It may be a disservice to Oscar-winning actor George Kennedy, but every time I picture him in my head, two images come to mind – and neither one of them flattering. The first is the scene from Naked Gun when he and Leslie Nielsen are shoveling red-dyed pistachio nuts into their mouth and emerge from the police car with bright red lips. The second involves Kennedy at the baseball game in the same film as he is seen shoveling various ballpark food (hot dogs, pizza, ice cream, etc.) into his mouth in cutaway shots. Hey, I can’t help it. Apparently I like to watch George Kennedy eat.
But quite obviously, most fans would associate him with the role of Dragline, the tough inmate opposite Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. For this he won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1968. Kennedy also was famous for his role airline troubleshooter Joe Patroni in the Airport franchise of disaster films.
There is no way I’d pass up the chance to meet an Academy Award winner, so even though I had to shell out $20 for a photo and an additional $20 to be photographed with him when he appeared at the Chicago Hollywood Collectors Show on Saturday, March 14, 2010, I did it with a smile on my face. And without the bright red lips.
Celebrities of the March Chicago collectors show will continue…
He’s still alive?! I thought he died years ago!
Bill
May 15th, 2010
Best comb-over in the business.
Eric Hubble
May 24th, 2010
I’ve wanted to meet him for
over 15 years, just to say hi, how are you?
Please tell me how I can do that.
Hideko san
October 12th, 2011
My son’s English teacher bumped into George about 15 years ago in a market.He came to visit the class upon her request bringing whole mess of “Breath Assure”and his autographed posters. Sounded like a real nice guy according to my son.
I’ve been wondering if I can meet him just to say hi.
Hideko san
October 12th, 2011
Hideko san,
Keep your eyes on the listings of the various autograph shows that Brad attends. Perhaps Mr. Kennedy will make another appearance, thereby giving you an opportunity to say, “hi, how are you?” to him, and your 15 year quest will come to an end. You may even get some free Breath Assures out of it, which – to my mind at least – would surpass Brad’s encounter with him.
Good luck Hideko san. Please keep us posted.
Peter
October 13th, 2011