Jack Kelly's illustrious career in acting began at the tender age of two, when he started modeling in soap advertisements and received a lifetime supply of soap as payment. He continued to model until the age of nine, when he made his stage debut in the play "Swing Your Lady" alongside Hope Emerson.
As he grew older, Kelly's acting career flourished, with appearances in various Broadway shows and radio programs. However, his family's move to California in 1938 marked a significant turning point in his life. He attended St. John's Military Academy and later pursued a law degree at UCLA, albeit briefly.
For three years, Kelly put his acting career on hold to focus on his studies and earn a living. During this time, he held a variety of jobs, including shoe salesman, gas station attendant, lifeguard, grocery delivery boy, and men's clothing salesman.
In 1945, Kelly's life took a dramatic turn when he was inducted into the army. He underwent basic training at Camp Roberts in California and was subsequently sent to Alaska as a weather observer. This experience was marked by a historic moment when he became the first person to fly over the Arctic Circle on a B-29.
After his discharge in 1946, Kelly returned to UCLA and worked nights on several radio programs, including "Lux Radio theater", "Suspense", "Tell It Again", and "Romance of the Ranchos".
Following his departure from UCLA, Kelly joined the Circle Theater in Los Angeles, where he appeared in productions such as "Time of Your Life", "The Adding Machine", and "Love On The Dole". His performance in "Anna Lucasta" at the Coronet Theater in 1949 caught the attention of several Hollywood directors, leading to his film debut in "Fighting Man Of The Plains" alongside Randolph Scott.
In 1955, Kelly signed with Warner Bros. to star as Dr. Parris Mitchell in the "King's Row" series of "Warner Bros. Presents", which premiered in September of that year. He is perhaps best known for his iconic role as Bart Maverick on the popular television series "Maverick" (1957).
In his free time, Kelly enjoyed a wide range of hobbies, including building ship models, reading historical literature, sculpting, and listening to show tunes records. He was also an avid enthusiast of sailing, badminton, skin diving, golf, horseback riding, and flying.
