Richard Kennedy was a charismatic and dependable character actor, renowned for his ability to bring a wide range of colorful supporting roles to life in a multitude of enjoyable, low-budget 1970s drive-in exploitation films. Born on February 14, 1929, in Galveston, Texas, Kennedy's early life was marked by his military service, during which he was stationed in Germany.
Kennedy's acting career began in the early 1970s, and he quickly made a name for himself in the exploitation film genre. He appeared in the first two films of the notorious "Ilsa" series, playing a slimy Nazi general in "Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS" and a bumbling American diplomat, Kaiser, in "Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks".
In addition to his work in the "Ilsa" films, Kennedy collaborated with director Matt Cimber on several features. His most memorable roles in these films include a corrupt vice cop in "The Candy Tangerine Man" and a homicide detective in the disturbing "The Witch Who Came from the Sea". Other notable performances include a flunky for villain Ralph Meeker in the brutal revenge film "Johnny Firecloud", a hilarious drunken Texan in the delightful "Sixpack Annie", an obnoxious newspaper reporter in "C.B. Hustlers", a preacher who delivers a vehement anti-rock sermon in "The Buddy Holly Story", and a deliciously hammy evil businessman, Mr. Olsen, in "The Capture of Bigfoot". Kennedy also portrayed J. Edgar Hoover in "Down on Us".
In addition to his work in film, Kennedy made guest appearances on several popular television shows, including "Little House on the Prairie", "Happy Days", "The Rockford Files", "Charlie's Angels", "Far Out Space Nuts", and "Petrocelli". Richard Kennedy's life was tragically cut short when he passed away at the age of 56 on October 1, 1985, in Los Angeles, California.
