[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Celebrity Deathwatch: Burt Kennedy, Screenwriter/Director, 78

http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/16/obit.kennedy.ap/index.html

Screenwriter and director Burt Kennedy dead at 78
February 16, 2001
Web posted at: 1:09 PM EST (1809 GMT)


LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Burt Kennedy, a screenwriter and director of
films including the Western epic "The War Wagon," has died. He was 78.

Kennedy died Thursday of cancer at his suburban Sherman Oaks, California,
home, said the family's spokesman, film critic Leonard Maltin.

During his long career in radio, film and television, Kennedy earned a
reputation as an accomplished director who injected humor into the
traditionally straight-laced Western film.

In the 1960s, when the movie Western was declining in public favor, he
enlivened the genre with gag-filled films such as "Support Your Local
Sheriff" and "Support Your Local Gunfighter," both starring James Garner in
his "Maverick" mode.

He also directed "Dirty Dingus McGee," a spoof with Frank Sinatra as a
two-bit gunfighter. Kennedy wrote the script with Joseph Heller of
"Catch-22" fame.

He was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on Sept. 3, 1922, the son of
vaudevillians who toured as The Dancing Kennedys. He joined the act when he
was 4 years old.

After high school he joined the Army, fighting in the Pacific theater in
World War II, and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the
Purple Heart.

Settling in Hollywood, he became a successful radio writer. John Wayne
recognized his talent for humor and hired him to write screenplays.

After his directorial debut flopped, Kennedy directed episodes of "The
Lawman," "The Virginian" and other TV series before returning to film.

His most ambitious directorial project was "The War Wagon" in 1967, starring
Wayne and Kirk Douglas.

Copyright 2001 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This mailing list is brought to you by Slick.ORG at http://www.slick.org
to remove yourself from the list, send e-mail to majordomo@slick.org
and include the words "unsubscribe deathwatch" in the message (not in the
subject).  For web-based help, go to:

http://www.slick.org/cgi-bin/majordomo

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *