R.I.P. George [George Kennedy - from a long time friend]

burtprelutsky.us ^ | March 1, 2016 | Burt Prelutsky

[fella]

He was also good with John Wayne.

[Paul R.]

Wikipedia article on George Kennedy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Kennedy

We’ve been losing a lot of good ones, recently. George will be missed.

[fella]

Went to IMDB to look at his filmography. What a great career.

[Dr. Ursus]

We all know what he’s looking at!

[SampleMan]

Probably more mercilessly realistic than petty.

Movies and acting are all perception and short leading men don’t do as well. In the movies height can only be perceived via comparison, so a short man is only short if taller men are on stage.

[Flavious_Maximus]

He was an original, (from Cool Hand Luke).

[MotorCityBuck]

Agreed. Great role!

[Loud Mime]

Thanks! I’ll make sure Burt sees your remark.

[liberty_lvr]

Wow, do I feel old now. RIP, George.

It was his performance as airplane mechanic Joe Patroni (Airport, 1970) that helped prod me towards my own career in aircraft maintenance. What a great guy, as genuine as they come.

[miss marmelstein]

I always look for Kennedy while watching Bilko. I’m actually on the board of the Bilko Appreciation Society, lol! I well remember the cheers that went up in the audience when he saved the day as the mechanic in “Airport.” Always loved him! RIP, George Kennedy. Somewhere he’s up there calling “Lucille! Oh, my Lucille!”

[miss marmelstein]

Actually, most of our leading men have been of average height. There are plenty of exceptions but if you look back on the bulk of great stars, most of them were built like Bogie and Cagney not the Duke or Jimmy Stewart.

[SampleMan]

Show me a movie where they were allowed to look short, which is my point.

[headstamp 2]

Great story.

RIP George.

[Prov1322]

Bilko Appreciation Society

I will be spending hours digging into that website. WOW. Thank you.

[miss marmelstein]

I’m not sure there’s a website. It’s run out of England!

[Prov1322]

Let me help you here...(said in a Sgt. Bilko voice...)

http://www.bpsas.co.uk/

BTW, not trying to hijack the George Kennedy thread.

[miss marmelstein]

I don’t think I’ve ever been on the website. I only talk to members on the FB page or meet with them in NY on occasion. Mick Clews & Steve Everitt. There’s now a museum in Coventry dedicated to Phil Silvers. This is on-topic.

[minnesota_bound]

#9 Here he is in a John Wayne western.
John Wayne says hello to George Kennedy.
The Sons of Katie Elder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUUrUrCYTd4

[minnesota_bound]

Here is his book
http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Me-Memoir-George-Kennedy/dp/1557837821

[stanley windrush]

If George Kennedy was a more traditional guy (I didn’t know
his politics) and came across to Mr. Newman (who was a well-known liberal)
there was bound to be some friction. George seemed to have humility and appreciated his roles and would always have been a supporting cast member.
I don’t know why Newman may have feared him apart from the talent angle
in Cool Hand Luke.

I remember reading about William F. Buckley’s recollection of his famous
television slugfest with Gore Vidal and how after the event, Paul Newman
(apparently there with Vidal) insisted that Buckley apologize. I believe he wanted
Bill to apologize because he thought Buckley’s insult was personal
and Vidal’s political.

Anyways, Newman couldn’t have had a better nemesis portrayed in that film (who becomes his friend) than George Kennedy. Great casting!