Merna Kennedy (born Maude Kahler; September 7, 1908 – December 20, 1944) was an American actress of the late silent era and the transitional period into talkies.

Career

She was born in Kankakee, one of two children to Maud (''née'' Reed) and John Kahler, a German-American butcher turned chiropractor. After her parents separated, her mother moved the family to California, where she married a grocer two years later, and changed their name to Kennedy. At the outbreak of World War I, their mother prepped seven-year-old Merna and brother Melvin (known as Merle) to tour as a dancing and singing sibling act on the Orpheum and Pantages theater circuits of

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

, where she became acquainted with

Lita Grey Lita Grey (born Lillita Louise MacMurray, April 15, 1908 – December 29, 1995), who was known for most of her life as Lita Grey Chaplin, was an American actress and the second wife of Charlie Chaplin. Background She was born in Hollywood, Cali ...

. Merle broke his leg ending the duo, prompting Grey to suggest silent films to Merna. Kennedy was best known during her brief career for her role opposite

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is conside ...

in the silent film '' The Circus'' (1928), a role for which she was brought to the attention of Chaplin by her friend Lita Grey, who became Chaplin's second wife in 1924. As a dancer she had muscular legs, which helped her gain the role of the circus bareback rider. Merna Kennedy CM333

Kennedy continued acting after ''The Circus'', starring in early sound films, but retired in 1934 when she married choreographer/director Busby Berkeley on February 10, 1934 at Hollywood United Methodist Church. Their marriage broke up by 1936.

Death

Kennedy died at age 36 of a heart attack on December 20, 1944, four days after her marriage to Master Sergeant Forrest Brayton. She is buried at Pinecrest Cemetery in California.

Filmography

Silent Films

*1928 '' The Circus'' *1929 ''

Barnum Was Right ''Barnum Was Right'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Del Lord and starring Glenn Tryon, Merna Kennedy and Basil Radford. Along with the sound version, the film was also released in a silent version for theatres not wired for sound. A ...

'' *1929 ''

Skinner Steps Out ''Skinner Steps Out'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by William James Craft and written by Albert DeMond and Matt Taylor. The film stars Glenn Tryon, Merna Kennedy, E. J. Ratcliffe, Burr McIntosh, Lloyd Whitlock and William Welsh. Th ...

Talkies

*1929 ''

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

'' *1930 ''

The Rampant Age ''The Rampant Age'' is a 1930 American melodrama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars James Murray, Merna Kennedy, and Eddie Borden, and was released on January 15, 1930. Cast list * James Murray as Sandy Benton *Merna Kennedy as Doris Lawre ...

'' *1930 '' Embarrassing Moments'' *1930 '' The King of Jazz'' *1930 '' Worldly Goods'' *1930 '' The Midnight Special'' *1931 '' Stepping Out'' *1932 ''

The Gay Buckaroo ''The Gay Buckaroo'' is a 1932 American pre-Code Western film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Hoot Gibson, Merna Kennedy, and Roy D'Arcy, and was released on January 17, 1932. Plot Cowboy Hale and gambler Dumont are both in love with Field. ...

'' *1932 '' Lady with a Past'' *1932 ''

Ghost Valley ''Ghost Valley'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film starring Tom Keene. It made a profit of $20,000. Plot A jailed cowpoke is hired by the corrupt Judge Drake to impersonate one of the heirs to a gold mine. The cowpoke is in fact, the missing ...

'' *1932 ''

Come On, Tarzan ''Come On, Tarzan'' is a 1932 American pre-Code western film starring Ken Maynard, Merna Kennedy, and Niles Welch. A ranch foreman at odds with his female boss, fights outlaws who are killing horses for dog food.Taliaferro, John (2002). ''Ta ...

'' *1932 '' The All American'' *1932 ''

The Red-Haired Alibi ''The Red-Haired Alibi'' is an American pre-Code feature-length film produced by Tower Productions. The film was produced by Sigmund Neufeld. The title is often written as ''Red-Haired Alibi''. Released on October 15, 1932, it was directed by Ch ...

'' *1932 ''

I Like It That Way ''I Like It That Way'' is a 1934 American pre-Code musical film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Gloria Stuart, Roger Pryor and Marian Marsh. The film depicts the story of a telephone operator who quits her job to become a singer at a ...

'' *1933 ''

Laughter in Hell ''Laughter in Hell'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Pat O'Brien. The film's title was typical of the sensationalistic titles of many Pre-Code films. Adapted from the 1932 novel of the same name by ...

'' *1933 ''

Emergency Call Most public switched telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number (sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or the emergency services number) that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assista ...

'' *1933 '' Easy Millions'' *1933 '' Don't Bet on Love'' *1933 ''

I Love That Man ''I Love That Man'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Harry Joe Brown and written by C. Graham Baker, Casey Robinson and Gene Towne. The film stars Edmund Lowe, Nancy Carroll, Robert Armstrong, Lew Cody, Warren Hymer, Grant M ...

'' (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''

References

External links

*
Merna Kennedy
at Virtual History * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Merna 1908 births 1944 deaths Actresses from Illinois American film actresses American silent film actresses People from Kankakee, Illinois 20th-century American actresses