George Kennedy Net Worth

George Kennedy's Quotes

• When you think of a movie, most people imagine a two hour finished, polished product. But to get to that two hour product, it can take hundreds or thousands of people many months of full time work.
• Of course, I also attribute some of my hearing loss to being in the infantry in World War II. It's probably a combination of heredity and noise exposure.
• My father died when I was 4 years old, so I can't really say anything about his hearing.
• I have been so fortunate and I really am appreciative of the success I've had.
• I had the good fortune of speaking with Orson Welles many decades ago and he said "Success is primarily luck anyway." And I have been very lucky. Of course, Orson Welles was enormously talented and brilliant - so who am I to argue with him!

Interesting Facts about George Kennedy

1. Adopted father, with Joan McCarthy Kennedy, of Shannon Kennedy Sullivan, Shaunna Leah Kennedy, and Taylor Riessen Kennedy. After marrying, Joan, his third wife, he adopted her daughters Shannon & Shaunna. In 1998, George and Joan adopted Shaunna's daughter (their granddaughter), Taylor, after her parents were declared unfit for custody due to drug and alcohol addiction.
2. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer.
3. Kennedy is often mistakenly credited with a bit part in Spartacus (1960). Stuntman Bob Morgan resembles Kennedy closely, and it is he who is seen saying "I'm Spartacus!" in the famous scene. Kennedy had nothing to do with the film.
4. In the early 1970s, Paramount Pictures had plans that were unrealized to remake Double Indemnity (1944) with Kennedy in the Edward G. Robinson role.
5. He was the only actor to appear in all four of the "Airport" movie series.
6. Recently hosted the creation of a driving safety video.
7. Due to his tall, enormously broad frame, Kennedy was frequently cast in the 1960s and 1970s as bullies and thugs, and had the distinction of brutalizing stars like Cary Grant, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood on-screen while gaining a reputation off-screen as one of the nicest actors around. By his 60s, he finally got the chance to play friendlier characters, such as lovable Captain Ed Hocken in the "Naked Gun" movies.
8. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and went on to serve 16 years, both in combat, and in his later years, as an Armed Forces Radio and Television officer. As a United States Army officer in World War II, he served under General George S. Patton, and later went on to portray Patton in Brass Target (1978). After World War II, a bizarre medical condition - his left leg was shorter than his right by three inches - left him in traction for two years.
9. Before his acting career really took off, he served as a military consultant on The Phil Silvers Show (1955).
10. Attended and graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York (1943) and John Tarleton Agricultural College (now Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas).
11. Was considered for the role of Lex Luthor in Superman (1978), which went to Gene Hackman.
12. His maternal grandfather was a German immigrant. His other ancestry included Irish and English.
13. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 6356 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 3, 1991.
14. A former United States Army career soldier, Kennedy played a series of villains in motion pictures. He attacked Cary Grant with a steel claw in Stanley Donen's Charade (1963), pursued Joan Crawford with an ax in Strait-Jacket (1964), attempted to assassinate Gregory Peck in Mirage (1965) and kicked Jeff Bridges to death in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974).
15. His father was a pianist and a composer/conductor at the Proctor's Theater in Manhattan, and his mother danced with vaudeville's "Le Ballet Classique".
16. He underwent emergency triple heart bypass surgery in 2002.
17. He died only nine days before his Cool Hand Luke (1967) co-star Richard Davalos.
18. Appeared in one film nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Airport (1970).
19. Father, with Dorothy Gillooly, of Kevin Kennedy.
20. Adopted father, with Norma Jean Wurman, of Christopher Kennedy & Karianne Kennedy.