Merna Kennedy

Merna Kennedy (September 7, 1908 - December 20, 1944) was an American actress of the late silent era.

Short career

Kennedy (born as Maude Kahler) was best-known during her brief career for her role opposite Charlie Chaplin in the silent film The Circus (1928).

Kennedy was brought to the attention of Chaplin by her friend Lita Grey, who became Chaplin's second wife in 1924. A dancer, she had muscular legs which helped her gain the role of the circus bareback rider. Kennedy continued acting after The Circus, starring in early sound films, but retired in 1934, when she married choreographer/director Busby Berkeley. Their marriage broke up a year later, and Kennedy died of a heart attack in 1944, aged 36.

Filmography

Silent Films

1928 The Circus

1929 Broadway

1929 Barnum Was Right

1929 Skinner Steps Out

[edit]Talkies

1930 The Rampant Age

1930 Embarrassing Moments

1930 The King of Jazz

1930 Worldly Goods

1930 Midnight Special

1931 Stepping Out

1932 The Gay Buckaroo

1932 Lady with a Past

1932 Ghost Valley

1932 Come On, Tarzan

1932 The All-American

1932 The Red-Haired Alibi

1932 I Like It That Way

1933 Laughter in Hell

1933 Emergency Call

1933 Easy Millions

1933 Don't Bet on Love

1933 I Love That Man (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