Bill Kennedy


Actor, Newscaster

About

Also Known As
Willard Kennedy, William Kennedy
Born
June 27, 1908
Died
January 27, 1997

Biography

Bill Kennedy was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. He began a television newscaster career on WWJ and WDIV-TV in Detroit, MI. In 1945, he performed in "Escape In the Desert." In 1969, he joined WKBD-TV in MI. In 1982, he moved to Florida and continued to produce a weekly show at WKBD in Detroit. Early on in his acting career, Kennedy landed roles in various films, including...

Family & Companions

Suzanne Kennedy
Wife
Survived him.

Biography

Bill Kennedy was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. He began a television newscaster career on WWJ and WDIV-TV in Detroit, MI. In 1945, he performed in "Escape In the Desert." In 1969, he joined WKBD-TV in MI. In 1982, he moved to Florida and continued to produce a weekly show at WKBD in Detroit. Early on in his acting career, Kennedy landed roles in various films, including "Destination Tokyo" (1944), the Bette Davis drama "Mr. Skeffington" (1945) and "The Bachelor's Daughters" (1946). He also appeared in "Fun on a Weekend" (1947). His passion for acting continued to his roles in projects like the George Montgomery western "Belle Starr's Daughter" (1948), "I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes" (1948) and "Forgotten Women" (1949). Nearing the end of his career, he tackled roles in the Don "Red" Barry western "I Shot Billy the Kid" (1950), the adaptation "Red Planet Mars" (1952) with Peter Graves and the crime adaptation "I Died a Thousand Times" (1955) with Jack Palance. Kennedy more recently acted in "Unchained" (1955). Kennedy was married to Suzanne Kennedy and had three children. Kennedy passed away in January 1997 at the age of 89.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

Male and Female Since Adam and Eve (1961)
Adam
I Died a Thousand Times (1955)
Sheriff
Unchained (1955)
Sanders
Red Planet Mars (1952)
Commentator
Born to the Saddle (1952)
Silver City Bonanza (1951)
Monk Monroe
Canyon Raiders (1951)
Hemingway
Nevada Badmen (1951)
Jensen
Abilene Trail (1951)
Colter
I Shot Billy the Kid (1950)
Poe
Border Rangers (1950)
Sgt. Carlson
Border Outlaws (1950)
Carson
Gunslingers (1950)
Ace Larabee
Storm Over Wyoming (1950)
Jess Rawlins
Peggy (1950)
Reporter
Two Lost Worlds (1950)
Martin Shannon
Malaya (1949)
Intern
Forgotten Women (1949)
Bill Dunning
Law of the West (1949)
Dan Nixon
Shadows of the West (1949)
B. Jonathan Wardrobe
Trail of the Yukon (1949)
Constable
Joan of Arc (1948)
Thierache, her executioner
In This Corner (1948)
Barton, announcer
I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes (1948)
Detective
Triggerman (1948)
Kirby
Overland Trails (1948)
Carter Morgan
The Sheriff of Medicine Bow (1948)
Barry Stuart
Assigned to Danger (1948)
Assistant district attorney
Belle Starr's Daughter (1948)
Law officer
A Southern Yankee (1948)
Lieut. Sheve
Louisiana (1947)
Justin Jeffrey
Fun on a Weekend (1947)
Bill Davis
News Hounds (1947)
Mark Morgan
The Case of the Baby Sitter (1947)
Web of Danger (1947)
Ernie Reardon
The Gangster (1947)
Thug
That Brennan Girl (1946)
Arthur
Don't Gamble with Strangers (1946)
Harry Arnold
The Bachelor's Daughters (1946)
Mr. Stapp
Of Human Bondage (1946)
Flanagan
Escape in the Desert (1945)
Hank Albright
Rhapsody in Blue (1945)
Herbert Stone
The Doughgirls (1944)
Six-footer
Destination Tokyo (1944)
Gunnery officer
Crime by Night (1944)
Attendant
Mr. Skeffington (1944)
Thatcher
The Last Ride (1944)
Corelli
The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944)
Make Your Own Bed (1944)
FBI man
Air Force (1943)
Marine
This Is the Army (1943)
Commentator
Northern Pursuit (1943)
Mountie
The Hard Way (1943)
Radio announcer
Princess O'Rourke (1943)
Dispatcher
Murder on the Waterfront (1943)
First Officer Barnes
Mission to Moscow (1943)
American newsman
Truck Busters (1943)
Tim Shaughnessy
Busses Roar (1942)
The Moocher
You Can't Escape Forever (1942)
Reporter
Now, Voyager (1942)
Hamilton Hunneker

Producer (Feature Film)

The Return of Navajo Boy (1999)
Producer
The Return of Navajo Boy (1999)
Executive Producer
High Stakes (1997)
Co-Producer
Trail of Tears (1995)
Co-Producer

Visual Effects (Feature Film)

Open the Door and See All the People (1964)
Sp Photographer

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Chunuk Bair (1991)
Other

Cast (Short)

Winning Your Wings (1942)

Life Events

1943

Starred in "Destination Tokyo"

1945

Performed in "Escape In the Desert"

1945

Featured in "The Royal Mounted Rides Again"

1952

Star of "Your Hollywood Host"

1955

Appeared in "Unchained"

1969

Joined WKBD-TV in MI

1982

Moved to Florida and continued to produce a weekly show at WKBD in Detroit

Family

Helen Kennedy
Sister
Survived him.
Michael Kennedy
Son
Survived him.
Bartley Kennedy
Son
Survived him.
Patricia Kennedy
Daughter
Survived him.
Susan Kennedy
Step-Daughter
Survived him.
Leslie King
Step-Daughter
Survived him.

Companions

Suzanne Kennedy
Wife
Survived him.

Bibliography