Barry Kelley

Summary

Edward Barry Kelley (August 19, 1908 – June 5, 1991) was an American actor on Broadway in the 1930s and 1940s and in films during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The heavy-set actor created the role of Ike in Oklahoma! on Broadway. His large size and acting range had him playing primarily judges, detectives, and police officers.[1]

Barry Kelley
Kelley in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Born
Edward Barry Kelley

(1908-08-19)August 19, 1908
DiedJune 5, 1991(1991-06-05) (aged 82)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles
California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1947–1969

Early years edit

The 6'4", 230-pound Kelley was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University).[2]

Stage edit

Kelley began acting on the stage in the 1930s.[3] His Broadway credits include Within the Gates (1934-1935), Parnell (1935-1936), Saint Joan (1936), Hamlet (1936-1937), The Wingless Victory (1936-1937), The Star-Wagon (1937-1938), Mamba's Daughters (1940), Strip for Action (1942-1943), Oklahoma (1943-1948), Loco (1946), Wonderful Journey (1946-1947), and Portrait in Black (1947).[4]

Film edit

In films, Kelley often portrayed cops or judges in films, including Boomerang (his first film in 1947), Knock on Any Door, Ma and Pa Kettle, and The Asphalt Jungle.[3] (Another source says, "His film debut was in the 1948 film noir Force of Evil.")[2] One of his best roles (for which he received third billing) was as the good-bad half brother of Joel McCrea in The Tall Stranger (1957).[5] Kelley had an uncredited role as a police chief in the 1964 Frank Sinatra musical Robin and the 7 Hoods.[6]

Television edit

Kelley also appeared in dozens of television series. As in the movies, he was usually in westerns or crime dramas. In 1954 he appeared in a TV episode of The Lone Ranger entitled Texas Draw.[7]

In 1959, Kelley appeared as Josh Teller on Lawman in the episode titled "The Outsider."[8] He portrayed the recurring character Jim Rafferty in five episodes of the 1960–1961 situation comedy The Tom Ewell Show.[9] In 1961 he appeared as Governor Johnson on the TV western Lawman in the episode titled "Owny O'Reilly."[10]

In 1961, Kelley played Mr. Slocum, the boss of insurance agent Pete Porter, in six episodes of the CBS situation comedy, Pete and Gladys, starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams.[11] Also in 1961, he played "Danceman" in the episode "Everyman" in Have Gun-Will Travel, plus as villain Frank Williams in the episode "Ledger of Guilt" in Bat Masterson.[12][13] Other western series he appeared in during this period included: Tales of Wells Fargo, Wanted: Dead or Alive, Laramie and Bronco.[14]

In 1962, Kelley played Captain Donovan in the episode "The Parish Car" of the ABC drama series, Going My Way, starring Gene Kelly.[15] Kelley guest starred three times in the western television series Bonanza between 1959 and 1965, playing different roles.[14] He played Judge Bryant in the episode "Trial at Tablerock" in Have Gun - Will Travel. He also appeared occasionally as Alan Young's father-in-law on the situation comedy Mister Ed (1961–1966).[16]

In 1964, he portrayed Hurley Feasel in the episode "Kate Flat on Her Back" of the CBS sitcom Petticoat Junction; in the credits of that episode his last name was spelled "Kelly."[17] In 1966 he played Park Milgrave in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Fanciful Frail."[18] He portrayed a mayor on Rango in 1967 in the episode ""If You Can't Take It with You, Don't Go."[19]

Kelley's last television role was as Sheriff Vic Crandall in three more episodes of Petticoat Junction in 1967 and 1968.[14][20]

Death edit

Kelley died in 1991 at the age of 82 in Woodland Hills, California.[21]

Broadway roles edit

Selected filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Barry Kelley". www.tcm.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Hannsberry, Karen Burroughs (November 2015). "Tidbits of Trivia". The Dark Pages. 11 (6): 22.
  3. ^ a b "Barry Kelley | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
  4. ^ "Barry Kelley". Playbill Vault. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  5. ^ "The Tall Stranger (1957) - Thomas Carr, Thomas H. Carr | Review | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  6. ^ "Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)". BFI. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016.
  7. ^ Andreychuk, Ed (January 13, 2018). The Lone Ranger on Radio, Film and Television. McFarland. ISBN 9781476629711 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "The Outsider (1959)". BFI. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Tom Ewell Show, The – Nostalgia Central". nostalgiacentral.com. September 30, 2018.
  10. ^ "Lawman : Owny O'Reilly, Esquire (1961) - Leslie H. Martinson | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  11. ^ "CTVA US Comedy - "Pete And Gladys" (CBS) (1960-62) starring Harry Morgan & Cara Williams". ctva.biz.
  12. ^ "Have Gun, Will Travel : Everyman (1961) - Byron Paul | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  13. ^ "Season 3, Episode 26 of Bat Masterson | MySeries.tv | Series | MySeries". www.myseries.tv.
  14. ^ a b c "Barry Kelley | TV, Documentary and Other Appearances". AllMovie.
  15. ^ "CTVA US Drama - "Going My Way" (Revue/ABC)(1962-63) starring Gene Kelly". ctva.biz.
  16. ^ "Mister Ed : Ed the Counterspy (1965) - | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via allmovie.com.
  17. ^ "Petticoat Junction". TVGuide.com.
  18. ^ "Perry Mason : The Case of the Fanciful Frail (1966) - Jesse Hibbs | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  19. ^ "CTVA US Comedy - "Rango" (Spelling-Thomas/ABC)(Early 1967) starring Tim Conwayl". ctva.biz.
  20. ^ "Petticoat Junction : Shoplifter at the Shady Rest (1967) - Charles Barton | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  21. ^ "Barry Kelley – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.

External links edit