Spoiler : Born in Muskegon, Michigan 9/3/1922; died 2/15/2001 of cancer at his home in Sherman Oaks, California. Born into a family of vaudevillians, "the Dancing Kennedys." Served as a lieutenant in the Army's 1st Cavalry during WWII, helped liberate the Phillippines, and was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his efforts. Following WWII, Kennedy moved to California, studying acting at the Pasadena Playnouse on the GI Bill. Writer for radio including episodes of Hashknife Hartley on Mutual (1950- 1951).

Spoiler : Writer for John Wayne's Batjac Productions, hired to write 13 episodes of a planned television series titled, "Juan and Diablo." Writer, director or producer for movies including Seven Men From Now (1956); Suburban Commando (1991). Director for television including episodes of Lawman on ABC (1958); Combat on ABC (1962); Big Hawaii on NBC (1977); Magnum, P.I. on CBS (1980); Simon & Simon on CBS (1981); The Yellow Rose on NBC (1983). While Kennedy was never nominated for an Academy Award, in 2000 Western film buffs gave him a Nebraskaland Days Buffalo Bill Award, hailing him as "Hollywood's Trail Boss." Kennedy was also honored with a Star on Palm Springs Walk of Fame in 1996.