Merna Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Merna Kennedy was an American actress of the late silent era.
in the silent film The Circus
(1928).
Kennedy was brought to the attention of Chaplin by her friend Lita Grey
, who became Chaplin's second wife in 1924. A dancer, she had muscular legs which helped her gain the role of the circus bareback rider. Kennedy continued acting after The Circus, starring in early sound films, but retired in 1934, when she married choreographer/director Busby Berkeley
. Their marriage broke up a year later, and Kennedy died of a heart attack in 1944, aged 36.
Short career
Kennedy (born as Maude Kahler) was best-known during her brief career for her role opposite Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
in the silent film The Circus
The Circus (silent film)
The Circus is a 1928 silent film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin with Joseph Plunkett as an uncredited writer. The film stars Chaplin, Al Ernest Garcia, Merna Kennedy, Harry Crocker, George Davis and Henry Bergman...
(1928).
Kennedy was brought to the attention of Chaplin by her friend Lita Grey
Lita Grey
Lita Grey was an American actress and the second wife of Charlie Chaplin. She was born in Hollywood, California, in 1908, to a Mexican-born mother and a father of Irish heritage and christened Lillita Louise MacMurray.-Personal life:Grey married four times...
, who became Chaplin's second wife in 1924. A dancer, she had muscular legs which helped her gain the role of the circus bareback rider. Kennedy continued acting after The Circus, starring in early sound films, but retired in 1934, when she married choreographer/director Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley was a highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer. Berkeley was famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns...
. Their marriage broke up a year later, and Kennedy died of a heart attack in 1944, aged 36.
Silent Films
- 1928 The CircusThe Circus (silent film)The Circus is a 1928 silent film written and directed by Charlie Chaplin with Joseph Plunkett as an uncredited writer. The film stars Chaplin, Al Ernest Garcia, Merna Kennedy, Harry Crocker, George Davis and Henry Bergman...
- 1929 BroadwayBroadway (1929 film)Broadway is a 1929 film directed by Pál Fejös from the play of the same name by George Abbott and Philip Dunning. It stars Glenn Tryon, Evelyn Brent, Paul Porcasi, Robert Ellis, Merna Kennedy and Thomas E...
- 1929 Barnum Was Right
- 1929 Skinner Steps Out
Talkies
- 1930 The Rampant Age
- 1930 Embarrassing Moments
- 1930 The King of Jazz
- 1930 Worldly Goods
- 1930 Midnight Special
- 1931 Stepping Out
- 1932 The Gay Buckaroo
- 1932 Lady with a PastLady with a PastLady with a Past is a 1932 romantic comedy film starring Constance Bennett as a shy and very proper young lady who decides to invent a scandalous past for herself to spice up her life...
- 1932 Ghost Valley
- 1932 Come On, Tarzan
- 1932 The All-American
- 1932 The Red-Haired Alibi
- 1932 I Like It That Way
- 1933 Laughter in Hell
- 1933 Emergency Call
- 1933 Easy Millions
- 1933 Don't Bet on Love
- 1933 I Love That Man (scenes deleted)
- 1933 Arizona to Broadway
- 1933 Police Call
- 1933 The Big Chance
- 1933 Son of a Sailor
- 1934 Wonder Bar
- 1934 Jimmy the Gent