Tom Kennedy

Tom Kennedy

Deceased · Born: Jul 15, 1885 · Died: Oct 6, 1965

Personal Details

BornJul 15, 1885 New York City, New York, USA

Biography

Tom Kennedy, a rugged and charismatic character actor, initially made his mark in the world of cinema during the silent era, a period marked by the absence of synchronized recorded sound. As a seasoned pugilist, Kennedy brought a certain je ne sais quoi to his early film roles, often portraying larger-than-life, lovable, and slightly dim-witted working-class characters that audiences couldn't help but adore.

One such notable performance was his portrayal in the 1937 film "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop," a cinematic masterpiece that showcased Kennedy's remarkable range as an actor. Throughout his illustrious career, Kennedy had the privilege of sharing the screen with some of the most iconic comedians of the time, including the inimitable W.C. Fields, the zany Marx Brothers, and the hilarious duo of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

Throughout the decades, Kennedy continued to hone his craft, taking on a wide range of roles that cemented his status as a beloved character actor. His career spanned an impressive eight decades, with Kennedy passing away at the ripe age of 80, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished by film enthusiasts for generations to come.

Career

1965
1963
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World as Traffic Cop (uncredited)
1960
Walk Like a Dragon
Walk Like a Dragon as Jethro the Bartender
1959
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot as Bouncer (uncredited)
1957
Public Pigeon No. 1
Public Pigeon No. 1 as Prison Guard (uncredited)
1953
Spooks!
Spooks! as Mr. Hyde
1952
Gold Fever
Gold Fever as Big Tom
Invasion, U.S.A.
Invasion, U.S.A. as Tim, Bartender
1951
Havana Rose
Havana Rose as House Detective
'Fraidy Cat
'Fraidy Cat as I. Katchum (uncredited)
Let's Go Navy!
Let's Go Navy! as Officer Donovan
The Scarf
The Scarf as Asylum Inmate
1950
Riding High
Riding High as Racetrack Mug (uncredited)
Triple Trouble
Triple Trouble as Third Convict Calling Out from Cell
1949
Square Dance Jubilee
Square Dance Jubilee as Bartender Tom
1948
Devil's Cargo
Devil's Cargo as Naga, Mug Who Tails Delgado
Thunder in the Pines
Thunder in the Pines as Josh, the Station Master
Trouble Preferred
Trouble Preferred as Night Watchman (uncredited)
The Paleface
The Paleface as Bartender
Jinx Money
Jinx Money as Officer Rooney
1947
The Mighty McGurk
The Mighty McGurk as Bruiser (uncredited)
The Pretender
The Pretender as Fingers Murdock
The Burning Cross
The Burning Cross as Police Station Sergeant
Dangerous Years
Dangerous Years as Mr. Adamson
Magic Town
Magic Town as Moving Man (uncredited)
The Judge Steps Out
The Judge Steps Out as Jack (Court Receptionist) (uncredited)
Blonde Alibi
Blonde Alibi as Policeman Clancy (Uncredited)
The Kid from Brooklyn
The Kid from Brooklyn as Referee #1 (uncredited)
1945
Voice of the Whistler
Voice of the Whistler as Ferdinand / Hammerlock
Where the Pest Begins
Where the Pest Begins as Jonathan Batts
Man Alive
Man Alive as Bartender (uncredited)
The Girl in the Case
The Girl in the Case as Watchman (uncredited)
1943
Hit Parade of 1943
Hit Parade of 1943 as Westinghouse
Campus Rhythm
Campus Rhythm as Police Sergeant
Dixie Dugan
Dixie Dugan as Sergeant (uncredited)
Dixie
Dixie as Barkeeper (uncredited)
Taxi, Mister
Taxi, Mister as Kennedy
True to Life
True to Life as Customer (uncredited)
Stage Door Canteen
Stage Door Canteen as Tom Kennedy
1942
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant as Joe the Villa Luigi Bartender
Blondie's Blessed Event
Blondie's Blessed Event as Motorcycle Cop Who Names The Baby 'Cookie' (uncredited)
Butch Minds the Baby
Butch Minds the Baby as Philly the Weeper
Broadway
Broadway as Kerry (uncredited)
1941
The Great Swindle
The Great Swindle as Capper Smith
1940
Flowing Gold
Flowing Gold as Petunia
Curtain Call
Curtain Call as Masseur
1939
Torchy Blane in Chinatown
Torchy Blane in Chinatown as Det. Sgt. Gahagan
These Glamour Girls
These Glamour Girls as Joy Lane Manager (uncredited)
1938
Torchy Blane in Panama
Torchy Blane in Panama as Detective Gahagan
Breakdowns of 1938
Breakdowns of 1938 as Gagahan (archive footage) (uncredited)
Danger on the Air
Danger on the Air as Hotel Doorman (Uncredited)
1937
The Adventurous Blonde
The Adventurous Blonde as Detective Gahagan
Fly Away Baby
Fly Away Baby as Gahagan
Forty Naughty Girls
Forty Naughty Girls as Detective Casey
Smart Blonde
Smart Blonde as Gahagan
Slave Ship
Slave Ship as Bartender
Wise Girl
Wise Girl as Detective
Varsity Show
Varsity Show as Policeman (uncredited)
1936
The Country Doctor
The Country Doctor as Logger (uncredited)
The Big Game
The Big Game as Fan in Stands
Poppy
Poppy as Hot Dog Stand Proprietor (uncredited)
1935
Old Man Rhythm
Old Man Rhythm as Campus Guard
The Bride Comes Home
The Bride Comes Home as Husky Thug at Party (uncredited)
1934
Down to Their Last Yacht
Down to Their Last Yacht as Joe 'Uncle Ed' Schultz (uncredited)
Hollywood Party
Hollywood Party as Beavers (uncredited)
1933
Cross Fire
Cross Fire as French Bouncer (uncredited)
Man of the Forest
Man of the Forest as Sheriff Blake
Penthouse
Penthouse as Joe (uncredited)
Blondie Johnson
Blondie Johnson as Hype (uncredited)
She Done Him Wrong
She Done Him Wrong as Big Bill - Bartender (uncredited)
42nd Street
42nd Street as Slim Murphy (uncredited)
1932
Pack Up Your Troubles
Pack Up Your Troubles as Recruiting Sergeant
The Crooked Circle
The Crooked Circle as Mike, the policeman
Huddle
Huddle as Moving Man (uncredited)
If I Had a Million
If I Had a Million as Joe - Carnival Bouncer (uncredited)
Lawyer Man
Lawyer Man as Jake - the Ice Man (uncredited)
The Devil Is Driving
The Devil Is Driving as Fritz (uncredited)
1931
Flying High
Flying High as Jokester with Firecrackers (uncredited)
The Iron Man
The Iron Man as Bartender (uncredited)
1930
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy as Detective Burke
1929
Big News
Big News as Officer Ryan
Happy Days
Happy Days as Doorman (uncredited)
1928
Hold 'Em Yale
Hold 'Em Yale as Detective
1926
Mantrap
Mantrap as Curly Evans
The Better 'Ole
The Better 'Ole as The Blacksmith (uncredited)