928
A Quiet Fourth
Edgar
1941
A Blasted Event
Edgar
1934
Film
The Booster
1928
Wrong Direction
Edgar, Movie Director
1934
Kennedy the Great
Edgar Kennedy
1939
Film
Next Door Neighbors
Howard J. Green
1931
Film
Trouble or Nothing
Edgar
1946
Contest Crazy
Edgar
1948
Baby Daze
Edgar Kennedy
1939
Brother Knows Best
Edgar Kennedy
1948
Inferior Decorator
Edgar
1943
Film
Bombs!
Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader
1916