Wikipedia

Barry Kelley

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

Early years

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Broadway roles

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Selected filmography

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References

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  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.
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