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Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic film character actor, known as "Slow Burn". A slow burn is an exasperated facial expression, performed very deliberately; Kennedy embellished this by rubbing his hand over his bald head and across his face, in an attempt to hold his temper. Kennedy is best known for a small role as a lemonade vendor in the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, as well as the many Hal Roach films he appeared in.
Kennedy became so identified with frustration that practically every studio hired him to play hotheads. He often played dumb cops, detectives, and even a prison warden; sometimes he was a grouchy moving man, truck driver, or blue-collar workman. His character usually lost his temper at least once. In Diplomaniacs, Kennedy presides over an international tribunal, where Wheeler & Woolsey want to do something about world peace. "Well, ya can't do anything about it here", yells Kennedy, "this is a peace conference!" Kennedy, established as the poster boy for frustration, even starred in an instructional film titled The Other Fellow, in which loudmouthed roadhog Edgar always vents his anger on other drivers (each one played by Kennedy as well), little realizing that, to them, he is "the other fellow."
Perhaps his most unusual roles were as a puppeteer in the detective mystery The Falcon Strikes Back and as a philosophical bartender inspired to create exotic cocktails in Harold Lloyd's last film, The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947). He also played comical detectives opposite two titans of acting: John Barrymore in Twentieth Century (1934) and Rex Harrison in Unfaithfully Yours (1948); in the latter, he tells conductor Harrison that "Nobody handles Handel like you handle Handel."
Kennedy died of throat cancer at the Motion Picture Hospital, San Fernando Valley on 9 November 1948. His body was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California.
Known For
Twentieth Century
(1934)
Oscar McGonigle
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Pop Randall
Duck Soup
(1933)
Street Vendor
Anchors Aweigh
(1945)
Police Captain
San Francisco
(1936)
Sheriff
It's a Wonderful World
(1939)
Lieutenant Miller
Unfaithfully Yours
(1948)
Sweeney
Li'l Abner
(1940)
Cornelius Cornpone
Bad Housekeeping
(1937)
Edgar
Full Filmography
Acting
Algy on the Force
(1913)
Cop
The Gusher
(1913)
Cop (uncredited)
Love and Rubbish
(1913)
1st Cop
A Muddy Romance
(1913)
Water Policeman
The Speed Kings
(1913)
Laughing Spectator
Mother's Boy
(1913)
Mug
Mabel's New Hero
(1913)
Cop
Rastus and the Game Cock
(1913)
Spectator
Mabel's Dramatic Career
(1913)
Audience Member / Cop in Movie
Bangville Police
(1913)
3rd Deputy
A Quiet Little Wedding
(1913)
Wedding Guest
Fatty Joins the Force
(1913)
Jealous Cop
Mabel’s Awful Mistakes
(1913)
Their First Execution
(1913)
A Ride for a Bride
(1913)
Mustached Man
The Gangsters
(1913)
Henchman
Safe in Jail
(1913)
1st Crook
Peeping Pete
(1913)
The Cop
The Rural Third Degree
(1913)
Cop
The Bowling Match
(1913)
Bowling Alley Operator
Zuzu, the Band Leader
(1913)
Caesar - Zuzu's Rival
A Noise from the Deep
(1913)
The Riot
(1913)
Cop
Rebecca's Wedding Day
(1914)
The Groom
A Flirt's Mistake
(1914)
Rajah
In the Clutches of the Gang
(1914)
Cop
Mabel's Busy Day
(1914)
Tough Hot Dog Customer (uncredited)
Caught in a Cabaret
(1914)
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
The Rounders
(1914)
(uncredited)
A Bath House Beauty
(1914)
Jealous Boyfriend
Getting Acquainted
(1914)
Policeman (uncredited)
A Thief Catcher
(1914)
Crook (uncredited)
Mabel at the Wheel
(1914)
Spectator in Grandstand (uncredited)
The Knockout
(1914)
Cyclone Flynn (uncredited)
The Star Boarder
(1914)
Landlady's Husband (uncredited)
Twenty Minutes of Love
(1914)
Lover
Gentlemen of Nerve
(1914)
Policeman
The Noise of Bombs
(1914)
Police Chief
Ambrose's First Falsehood
(1914)
Café Proprietor
Love and Bullets
(1914)
The Trouble Mender
Dough and Dynamite
(1914)
Striking Baker
Cruel, Cruel Love
(1914)
Butler
A Film Johnnie
(1914)
Director (uncredited)
Making a Living
(1914)
Wreck Bystander (uncredited)
Tillie's Punctured Romance
(1914)
Restaurant Owner / Banks' Butler (uncredited)
Little Billy's Triumph
(1914)
Tango Tangle
(1914)
Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
His Favorite Pastime
(1914)
Tough Guy in Bar
Leading Lizzie Astray
(1914)
The Slicker's Chauffeur
'Curses!' They Remarked
(1914)
Ethel's Former Boyfriend
The Sky Pirate
(1914)
The Sky Pirate
The Love Thief
(1914)
The Rival
An Incompetent Hero
(1914)
Fatty's Neighbor
He Loved the Ladies
(1914)
The Wife's Brother
Fatty's Tintype Tangle
(1915)
Edgar
His Luckless Love
(1915)
The Maid's Boyfriend
That Little Band Of Gold
(1915)
Diner / Man in Audience (uncredited)
Fatty's New Role
(1915)
Handout-Giver (uncredited)
Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers
(1915)
Suitor
Fatty’s Reckless Fling
(1915)
Neighbor
Wished on Mabel
(1915)
Cop
Mabel and Fatty's Wash Day
(1915)
The cafe waiter (uncredited)
The Great Vacuum Robbery
(1915)
2nd Thief
Mabel’s Wilful Way
(1915)
Fatty's Pal
Fatty’s Plucky Pup
(1915)
Shell Game Operator
Fatty and Mabel at the San Diego Exposition
(1915)
1st Street Crowd Participant (uncredited)
A Scoundrel's Toll
(1916)
Peter X. Bush - Streetcar Superintendent
Bombs!
(1916)
Tony Peanutty - Italian Ward Leader
Madcap Ambrose
(1916)
A City Chap
His Bitter Pill
(1916)
Diamond Dan - Jim's Rival
The Late Lamented
(1917)
Art Gallery Operator
Whose Baby?
(1917)
The Detective
She Loved Him Plenty
(1918)
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
(1919)
German Prison Guard (uncredited)
Hearts and Flowers
(1919)
Pete
Four Times Foiled
(1920)
The Adventures of Daredevil Jack
(1920)
The Guide
(1921)
An American Tourist
The Little Girl Next Door
(1923)
Hank Hall
Something for Nothing
(1923)
Ptomaine Tommy
Wall Street Blues
(1924)
The Crook
The Battling Fool
(1924)
Dan O'Leary (as Ed Kennedy)
Racing for Life
(1924)
Tom Grady
The Trouble With Wives
(1925)
Detective (as Edward Kennedy)
The Golden Princess
(1925)
Paths to Paradise
(1925)
Detective (uncredited)
My Old Dutch
(1926)
Bill Sproat
Across the Pacific
(1926)
Cpl. Ryan
Oh! What a Nurse!
(1926)
The Better 'Ole
(1926)
Corporal Austin
Going Crooked
(1926)
Detective
The Wrong Mr. Wright
(1927)
Trayguard
Finger Prints
(1927)
O.K. McDuff (as Ed Kennedy)
The Chinese Parrot
(1927)
Maydorf
Is Everybody Happy?
(1928)
Chasing Husbands
(1928)
Dumb Daddies
(1928)
The Cop
The Booster
(1928)
Leave 'Em Laughing
(1928)
Cop
The Finishing Touch
(1928)
Cop (as Ed Kennedy)
Should Married Men Go Home?
(1928)
Golfer (uncredited)
The Family Group
(1928)
A Photographer
The Boy Friend
(1928)
The Cop
Two Tars
(1928)
Motorist
Feed 'em and Weep
(1928)
Limousine Love
(1928)
The Husband, Mr Glenders
The Fight Pest
(1928)
Imagine My Embarrassment
(1928)
All Parts
(1928)
Trent's Last Case
(1929)
Inspector Murch
Great Gobs!
(1929)
2nd Sailor
Welcome Danger
(1929)
SFPD Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Hurdy Gurdy
(1929)
Officer Ed Kennedy
Off to Buffalo
(1929)
Stepping Out
(1929)
Diner's Owner
Dad's Day
(1929)
Michael Kennedy
Crazy Feet
(1929)
Policeman
Unaccustomed as We Are
(1929)
Officer Kennedy
Perfect Day
(1929)
Uncle Edgar
Bacon Grabbers
(1929)
Collis P. Kennedy
Why Is a Plumber?
(1929)
The Big Squawk
(1929)
Orchestra Leader
Moan & Groan, Inc.
(1929)
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
Hotter Than Hot
(1929)
Angora Love
(1929)
Landlord
They Had to See Paris
(1929)
Ed Eggers
Madame Q
(1929)
Judge Kennedy
Going Ga-Ga
(1929)
Cop
A Pair of Tights
(1929)
Marion's Boyfriend's Boss
The First Seven Years
(1930)
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
When the Wind Blows
(1930)
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
The Ghosts
(1930)
Kennedy
The Gas Station
(1930)
Detective
Fifty Million Husbands
(1930)
Officer Kennedy
Thieves
(1930)
Girl Shock
(1930)
Fiancee's Father
Bigger and Better
(1930)
Uncle Ed Sutton
Doctor's Orders
(1930)
Mary's Father / Gertie's Uncle
Night Owls
(1930)
Officer Kennedy
Moonlight and Monkey Business
(1930)
Detective
Looser Than Loose
(1930)
Night Club Patron
All Teed Up
(1930)
Thelma's Father
The Real McCoy
(1930)
Cicero the Cop
Dollar Dizzy
(1930)
Quimby the Lawyer (uncredited)
The Head Guy
(1930)
Station Master Kennedy (uncredited)
The Big Kick
(1930)
Detective
Shivering Shakespeare
(1930)
Kennedy the Cop (uncredited)
Ladies Last
(1930)
Man in Phone Booth
Next Door Neighbors
(1931)
Howard J. Green
Quick Millions
(1931)
Cop (uncredited)
High Gear
(1931)
Cop
Bad Company
(1931)
Buffington-Doorman
Help Wanted, Female
(1931)
Love Fever
(1931)
Thelma's Last Rescuer
Fish Feathers
(1932)
Edgar Kennedy
Now's the Time
(1932)
Little Orphan Annie
(1932)
Daddy Warbucks
Penguin Pool Murder
(1932)
Officer Donovan
Carnival Boat
(1932)
Baldy
Giggle Water
(1932)
Edgar
Rockabye
(1932)
Water Wagon Driver (uncredited)
He's a Honey
(1932)
Hold 'Em Jail
(1932)
Warden Elmer Jones
Westward Passage
(1932)
Elmer
What Fur
(1933)
Edgar
Professional Sweetheart
(1933)
Tim Kelsey
A Merchant of Menace
(1933)
Edgar
Good Housewrecking
(1933)
Art in the Raw
(1933)
Tillie and Gus
(1933)
Judge
Son of the Border
(1933)
Windy
King for a Night
(1933)
Cop
Scarlet River
(1933)
Sam Gilroy
Cross Fire
(1933)
Ed Wimpy
Quiet Please!
(1933)
Edgar Kennedy
Diplomaniacs
(1933)
Chairman - Peace Conference
Duck Soup
(1933)
Street Vendor
Kid Millions
(1934)
Herman Wilson
Heat Lightning
(1934)
Herbert - the Husband
Love on a Ladder
(1934)
Edgar
Wrong Direction
(1934)
Edgar, Movie Director
Gridiron Flash
(1934)
Officer Thurston
We're Rich Again
(1934)
Healy, Process Server
The Silver Streak
(1934)
O'Brien
Poisoned Ivory
(1934)
Edgar Kennedy
All of Me
(1934)
Guard (uncredited)
Money Means Nothing
(1934)
Herbert Green
The Marines Are Coming
(1934)
Sgt. Buck Martin
Flirting with Danger
(1934)
Jimmie Pierson
A Blasted Event
(1934)
Twentieth Century
(1934)
Oscar McGonigle
King Kelly of the U.S.A.
(1934)
Happy Moran
Murder on the Blackboard
(1934)
Detective Donahue
$1,000 a Minute
(1935)
Police Officer McCarthy
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
(1935)
Edgar Kennedy
Rendezvous at Midnight
(1935)
Mahoney
Brick-a-Brac
(1935)
Edgar
The Bride Comes Home
(1935)
Henry
Woman Wanted
(1935)
Sweeney
Living on Velvet
(1935)
Counterman
Little Big Shot
(1935)
Onderdonk
The Cowboy Millionaire
(1935)
Willy 'Persimmon' Bates
In Love at 40
(1935)
Edgar Kennedy
Edgar Hamlet
(1935)
Edgar
Gasoloons
(1936)
Edgar Kennedy
Yours for the Asking
(1936)
Bicarbonate
Fatal Lady
(1936)
Rudolf Hochstetter
Will Power
(1936)
Edgar Kennedy
Mad Holiday
(1936)
Donovan
Three Men on a Horse
(1936)
Harry, the Bartender
Small Town Girl
(1936)
Captain Mack
Robin Hood of El Dorado
(1936)
Sheriff Judd
Vocalizing
(1936)
Edgar Kennedy
San Francisco
(1936)
Sheriff
Dummy Ache
(1936)
Edgar
Dumb's the Word
(1937)
Edgar Kennedy
When's Your Birthday?
(1937)
Mr. Basscombe
Tramp Trouble
(1937)
Edgar
The Other Fellow
(1937)
Four Roles
Edgar & Goliath
(1937)
Edgar
Super-Sleuth
(1937)
Police Lt. Garrison
True Confession
(1937)
Darsey
Double Wedding
(1937)
Spike
A Star Is Born
(1937)
Pop Randall
Bad Housekeeping
(1937)
Edgar
The Black Doll
(1938)
Sheriff Renick
Beaux and Errors
(1938)
Edgar Kennedy
Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus
(1938)
Arthur Bailey
Hey! Hey! USA
(1938)
Bugs Leary
Hollywood Hotel
(1938)
Callaghan
Scandal Street
(1938)
Daniel Webster Smith
Ears of Experience
(1938)
Edgar
A Clean Sweep
(1938)
Edgar
Everything's on Ice
(1939)
Joe Barton
Baby Daze
(1939)
Edgar Kennedy
Charlie McCarthy, Detective
(1939)
Inspector Dailey
It's a Wonderful World
(1939)
Lieutenant Miller
Laugh It Off
(1939)
Judge John J. McGuinnis
Clock Wise
(1939)
Edgar
Little Accident
(1939)
Paper Hanger
Maid to Order
(1939)
Edgar
Kennedy the Great
(1939)
Edgar Kennedy
Sandy Is a Lady
(1940)
Officer Rafferty
The Quarterback
(1940)
Pops
Margie
(1940)
Chauncey
Mutiny in the County
(1940)
Edgar Kennedy
Dr. Christian Meets the Women
(1940)
George Browning
Remedy for Riches
(1940)
George Browning
Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
(1940)
Sheriff Gregory
Li'l Abner
(1940)
Cornelius Cornpone
Sandy Gets Her Man
(1940)
Fire Chief Galvin
A Trailer Tragedy
(1940)
Edgar Kennedy
Sunk by the Census
(1940)
Edgar
'Taint Legal
(1940)
Edgar
Drafted in the Depot
(1940)
Edgar Kennedy
Gangs Of The City
(1941)
Biff
Blondie in Society
(1941)
Dr. Glenn
A Quiet Fourth
(1941)
Edgar
Westward Ho-Hum
(1941)
Edgar
I'll Fix It
(1941)
Edgar
An Apple in His Eye
(1941)
Edgar Kennedy
Hillbilly Blitzkrieg
(1942)
Sgt. Homer Gatling
Rough on Rents
(1942)
Edgar Kennedy
There's One Born Every Minute
(1942)
Mayor Moe Carson
Private Snuffy Smith
(1942)
Sgt. Ed Cooper
In Old California
(1942)
Kegs McKeever
Pardon My Stripes
(1942)
Warden Bingham
Duck Soup
(1942)
Edgar
Cooks and Crooks
(1942)
Edgar
Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher
(1943)
Police Chief Murphy
The Girl from Monterrey
(1943)
Doc Hogan, Fight Promoter
The Falcon Strikes Back
(1943)
Smiley Dugan
Air Raid Wardens
(1943)
Joe Bledsoe
Hot Foot
(1943)
Edgar
Crazy House
(1943)
Judge
Hold Your Temper
(1943)
Edgar
Hitler's Madman
(1943)
Nepomuk - the Hermit
The Great Alaskan Mystery
(1944)
Bosun Higgins
It Happened Tomorrow
(1944)
Insp. Mulrooney
Prunes and Politics
(1944)
Edgar
Feather Your Nest
(1944)
Edgar
Radio Rampage
(1944)
Edgar
It's Your Move
(1945)
Edgar Kennedy
You Drive Me Crazy
(1945)
Edgar
What, No Cigarettes
(1945)
Edgar Kennedy
The Big Beef
(1945)
Edgar Kennedy
Captain Tugboat Annie
(1945)
Captain Bullwinkle
Anchors Aweigh
(1945)
Police Captain
Motor Maniacs
(1946)
Edgar Kennedy
Trouble or Nothing
(1946)
Edgar
I'll Build It Myself
(1946)
Edgar
Do or Diet
(1947)
Edgar
Heaven Only Knows
(1947)
Judd
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
(1947)
Jake the Bartender
Contest Crazy
(1948)
Edgar
Dig That Gold
(1948)
Edgar Kennedy
Brother Knows Best
(1948)
Edgar Kennedy
Variety Time
(1948)
Edgar Kennedy (footage from 'I'll Build It Myself') (archive footage)
Unfaithfully Yours
(1948)
Sweeney
My Dream Is Yours
(1949)
Uncle Charlie
The Golden Age of Comedy
(1957)
archive footage
When Comedy Was King
(1960)
edited from 'A Pair of Tights' (archive footage)
The Our Gang Story
(1994)
Officer (archive footage)
Directing
Step Lively, Please
(1922)
Director
Three Foolish Weeks
(1924)
Director
The Marriage Circus
(1925)
Director
From Soup to Nuts
(1928)
Director
You're Darn Tootin'
(1928)
Director
Bigger and Better
(1930)
Director
Fifty Million Husbands
(1930)
Director
The golf player
(1930)
Director
All Teed Up
(1930)
Director
The golfer
(1930)
Director