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