Percy Kilbride

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Percy William Kilbride (born July 16, 1888 in San Francisco , California , † December 11, 1964 in Los Angeles , California) was an American actor.

life and career

Percy Kilbride made his acting debut in his hometown of San Francisco when he was 12 in a theatrical adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities . His acting career was initially rather unspectacular, he mainly played with regional theater groups. He also served as a soldier in the First World War . In 1928 he made his Broadway debut in The Buzzard . Kilbride became a busy Broadway actor in the 1930s, building his notoriety. His first two film appearances, in White Woman (1933) and Soak the Rich (1936), were also made during this time.

It was not until 1942, however, that Kilbride devoted his main focus to the film business. He came to Hollywood to play the part of the handyman Mr. 'Kimbie' Kimber in the comedy Our Sweet Home alongside Jack Benny . Kilbride had previously played this role on Broadway. In Hollywood films he was best known for portraying eccentric or eccentric characters, often of rural origin. He had his greatest success in 1947 as Pa Kettle , a friendly hillbilly farmer with 15 children, in the film comedy The Egg and Me . At his side, Marjorie Main played as his wife Ma Kettle . The characters of the Kettles were so popular that a whole series of films starring Kilbride and Main was made. Kilbride, however, was dissatisfied with only being identified by American cinema audiences with the portrayal of Pa Kettle , and in 1953 he announced his withdrawal from the film series. In 1955 he withdrew from the Hollywood business with Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki after a total of 33 films.

Kilbride was never married and last lived in a small apartment in Hollywood. He and his friend and fellow actor Ralf Belmont were hit by a car on September 21, 1964 while walking. Belmont succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident and Kilbride also died less than three months later from the long-term effects of the accident in a sanatorium. He was 76 years old.

Filmography

  • 1933: White Woman
  • 1936: Soak the Rich
  • 1942: Our Home Sweet Home (George Washington Slept Here)
  • 1943: The Whole Truth (Keeper of the Flame)
  • 1943: Crazy House
  • 1943: The Woman of the Town
  • 1944: Knickerbocker Holiday
  • 1944: The Adventures of Mark Twain (The Adventures of Mark Twain)
  • 1944: She's a Soldier Too
  • 1944: Guest in the House
  • 1945: Murder on their wedding night (Fallen Angel)
  • 1945: Love Fair (State Fair)
  • 1945: The Man from the South (The Southerner)
  • 1945: She Wouldn't Say Yes
  • 1946: The Well-Groomed Bride
  • 1947: The Egg and I (The Egg and I)
  • 1947: Everything goes better with singing (Welcome Stranger)
  • 1947: Riff-Raff
  • 1948: You Were Meant for Me
  • 1948: The Black Mask (Black Bart)
  • 1948: Feudin ', Fussin' and A-Fightin '
  • 1948: Startbahn ins Glück (You Gotta Stay Happy)
  • 1949: The Sun Comes Up
  • 1949: Ma and Pa Kettle
  • 1949: The Man Who Came For Christmas (Mr. Soft Touch)
  • 1949: Free for All
  • 1950: Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town
  • 1950: Laugh and Cry with Me (Riding High)
  • 1951: Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm
  • 1952: Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair
  • 1953: Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation
  • 1954: Ma and Pa Kettle at Home
  • 1955: Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Percy Kilbride at Allmovie
  2. ^ Obituary in the New York Times
  3. ^ Percy Kilbride at the Internet Broadway Database
  4. ^ Percy Kilbride at Allmovie
  5. ^ Obituary in the New York Times
  6. ↑ Newspaper article in the archive at Google News
  7. ^ Obituary in the New York Times
  8. ^ Obituary in the New York Times
personal data
SURNAME Kilbride, Percy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kilbride, Percy William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American theater and film actor
DATE OF BIRTH July 16, 1888
PLACE OF BIRTH San Francisco , California
DATE OF DEATH December 11, 1964
Place of death Los Angeles , California