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Barry Kelley
Kelley in The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Born	Edward Barry Kelley (1908-08-19)August 19, 1908 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 5, 1991(1991-06-05) (aged 82) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1947–1969

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]

Early years

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

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

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

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

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

Broadway roles

• Within the Gates (1934) as the gardener
• Parnell (1935) as first leader
• The Wingless Victory (1936) as Happy Penny
• The Star-Wagon (1937) as first thug

Selected filmography

References

External links

• Barry Kelley at IMDb
• Barry Kelley at the Internet Broadway Database