Barry Kelley

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Barry Kelley bigraphy, stories - American actor

Barry Kelley : biography

August 19, 1908 – June 5, 1991

Barry Kelley (August 19, 1908 – June 5, 1991) was an actor on Broadway in the 1930s and ’40s and in films during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The heavy-set actor created the role of Ike in Oklahoma! on Broadway.

In films, he 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. The 6’4", 230-pound Chicago-born actor began acting on the stage in the 1930s. Kelley also appeared in dozens of television series. As in the movies, he usually was in westerns or crime dramas. Kelley had an uncredited role as a police chief in the 1964 Frank Sinatra musical Robin and the Seven Hoods.

He was cast in 1961 in six episodes as Mr. Slocum, the boss of insurance agent Pete Porter, in the CBS sitcom, Pete and Gladys, starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams. In 1962, Kelley played Captain Donovan in the episode "The Parish Car" of the ABC drama series, Going My Way, starring Gene Kelly. He played the journalist George Hearst in the 1964 episode "The Paper Dynasty" of the syndicated series, Death Valley Days. His last television role was as Sheriff Vic Crandall in three episodes in 1967 and 1968 of the CBS sitcom, Petticoat Junction.

He died at the age of eighty-two in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.