Tom Kennedy (actor)

For other people named Tom Kennedy, see Tom Kennedy (disambiguation).
Tom Kennedy

Kennedy in an ad for The Flirt (1922)
Born (1885-07-15)July 15, 1885
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died October 6, 1965(1965-10-06) (aged 80)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Other names Tommy Kennedy
Occupation Actor
Years active 1915–1965

Tom Kennedy (July 15, 1885 – October 6, 1965) was an American actor known for his roles in Hollywood comedies from the silent days, with such producers as Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, mainly supporting lead comedians such as the four Marx Brothers, W. C. Fields, Mabel Normand, Shemp Howard, Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges. Kennedy also played dramatic roles as a supporting actor.

Career

Barton MacLane, Tom Kennedy, Noah Beery, Randolph Scott and Verna Hillie in Henry Hathaway's Man of the Forest (1933)

For over 50 years, from 1915 to 1965, he appeared in over 320 films and television series, often uncredited. His first film was a short black and white comedy His Luckless Love. He was in all nine Torchy Blane films as Gahagan, the poetry-spouting cop whose running line was, "What a day! What a day!" He continued making films right up until his death, his last film being a western The Bounty Killer.

Tom Kennedy was often erroneously listed in film sources as the brother of slow-burning comedian Edgar Kennedy. Though the two men were not related, they were apparently good friends, and Tom was a supporting actor for Edgar in many of Edgar's domestic two-reelers.

Kennedy was also paired with Stooge Shemp Howard for several short subjects at Columbia Pictures such as Society Mugs, as well as appearing with the Three Stooges in the films Loose Loot and Spooks!. He was also paired with El Brendel for four shorts, such as Phoney Cronies in 1942.

His television appearances included episodes of Perry Mason, Maverick, My Favorite Martian and Gunsmoke.

Partial filmography

Death

Kennedy died of bone cancer on October 6, 1965.

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