Paul Kelly (actor)

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Kelly in Fear in the Night

Paul Michael Kelly (August 9, 1899 - November 6, 1956) was an American film actor.

Kelly was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was a child actor in silent films beginning at age 7 before growing up to become a Broadway and film actor. Kelly appeared in over one hundred movies, most of them as a supporting actor in the 30s, 40s and 50s.

The actor's career momentum was briefly halted with a two-year (1927-1929) forced hiatus when he spent 25 months in California's San Quentin prison for beating to death actor Ray Raymond in a fistfight. Raymond's widow, Dorothy MacKaye, later married Kelly. She was briefly imprisoned for being an accomplice in the murder.

Kelly alternated between stage and screen as an actor, finally making his talkie debut in 1932's Broadway Through A Keyhole.

Kelly died of a heart attack 1956, aged 57.

[edit] Awards

Best Actor Tony Award (1948) for Command Decision. The award was shared with Henry Fonda for Mister Roberts and Basil Rathbone for The Heiress.