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