Bill Kennedy's life began on June 27, 1908, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he was born as Willard A. Kennedy. He developed an interest in radio speaking at a young age and practiced diligently to strengthen his voice, eventually studying at Assumption College in Ontario, Canada. Kennedy's early career in radio began in 1934 as a staff announcer at WTAM, later relocating to WWJ in Detroit, Michigan, and eventually to Los Angeles, where he worked as a staff announcer at KHJ.
Kennedy's Hollywood career began when Hal B. Wallis discovered his voice and arranged for a Warner Bros. screen test. He was signed to a seven-year contract and appeared in various films, including "Now, Voyager" (1942) and "Air Force" (1943). However, his physical appearance proved less commanding on celluloid than his voice, leading to a career marked by minor and secondary roles.
