From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tom Kennedy (July 15, 1885 – October 6, 1965) was an American actor known for his roles in Hollywood comedies from the silent days, with such producers as Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, mainly supporting lead comedians such as the Marx Brothers, W. C. Fields, Mabel Normand, Shemp Howard, Laurel and Hardy, and the Three Stooges. Kennedy also played dramatic roles as a supporting actor. For over 50 years, from 1915 to 1965, he appeared in over 320 films and television series, often uncredited.
His first film was a short black and white comedy, His Luckless Love. Kennedy was in all nine Torchy Blane films as Gahagan, the poetry-spouting cop whose running line was, "What a day! What a day!"
He is often erroneously listed in film sources as the brother of slow-burning comedian Edgar Kennedy. Though the two men were not related, they were apparently good friends, with Tom appearing in many of Edgar's domestic two-reel comedy shorts.
Tom Kennedy was also paired with Stooge Shemp Howard for several shorts for Columbia Pictures such as Society Mugs, as well as appearing with the Three Stooges in the films Loose Loot and Spooks!. He was also paired with El Brendel for four shorts, such as Phoney Cronies in 1942.
His television appearances included episodes of Perry Mason, Maverick, My Favorite Martian, and Gunsmoke.
Tom Kennedy continued making films right up until his death, his last film being the western The Bounty Killer.
Known For
Remember the Night
(1940)
'Fat' Mike
Some Like It Hot
(1959)
Bouncer (uncredited)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
(1963)
Traffic Cop (uncredited)
42nd Street
(1933)
Slim Murphy (uncredited)
The Princess and the Pirate
(1944)
Alonzo
If I Had a Million
(1932)
Joe - Carnival Bouncer (uncredited)
Monkey Business
(1931)
Gibson
Riding High
(1950)
Racetrack Mug (uncredited)
Magic Town
(1947)
Moving Man (uncredited)
The Paleface
(1948)
Bartender
Pack Up Your Troubles
(1932)
Recruiting Sergeant
Voice of the Whistler
(1945)
Ferdinand / Hammerlock
Dixie
(1943)
Barkeeper (uncredited)
The Kid from Brooklyn
(1946)
Referee #1 (uncredited)
She Done Him Wrong
(1933)
Big Bill - Bartender (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
Double Trouble
(1915)
Judge Blodgett
Fatty and the Broadway Stars
(1915)
Man Who Discovers Hat
His Bitter Pill
(1916)
Dan's Henchman
Her Torpedoed Love
(1917)
Roy Mulligan the Hobo / The False Minister
Thirst
(1917)
Man in Employment Agency (uncredited)
That Night
(1917)
The Proprietor's Henchman
The Pullman Bride
(1917)
Oklahoma Pete - a Bandit
Whose Baby?
(1917)
The Fake Minister
The Late Lamented
(1917)
The Model's Brother
Mickey
(1918)
Tom Rawlings
Yankee Doodle in Berlin
(1919)
American General (uncredited)
Kismet
(1920)
Kutayt
Sunless Sunday
(1921)
Serenade
(1921)
Zambrano
The Egg
(1922)
The Boss
The Speeder
(1922)
The Flirt
(1922)
Sam Fenton
Full o' Pep
(1922)
Loving Lies
(1924)
Captain Lindstrom
The Best Bad Man
(1925)
Dan Ellis
As Man Desires
(1925)
Gorilla Bagsley
Mantrap
(1926)
Curly Evans
Behind the Front
(1926)
Sergeant
We're in the Navy Now
(1926)
Sailor Percival Scruggs
The Better 'Ole
(1926)
The Blacksmith (uncredited)
The Yankee Señor
(1926)
Luke Martin
Man of the Forest
(1926)
Sheriff
Born to the West
(1926)
Dinkey Hooley
Senorita
(1927)
Oliveros Gaucho (uncredited)
Ham and Eggs at the Front
(1927)
Lazarus
The Mysterious Rider
(1927)
Lem Spooner
Silver Valley
(1927)
'Hayfever' Hawkins
Fireman, Save My Child
(1927)
Capt. Kennedy
Hold 'Em Yale
(1928)
Detective
None But the Brave
(1928)
Noah
Tillie's Punctured Romance
(1928)
Property Man
Marked Money
(1928)
Bill Clemons
Wife Savers
(1928)
General Lavoris
The Cop
(1928)
Sergeant Coughlin
Big News
(1929)
Officer Ryan
Happy Days
(1929)
Doorman (uncredited)
Glad Rag Doll
(1929)
Manager
The Fall Guy
(1930)
Detective Burke
See America Thirst
(1930)
'Shivering' Smith
Flying High
(1931)
Jokester with Firecrackers (uncredited)
Caught
(1931)
Jard Harmon
Iron Man
(1931)
Bartender (uncredited)
Young as You Feel
(1931)
Colorado Detective
Monkey Business
(1931)
Gibson
The Gang Buster
(1931)
'Gopher' Brant
It Pays to Advertise
(1931)
Perkins
The Promoter
(1932)
Burke
Lawyer Man
(1932)
Jake - the Ice Man (uncredited)
The Crooked Circle
(1932)
Mike, the policeman
Pack Up Your Troubles
(1932)
Recruiting Sergeant
Huddle
(1932)
Moving Man (uncredited)
Night After Night
(1932)
Tom
Fish Feathers
(1932)
If I Had a Million
(1932)
Joe - Carnival Bouncer (uncredited)
Lighthouse Love
(1932)
The Marine Sergeant
Lighthouse Love
(1932)
The Marine Sergeant
The Boudoir Butler
(1932)
Dr. Quigley - Slipper's Accomplice
42nd Street
(1933)
Slim Murphy (uncredited)
Blondie Johnson
(1933)
Hype (uncredited)
Cross Fire
(1933)
French Bouncer (uncredited)
Man of the Forest
(1933)
Sheriff Blake
Day of Reckoning
(1933)
Furniture Mover
Penthouse
(1933)
Joe (uncredited)
Suits to Nuts
(1933)
Client
Hip Zip Hooray
(1933)
The Prisoner
She Done Him Wrong
(1933)
Big Bill - Bartender (uncredited)
The Dancing Millionaire
(1934)
Crusher McGee
Hollywood Party
(1934)
Beavers (uncredited)
Down to Their Last Yacht
(1934)
Joe 'Uncle Ed' Schultz (uncredited)
Strictly Dynamite
(1934)
Junior
Strictly Fresh Yeggs
(1934)
The Burglar
Unlucky Strike
(1934)
Cracked Shots
(1934)
Tom 'Pinky' Kennedy
Alibi Bye Bye
(1935)
Snoops, the house dick
The Bride Comes Home
(1935)
Husky Thug at Party (uncredited)
Gobs of Trouble
(1935)
Old Man Rhythm
(1935)
Campus Guard
Gum Shoes
(1935)
Stage Frights
(1935)
She Couldn't Take It
(1935)
Slugs
Oh, My Nerves
(1935)
Raised and Called
(1935)
Horse Heir
(1935)
The Country Doctor
(1936)
Logger (uncredited)
Hollywood Boulevard
(1936)
Bouncer at Pago Pago
Grandma's Buoys
(1936)
Tom
Poppy
(1936)
Hot Dog Stand Proprietor (uncredited)
Midnight Blunders
(1936)
Tom
Just Speeding
(1936)
Free Rent
(1936)
The Big Game
(1936)
Fan in Stands
Smart Blonde
(1937)
Gahagan
Wise Girl
(1937)
Detective
Varsity Show
(1937)
Policeman (uncredited)
The Adventurous Blonde
(1937)
Detective Gahagan
Marry the Girl
(1937)
Jasper
Behind The Headlines
(1937)
Tiny
New News
(1937)
Tom Kennedy
Forty Naughty Girls
(1937)
Detective Casey
Living on Love
(1937)
Pete Ryan
The Big Shot
(1937)
Bugs
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
(1937)
Jim Magooney
Fly Away Baby
(1937)
Gahagan
Bury the Hatchet
(1937)
Tom
Calling All Curtains
(1937)
Slave Ship
(1937)
Bartender
She Had to Eat
(1937)
Pete
Armored Car
(1937)
Tiny
Married Before Breakfast
(1937)
Mr. Baglipp
Blondes at Work
(1938)
Gahagan
Torchy Blane in Panama
(1938)
Detective Gahagan
Torchy Gets Her Man
(1938)
Gahagan
He Couldn't Say No
(1938)
Dimples
Swing It, Sailor!
(1938)
Policeman
Go Chase Yourself
(1938)
Icebox
Danger on the Air
(1938)
Hotel Doorman (Uncredited)
Crashing Hollywood
(1938)
Al
Making the Headlines
(1938)
Police Sergeant Handley
Fiddling Around
(1938)
Tom Kennedy
Halfway to Hollywood
(1938)
Tom
Breakdowns of 1938
(1938)
Gagahan (archive footage) (uncredited)
Crime Ring
(1938)
Dummy
Quiet, Please
(1939)
Gorilla Stand-In Max Imhof
Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite
(1939)
Gahagan
Torchy Runs for Mayor
(1939)
Gahagan
Torchy Blane in Chinatown
(1939)
Det. Sgt. Gahagan
Society Lawyer
(1939)
Alf
The Day the Bookies Wept
(1939)
Pinky Brophy
The Long Shot
(1939)
Mike Claurens
These Glamour Girls
(1939)
Joy Lane Manager (uncredited)
The Covered Trailer
(1939)
Otto
Remember the Night
(1940)
'Fat' Mike
Millionaire Playboy
(1940)
Tom Murphy
Sporting Blood
(1940)
Grantly
An Angel from Texas
(1940)
Chopper
Flowing Gold
(1940)
Petunia
Pop Always Pays
(1940)
Murphy
Curtain Call
(1940)
Masseur
Mexican Spitfire Out West
(1940)
Cabbie
Sweet Spirits of the Nighter
(1941)
Tom
Sailors on Leave
(1941)
Dugan
Angels with Broken Wings
(1941)
Gus
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
(1941)
Sheriff Judson
Thieves Fall Out
(1941)
Cabbie
The Great Swindle
(1941)
Capper Smith
The Officer and the Lady
(1941)
Bumps O'Neil
Man-I-Cured
(1941)
House Detective, Maizie's Boy Friend
Blondie's Blessed Event
(1942)
Motorcycle Cop Who Names The Baby 'Cookie' (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire's Elephant
(1942)
Joe the Villa Luigi Bartender
Pardon My Stripes
(1942)
Casino
Butch Minds the Baby
(1942)
Philly the Weeper
Pretty Dolly
(1942)
Gus
Campus Rhythm
(1943)
Police Sergeant
Petticoat Larceny
(1943)
Pinky
Dixie
(1943)
Barkeeper (uncredited)
Hit Parade of 1943
(1943)
Westinghouse
Dixie Dugan
(1943)
Sergeant (uncredited)
Taxi, Mister
(1943)
Kennedy
Stage Door Canteen
(1943)
Tom Kennedy
True to Life
(1943)
Customer (uncredited)
So's Your Uncle
(1943)
Cop
Wedtime Stories
(1943)
House Detective
Here Comes Elmer
(1943)
Johnson
Ladies' Day
(1943)
Dugan
Cutie on Duty
(1943)
Rocky
The Princess and the Pirate
(1944)
Alonzo
And the Angels Sing
(1944)
Potatoes
Moonlight and Cactus
(1944)
Lucky
Girls! Girls! Girls!
(1944)
Police Detective Lt. Kerrigan
Radio Rampage
(1944)
Mr. Thompson
Take It Big
(1944)
Moving Man (uncredited)
The Girl in the Case
(1944)
Watchman (uncredited)
The Town Went Wild
(1944)
Policeman
Voice of the Whistler
(1945)
Ferdinand / Hammerlock
Where the Pest Begins
(1945)
Jonathan Batts
Man Alive
(1945)
Bartender (uncredited)
It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog
(1945)
The Man Who Walked Alone
(1945)
Officer #1
The Kid from Brooklyn
(1946)
Referee #1 (uncredited)
Society Mugs
(1946)
Tom
Jiggers, My Wife
(1946)
Joe
Blonde Alibi
(1946)
Policeman Clancy (Uncredited)
Motor Maniacs
(1946)
Mother's Suitor
So's Your Antenna
(1946)
The Pretender
(1947)
Fingers Murdock
Magic Town
(1947)
Moving Man (uncredited)
Dangerous Years
(1947)
Mr. Adamson
The Case Of The Baby-Sitter
(1947)
Officer Murphy
The Burning Cross
(1947)
Police Station Sergeant
The Mighty McGurk
(1947)
Bruiser (uncredited)
The Hat Box Mystery
(1947)
Policeman Murphy
The Judge Steps Out
(1947)
Jack (Court Receptionist) (uncredited)
Devil's Cargo
(1948)
Naga, Mug Who Tails Delgado
Thunder in the Pines
(1948)
Josh, the Station Master
The Paleface
(1948)
Bartender
Jinx Money
(1948)
Officer Rooney
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
(1948)
Lefty
Trouble Preferred
(1948)
Night Watchman (uncredited)
Square Dance Jubilee
(1949)
Bartender Tom
The Mutineers
(1949)
Butch
Riding High
(1950)
Racetrack Mug (uncredited)
Triple Trouble
(1950)
Third Convict Calling Out from Cell
Fraidy Cat
(1951)
I. Katchum (uncredited)
The Scarf
(1951)
Asylum Inmate
Havana Rose
(1951)
House Detective
Let's Go Navy!
(1951)
Officer Donovan
Invasion, U.S.A.
(1952)
Tim, Bartender
Gold Fever
(1952)
Big Tom
Loose Loot
(1953)
Joe
Spooks!
(1953)
Mr. Hyde
Hook a Crook
(1955)
I. Katchum (archive footage) (uncredited)
Some Like It Hot
(1959)
Bouncer (uncredited)
Walk Like a Dragon
(1960)
Jethro the Bartender
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
(1963)
Traffic Cop (uncredited)
The Bounty Killer
(1965)
Waiter
Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl
(1999)
Self (from Mantrap [1926]) (archive footage)
42nd Street: From Book to Screen to Stage
(2006)
Self (archive footage)