Tough-guy actor George Kennedy dies aged 91

George Kennedy, the tough-guy character actor who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a savage chain-gang convict in the 1960s classic Cool Hand Luke, has died. His grandson Cory Schenkel said Kennedy died on Sunday morning of old age in Boise, Idaho. He was 91. He had undergone emergency triple bypass surgery in 2002. That same year, he and his late wife moved to Idaho to be closer to their daughter and her family, though he was still involved in occasional film projects. His biggest acting achievement came in Cool Hand Luke, a 1967 film about a rebellious war hero played by Paul Newman who is bent on bucking the system as a prisoner on a Southern chain gang. Its theme of rebelling against authority and the establishment helped make it one of the most important films of the tumultuous 1960s. Kennedy played Dragline, the chain-gang boss who goes from Luke's nemesis to his biggest disciple as Newman's character takes on folk hero status among fellow inmates. The film garnered four Academy Award nominations, and Kennedy was named best supporting actor. After the critical and commercial success of Cool Hand Luke, Kennedy carved out a niche as one of Hollywood's most...

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