Academy Award winning actor George Kennedy, best known for starring in The Naked Gun trilogy, has passed away at age 91. Kennedy passed away Sunday morning but his death wasn't made known until Monday, so no, the Academy Awards didn't forget him like they did Godfather actor Abe Vigoda in their "In Memoriam" tribute. Kennedy was last seen on the big screen in 2014's The Gambler starring Mark Wahlberg.
Kennedy's death was reported by TMZ, who confirmed his death from his grandson Cory Schenkel. According to Schenkel, Kennedy died at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday in Boise, Idaho. Kennedy's health reportedly began to decline after losing his wife Joan about a year ago said Schenkel. Kennedy had been in hospice care in the month leading up to his death.
An accomplished actor and New York native, Kennedy had over 180 acting credits in film and television reports the New York Daily News. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1968 for Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman. He would go on to star in the Airport franchise and nearly 20 years after winning his Oscar star in The Naked Gun trilogy, in addition to Earthquake. Kennedy also starred in the CBS series Dallas for three seasons as an oil tycoon.
Kennedy also had a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
May he rest in peace.
