LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Pumanaw na si George Kennedy, ang Oscar-winning star ng Cool Hand Luke at ng Naked Gun comedy movies, sa edad na 91, pahayag ng kanyang pamilya.
Ang burly American actor, nakilala sa kanyang mga papel na ginampanan bilang tigasing lalaki, ay pumanaw nitong nakaraang Linggo ng umaga sa Boise, Idaho, ayon sa kanyang apo na si Cory Schenkel na idinaan sa kanyang Facebook page.
“I have traveled on many business trips and movie shoots with my grandpa… I have created so many great memories and I will enjoy them for life,” aniya.
“While I am extremely sad that they are both gone — my grandma (on) September 14 and my grandpa this morning — I am grateful for the life, memories and knowledge they shared with me.”
Nagwagi si Kennedy bilang best supporting actor Oscar sa Cool Hand Luke noong 1968 at napanood din sa mahigit 200 pelikula at TV series, kabilang na ang disaster movies tulad ng Airport 1975 at Earthquake, at sa long-running soap opera na Dallas.
Nakilala rin siya sa kanyang pagganap bilang police captain Ed Hocken sa The Naked Gun spoof cop series, mula 1988 hanggang 1994.
Nagpahayag ng pakikiramay ang kanyang kapwa komedyante na si Albert Brooks, nominado sa Oscars para sa The Shipping News, at sinabing: “R.I.P. George Kennedy. Lucky enough to work with him in Modern Romance. Great guy.”