Screening: Cool Hand Luke & George Kennedy in Conversation April 21, 2009

Known for playing tough, no-nonsense characters who were either crooked or possessed hearts of gold, George Kennedy started out in TV westerns in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before going on to appear in films such as The Dirty Dozen and score an Oscar win as Best Supporting Actor opposite Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke.

The 1970s were kind to Kennedy too, and his talents were in demand for Airport, as a grizzled cop in Earthquake and Michael Cimino's buddy/road film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot as vicious bank robber Red Leary. Kennedy continued to entertain audiences throughout the 80s and 90s with a recurring role in the TV series Dallas, and alongside Leslie Neilson's Frank Drebin in the hugely successful Naked Gun movies.
The BFI are delighted to welcome him to BFI Southbank to discuss his long and illustrious career.

Official Website: http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/cool_hand_lukegeorgekennedy