Actor George Kennedy Passes Away at Age 91

vienna · 02-29-16, 08:13 PM

George Kennedy, highly regarded film and television actor, has passed away at age 91:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/mo...t-91.html?_r=0

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001421/?ref_=nv_sr_3

Back in the mid-70s, Kennedy starred in a TV series, The Blue Knight, based on the Joseph Wambaugh novels about life in the Los Angeles Police Department. I recall one incident when I was walking through downtown LA and I passed by an alleyway. Coming down the alleyway. about mid-block was an LAPD officer and a couple of civilians. What caught my eye was the fact this was the biggest LAPD officer i had ever seen. The LAPD, at the time, was trying to keep up a sort of Adam-12 image: young patrol officer, lean, compact, athletic, robotic, leading to a sort of cookie cutter force of seemingly interchangable members. Coming form San Francisco, originally, I was more used to the sort SFPD officers who seemed more human and approachable. I looked more closely and realized the LAPD cop was George Kennedy, in costume for filming nearby. In that LAPD uniform, he was a very formidible figure; if he had been an actual officer, he would have had no problem projecting an authoritative presence...

RIP, Mr. Kennedy, and thanks for all the great performances and memories...

<O>

Torplexed · 02-29-16, 08:44 PM

Farewell George.

Buddahaid · 02-29-16, 08:51 PM

R. I. P.

Aktungbby · 02-29-16, 08:58 PM

My favorite scene from his Oscar winning performance as 'Dragline'

Ps: Joy Harmon became a baker!

razark · 02-29-16, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

My favorite scene from his Oscar winning performance as 'Dragline'

"Hey Lord, whatever I done, don't strike me blind for another couple of minutes!"

This was the first role I thought of when I heard on the radio. RIP.

Buddahaid · 02-29-16, 10:05 PM

:c ool:

Red October1984 · 02-29-16, 11:02 PM

Sad to hear this.

The Naked Gun films are among my favorite of all time.

Sailor Steve · 02-29-16, 11:15 PM

Looking over his credits I can't believe all the '50s and '60s shows he guest-starred in. The earliest job of his I recognize is the original Flight Of The Phoenix (1965), of which I own a copy to this day. I saw a couple of his earlier movies, but I don't remember them well enough to identify him with them.

Reece · 02-29-16, 11:50 PM

He was one of my favorite actors, I remember well as a supporting actor in shows like the Naked Gun series.

Sadly missed.

Oberon · 03-01-16, 12:13 AM

He was the perfect straightish guy to Leslie Nielsen, enjoyed him in The Naked Gun series.

RIP and thanks for the laughs.

Eichhörnchen · 03-01-16, 12:43 AM

Very sad news: he was such a familiar and kindly face.

Rhodes · 03-01-16, 05:30 AM

R.I.P.! Great actor and with a long and full career. I remember a film that TCM always aired, he was the old sheriff in a south town and the new elected one was black - actor Jim Brown.

Jimbuna · 03-01-16, 07:55 AM

Somehow I never thought he got the accolades he truly deserved.

RIP George

ivanov.ruslan · 03-01-16, 08:01 AM

R.I.P George Greate actor

mako88sb · 03-01-16, 09:55 AM

Sad to hear. First time I can recall him I was about 8 years old when we watched "Flight of the Phoenix". I hadn't seen "In Harms Way" until a few weeks ago and it was great to see him in that. He was one of my favorites.

R.I.P. George

02-29-16, 08:13 PM	#1
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Actor George Kennedy Passes Away at Age 91 George Kennedy, highly regarded film and television actor, has passed away at age 91: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/01/mo...t-91.html?_r=0 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001421/?ref_=nv_sr_3 Back in the mid-70s, Kennedy starred in a TV series, The Blue Knight, based on the Joseph Wambaugh novels about life in the Los Angeles Police Department. I recall one incident when I was walking through downtown LA and I passed by an alleyway. Coming down the alleyway. about mid-block was an LAPD officer and a couple of civilians. What caught my eye was the fact this was the biggest LAPD officer i had ever seen. The LAPD, at the time, was trying to keep up a sort of Adam-12 image: young patrol officer, lean, compact, athletic, robotic, leading to a sort of cookie cutter force of seemingly interchangable members. Coming form San Francisco, originally, I was more used to the sort SFPD officers who seemed more human and approachable. I looked more closely and realized the LAPD cop was George Kennedy, in costume for filming nearby. In that LAPD uniform, he was a very formidible figure; if he had been an actual officer, he would have had no problem projecting an authoritative presence... RIP, Mr. Kennedy, and thanks for all the great performances and memories... <O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __

02-29-16, 08:51 PM	#3
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	R. I. P. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

02-29-16, 08:58 PM	#4
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 29,984 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	LUCILLE!!!! My favorite scene from his Oscar winning performance as 'Dragline' Ps: Joy Harmon became a baker! __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!

02-29-16, 10:05 PM	#6
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	:c ool: __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

02-29-16, 11:02 PM	#7
Red October1984 Airplane Nerd Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 6,243 Downloads: 115 Uploads: 0	Sad to hear this. The Naked Gun films are among my favorite of all time. __________________

02-29-16, 08:44 PM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Farewell George.

02-29-16, 11:15 PM	#8
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Looking over his credits I can't believe all the '50s and '60s shows he guest-starred in. The earliest job of his I recognize is the original Flight Of The Phoenix (1965), of which I own a copy to this day. I saw a couple of his earlier movies, but I don't remember them well enough to identify him with them. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

02-29-16, 11:50 PM	#9
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,688 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	He was one of my favorite actors, I remember well as a supporting actor in shows like the Naked Gun series. Sadly missed. __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

03-01-16, 12:13 AM	#10
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	He was the perfect straightish guy to Leslie Nielsen, enjoyed him in The Naked Gun series. RIP and thanks for the laughs.

03-01-16, 12:43 AM	#11
Eichhörnchen Starte das Auto Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: The Fens Posts: 17,372 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Very sad news: he was such a familiar and kindly face. __________________

03-01-16, 05:30 AM	#12
Rhodes Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Figueira da Foz, Portugal Posts: 4,515 Downloads: 110 Uploads: 0	R.I.P.! Great actor and with a long and full career. I remember a film that TCM always aired, he was the old sheriff in a south town and the new elected one was black - actor Jim Brown. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16416646@N05/

03-01-16, 07:55 AM	#13
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Somehow I never thought he got the accolades he truly deserved. RIP George __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-01-16, 08:01 AM	#14
ivanov.ruslan The Old Man Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pleven,BG Posts: 1,577 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 0	R.I.P George Greate actor

03-01-16, 09:55 AM	#15
mako88sb XO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 423 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sad to hear. First time I can recall him I was about 8 years old when we watched "Flight of the Phoenix". I hadn't seen "In Harms Way" until a few weeks ago and it was great to see him in that. He was one of my favorites. R.I.P. George