ACTOR · BORN 1914 · DIED 1990
Arthur Kennedy
- Born
- 17 February 1914
- Died
- 5 January 1990
11 archived facts 3 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
All facts (11)
- #001
In the 1962 production 'Lawrence of Arabia', Kennedy played the journalist and filmmaker Jackson Bentley, a character who is a fictional portrait of Lowell Thomas, the man who introduced T.E. Lawrence to the world. Thomas is known for documenting Lawrence's adventures in the Arabian Desert and for turning him into a legend in the West. Kennedy's performance brought Thomas's charismatic but controversial personality to the screen, making an important contribution to the film's historical texture.
- #002
Edmond O'Brien was the first actor cast as Jackson Bentley in 'Lawrence of Arabia', but after shooting a few scenes he suffered a heart attack, forcing the production to look for a new actor. At that point Anthony Quinn suggested Kennedy to director David Lean; Kennedy had previously replaced Quinn as King Henry II in the Broadway play 'Becket'. Kennedy thus appeared in one of the most memorable films of his career and successfully completed the work O'Brien had left unfinished.
- #003
Kennedy portrayed Alexander Hamilton twice on television. These performances brought the life and political legacy of Hamilton, one of the important figures in American history, to a wide audience. The roles demonstrated Kennedy's ability to successfully embody historical characters and showcased his versatility as a television actor.
- #004
Kennedy appeared in three films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: 'Peyton Place' (1957), 'Elmer Gantry' (1960) and 'Lawrence of Arabia' (1962). Of these three films, only 'Lawrence of Arabia' went on to win the prestigious award. Kennedy's presence in these distinguished productions proved that he was a sought-after actor for the era's most important film projects.
- #005
In 1936 in New York, Kennedy, then a still-unknown actor, shared a brownstone apartment in the West Seventies with David Wayne and Ben Yaffeem. This period coincided with the difficult early years of Kennedy's career, and those who lived with him would also go on to establish themselves in the worlds of theatre and film. The shared living arrangement was part of a period in which young actors supported one another and drew artistic nourishment from each other.
- #006
Four of Kennedy's five Oscar-nominated performances came from his collaborations with director Mark Robson: 'Champion' (1949), 'Bright Victory' (1951), 'Trial' (1955) and 'Peyton Place' (1957). These films foregrounded Kennedy's dramatic talent through Robson's character-driven storytelling. His fifth nomination came for 'Some Came Running' (1958), directed by Vincente Minnelli, showing that Kennedy could also work harmoniously with different directors.
- #007
Although Kennedy's name appears on the video box of the Italian production 'Rings of Fear' (1978), the actor appears neither in the film nor in its credits. This is a typical example of distribution companies using well-known names for marketing purposes. Even though Kennedy had no connection to the film, the use of his name can be seen as an indication of his fame at the time.
- #008
Kennedy's daughter Laurie followed in her father's footsteps and pursued an acting career, and in 1979 she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the play 'Man and Superman'. The nomination showed that Laurie had proven herself in the theatre world and once again demonstrated the Kennedy family's artistic talent. That father and daughter achieved success in the same profession, albeit in different generations, is strong evidence of the artistic legacy within the family.
- #009
Kennedy was honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in two separate categories. His motion picture star is at 6681 Hollywood Boulevard, and his television star is at 1620 Vine Street. This double honor reflects the lasting mark he left on both his film and television careers, and these stars, one of Hollywood's most prestigious symbols, have immortalized Kennedy's name.
- #010
After his death, Kennedy was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the town of Lequille in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. This choice can be seen as a reflection of the connection he established with Canada in the later part of his life. His grave has become a memorial site that fans and admirers can visit, ensuring that the actor's contributions to the world of cinema are remembered.
- #011
Kennedy and the actor Kevin McCarthy were born two days apart and on opposite coasts of America. These coincidental birth dates and the geographical distance make the parallels between the two men's careers all the more interesting. In addition, the two bore a slight physical resemblance to each other, a detail often mentioned in Hollywood circles, and this resemblance was also reflected in their acting styles of the same period.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
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