George Kennedy

Sandy-haired, tall and burly George Harris Kennedy, Jr. was born in New York City, to Helen A. (Kieselbach), a ballet dancer, and George Harris Kennedy, an orchestra leader and musician. He had German, Irish, and English ancestry. A World War II veteran, Kennedy at one stage in his career cornered the market at playing tough, no-nonsense characters who were either quite crooked or possessed hearts of gold. Kennedy notched up an impressive 200+ appearances in both TV and film, and was well respected within the Hollywood community. He started out in TV westerns in the late 1950s and early 1960s: Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), Maverick (1957), Colt .45 (1957), among others; before scoring minor roles in films including Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965). The late 1960s was a very busy period for Kennedy, and he was strongly in favor with casting agents, appearing in Hurry Sundown (1967), The Dirty Dozen (1967) and scoring an Oscar win as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Cool Hand Luke (1967). The disaster film boom of the 1970s was kind to Kennedy, too, and his talents were in demand for Airport(1970) and the three subsequent sequels, as a grizzled cop in Earthquake (1974), plus the buddy/road film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974) as vicious bank robber Red Leary. The 1980s saw Kennedy appear in a mishmash of roles, playing various characters; however, Kennedy and Leslie ...

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The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)

A cargo aircraft crashes in a sandstorm in the Sahara with less than a dozen men on board. One of the passengers is an airplane designer who comes up with the idea of ripping off the undamaged wing and using it as the basis for a replacement aircraft they will ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Aldrich
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Richard Attenborough  •  Peter Finch  •  Hardy Krüger

A cargo aircraft crashes in a sandstorm in the Sahara with less than a dozen men on board. One of the passengers is an airplane designer who comes up with the idea of ripping off the undamaged wing and using it as the basis for a replacement aircraft they will ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Aldrich
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Richard Attenborough  •  Peter Finch  •  Hardy Krüger

Airport (1970)

Melodrama about a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Dean Martin  •  Jean Seberg  •  Jacqueline Bisset

Melodrama about a bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Seaton
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Dean Martin  •  Jean Seberg  •  Jacqueline Bisset

Airport '77 (1977)

Flight 23 has crashed in the Bermuda Triangle after a hijacking gone wrong. Now the surviving passengers must brave panic, slow leaks, oxygen depletion, and more while attempting a daring plan, all while 200 feet underwater.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Jameson
CAST:  Jack Lemmon  •  Lee Grant  •  Brenda Vaccaro  •  Joseph Cotten

Flight 23 has crashed in the Bermuda Triangle after a hijacking gone wrong. Now the surviving passengers must brave panic, slow leaks, oxygen depletion, and more while attempting a daring plan, all while 200 feet underwater.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Jameson
CAST:  Jack Lemmon  •  Lee Grant  •  Brenda Vaccaro  •  Joseph Cotten

Airport 1975 (1974)

When an in-flight collision incapacitates the pilots of an airplane bound for Los Angeles, stewardess Nancy Pryor is forced to take over the controls. From the ground, her boyfriend Alan Murdock, a retired test pilot, tries to talk her through piloting and landing ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Smight
CAST:  Charlton Heston  •  Karen Black  •  George Kennedy  •  Gloria Swanson

When an in-flight collision incapacitates the pilots of an airplane bound for Los Angeles, stewardess Nancy Pryor is forced to take over the controls. From the ground, her boyfriend Alan Murdock, a retired test pilot, tries to talk her through piloting and landing ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jack Smight
CAST:  Charlton Heston  •  Karen Black  •  George Kennedy  •  Gloria Swanson

Bandolero! (1968)

Posing as a hangman, Mace Bishop arrives in town with the intention of freeing a gang of outlaws, including his brother, from the gallows. Mace urges his younger brother to give up crime. The sheriff chases the brothers to Mexico. They join forces, however, against ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew V. McLaglen
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Dean Martin  •  Raquel Welch  •  George Kennedy

Posing as a hangman, Mace Bishop arrives in town with the intention of freeing a gang of outlaws, including his brother, from the gallows. Mace urges his younger brother to give up crime. The sheriff chases the brothers to Mexico. They join forces, however, against ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew V. McLaglen
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Dean Martin  •  Raquel Welch  •  George Kennedy

Bolero (1984)

Follows the tale of a young woman’s sexual awakening and subsequent journey around the world in pursuit of her ideal lover. Encounters include an Arabian sheik and a Spanish bullfighter. Her friend and butler accompany her and help to arrange her couplings.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Derek
CAST:  Bo Derek  •  George Kennedy  •  Ana Obregón  •  Olivia d'Abo

Follows the tale of a young woman’s sexual awakening and subsequent journey around the world in pursuit of her ideal lover. Encounters include an Arabian sheik and a Spanish bullfighter. Her friend and butler accompany her and help to arrange her couplings.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Derek
CAST:  Bo Derek  •  George Kennedy  •  Ana Obregón  •  Olivia d'Abo

Cats Don't Dance (1997)

FunnyCuteMusicalLighthearted

Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Dindal
CAST:  Scott Bakula  •  Jasmine Guy  •  Natalie Cole  •  Ashley Peldon

Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Dindal
CAST:  Scott Bakula  •  Jasmine Guy  •  Natalie Cole  •  Ashley Peldon

Charade (1963)

HeistRomanticClassicSlow moving

After Regina Lampert falls for the dashing Peter Joshua on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Donen
CAST:  Cary Grant  •  Audrey Hepburn  •  Walter Matthau  •  James Coburn

After Regina Lampert falls for the dashing Peter Joshua on a skiing holiday in the French Alps, she discovers upon her return to Paris that her husband has been murdered. Soon, she and Peter are giving chase to three of her late husband's World War II cronies, Tex, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stanley Donen
CAST:  Cary Grant  •  Audrey Hepburn  •  Walter Matthau  •  James Coburn

Cool Hand Luke (1967)

SmartInspiringClassicClever

When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Rosenberg
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  George Kennedy  •  Luke Askew  •  Morgan Woodward

When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stuart Rosenberg
CAST:  Paul Newman  •  George Kennedy  •  Luke Askew  •  Morgan Woodward

Don't Come Knocking (2005)

Howard Spence has seen better days. Once a big Western movie star, he now drowns his disgust for his selfish and failed life with alcohol, drugs and young women. If he were to die now, nobody would shed a tear over him, that's the sad truth. Until one day Howard ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wim Wenders
CAST:  Sam Shepard  •  Jessica Lange  •  Sarah Polley  •  Tim Roth

Howard Spence has seen better days. Once a big Western movie star, he now drowns his disgust for his selfish and failed life with alcohol, drugs and young women. If he were to die now, nobody would shed a tear over him, that's the sad truth. Until one day Howard ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Wim Wenders
CAST:  Sam Shepard  •  Jessica Lange  •  Sarah Polley  •  Tim Roth

Earthquake (1974)

Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Robson
CAST:  Charlton Heston  •  Ava Gardner  •  George Kennedy  •  Lorne Greene

Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Robson
CAST:  Charlton Heston  •  Ava Gardner  •  George Kennedy  •  Lorne Greene

Hurry Sundown (1967)

Following the Second World War, a northern cannery combine negotiates for the purchase of a large tract of uncultivated Georgia farmland. The major portion of the land is owned by Julie Ann Warren and has already been optioned by her unscrupulous, draft dodging ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Otto Preminger
CAST:  Michael Caine  •  Jane Fonda  •  John Phillip Law  •  Diahann Carroll

Following the Second World War, a northern cannery combine negotiates for the purchase of a large tract of uncultivated Georgia farmland. The major portion of the land is owned by Julie Ann Warren and has already been optioned by her unscrupulous, draft dodging ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Otto Preminger
CAST:  Michael Caine  •  Jane Fonda  •  John Phillip Law  •  Diahann Carroll

In Harm's Way (1965)

A naval officer reprimanded after Pearl Harbor is later promoted to rear admiral and gets a second chance to prove himself against the Japanese.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Otto Preminger
CAST:  John Wayne  •  Kirk Douglas  •  Patricia Neal  •  Tom Tryon

A naval officer reprimanded after Pearl Harbor is later promoted to rear admiral and gets a second chance to prove himself against the Japanese.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Otto Preminger
CAST:  John Wayne  •  Kirk Douglas  •  Patricia Neal  •  Tom Tryon

Lonely Are the Brave (1962)

A fiercely independent cowboy arranges to have himself locked up in jail in order to then escape with an old friend who has been sentenced to the penitentiary.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Miller
CAST:  Kirk Douglas  •  Gena Rowlands  •  Walter Matthau  •  Carroll O'Connor

A fiercely independent cowboy arranges to have himself locked up in jail in order to then escape with an old friend who has been sentenced to the penitentiary.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Miller
CAST:  Kirk Douglas  •  Gena Rowlands  •  Walter Matthau  •  Carroll O'Connor

Modern Romance (1981)

A film editor breaks up with his girlfriend, unsure if he is in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Albert Brooks
CAST:  Albert Brooks  •  Kathryn Harrold  •  Bruno Kirby  •  Tyann Means

A film editor breaks up with his girlfriend, unsure if he is in love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Albert Brooks
CAST:  Albert Brooks  •  Kathryn Harrold  •  Bruno Kirby  •  Tyann Means

Shenandoah (1965)

Charlie Anderson, a farmer in Shenandoah, Virginia, finds himself and his family in the middle of the Civil War he wants nothing to do with. When his youngest boy is taken prisoner by the North, the Civil War is forced upon him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew V. McLaglen
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Doug McClure  •  Glenn Corbett  •  Patrick Wayne

Charlie Anderson, a farmer in Shenandoah, Virginia, finds himself and his family in the middle of the Civil War he wants nothing to do with. When his youngest boy is taken prisoner by the North, the Civil War is forced upon him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew V. McLaglen
CAST:  James Stewart  •  Doug McClure  •  Glenn Corbett  •  Patrick Wayne

Small Soldiers (1998)

When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Dante
CAST:  Gregory Smith  •  Kirsten Dunst  •  Denis Leary  •  Phil Hartman

When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Dante
CAST:  Gregory Smith  •  Kirsten Dunst  •  Denis Leary  •  Phil Hartman

The Concorde... Airport '79 (1979)

Aviation disaster-prone Joe Patroni must contend with nuclear missiles, the French Air Force and the threat of the plane splitting in two over the Alps.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lowell Rich
CAST:  Alain Delon  •  Susan Blakely  •  Robert Wagner  •  Sylvia Kristel

Aviation disaster-prone Joe Patroni must contend with nuclear missiles, the French Air Force and the threat of the plane splitting in two over the Alps.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Lowell Rich
CAST:  Alain Delon  •  Susan Blakely  •  Robert Wagner  •  Sylvia Kristel

The Delta Force (1986)

A 707 aircraft jetliner, en route from Athens to Rome and then to New York City, is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists, who demand that the pilot take them to Beirut. What the terrorists don't realize is that an elite team of commandos have been called in to eliminate ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Menahem Golan
CAST:  Chuck Norris  •  Lee Marvin  •  Shelley Winters  •  Martin Balsam

A 707 aircraft jetliner, en route from Athens to Rome and then to New York City, is hijacked by Lebanese terrorists, who demand that the pilot take them to Beirut. What the terrorists don't realize is that an elite team of commandos have been called in to eliminate ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Menahem Golan
CAST:  Chuck Norris  •  Lee Marvin  •  Shelley Winters  •  Martin Balsam

The Dirty Dozen (1967)

12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy château and kill the Nazi officers vacationing there. The soldiers, most of whom are facing death sentences for a variety of violent crimes, agree to the mission and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Aldrich
CAST:  Lee Marvin  •  Ernest Borgnine  •  Charles Bronson  •  Jim Brown

12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy château and kill the Nazi officers vacationing there. The soldiers, most of whom are facing death sentences for a variety of violent crimes, agree to the mission and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Aldrich
CAST:  Lee Marvin  •  Ernest Borgnine  •  Charles Bronson  •  Jim Brown
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