Graham Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Graham Kennedy AO
Kennedy (right) on screen with Don Lane (left)
Born	Graham Cyril Kennedy (1934-02-15)15 February 1934 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died	25 May 2005(2005-05-25) (aged 71) Bowral, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation	Variety performer comedian radio host television personality stage and screen actor
Years active	1950–1991
Notable work	In Melbourne Tonight Blankety Blanks Australia's Funniest Home Videos
Television	The Graham Kennedy Show
Parents	Cyril William Kennedy (father) Mary Austin Kennedy (née Scott) (mother)
Awards	Order of Australia, 6 x Gold Logie winner

Graham Cyril Kennedy AO (15 February 1934 – 25 May 2005) was a very famous Australian entertainer. He was a comedian, radio host, television star, and actor. Many people called him "Gra Gra" or "The King of Australian Television."

Graham Kennedy was honored as an Officer of the Order of Australia. He won the Gold Logie award six times, which is a record for Australian television stars. He also received the Logie Hall of Fame award. He was well-known for working with Bert Newton on popular shows like In Melbourne Tonight.

Early Life and Education

Childhood Years

Graham Kennedy was born in Balaclava, Melbourne. His mother worked at a movie theatre, and his father had many different jobs. When Graham was two, his family moved to St Kilda. His parents divorced when he was young, and his grandparents mostly raised him. He was very close to his grandmother.

School Days

Graham went to Euston College, then Caulfield North Central School, and finally Melbourne High School in South Yarra. Later in 1977, he helped raise over $100,000 for improvements at Melbourne High.

Starting Work

In 1949, during a school break, Graham worked at his uncle's hairdressing shop. There, he met people who worked for Radio Australia. He got a job as a news runner for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). Soon after, he joined radio station 3UZ and worked in their music library.

Radio Career Highlights

Working with "Nicky" Whitta

Clifford "Nicky" Nicholls Whitta was a popular radio personality in Melbourne. He had a natural Australian voice and a fun attitude. Graham Kennedy was a big fan of Nicky's radio shows from a young age.

When Nicky moved to radio station 3UZ, Graham was working there. Nicky needed someone to help him on his show. Even though Graham was quiet at first, Nicky chose him. Nicky became a mentor and friend to Graham. They had a great connection on air. Graham said that working with Nicky prepared him for his future career in television. Nicky passed away in 1956.

Other Radio Shows

Even after starting on television, Graham continued to work in radio. In 1961–1962, he hosted a morning show on 3AK with Bert Newton. He also worked at 3XY in 1970 and on 3LO and 3DB in the mid-1970s.

Graham Kennedy's RS Playhouse

In 1979, Graham recorded eight radio comedies for the ABC called Graham Kennedy's RS Playhouse. These shows were written by Gary Reilly and Tony Sattler, who were also friends of Graham's.

2Day FM Radio

In 1980, Graham became a part-owner of the Sydney radio station 2Day FM. From 1981, he hosted a Sunday morning show there, featuring music and comedy.

Television Career Highlights

Beginning with In Melbourne Tonight

Graham Kennedy's first TV appearance was in March 1957. Soon after, he was chosen to host a new show called In Melbourne Tonight (IMT). He was only 23 years old when the show started on 6 May 1957. He later said he was "terrified for forty years" about his career.

IMT was like the American Tonight Show. Graham would host comedy skits, introduce guest stars, and read advertisements live. The show became incredibly popular in Melbourne.

His colleague Bert Newton said that producer Norman Spencer was the "mastermind" behind IMT. Spencer chose Graham as the host and helped build the show's success.

National Success

By July 1959, IMT was very popular. Regular comedians like Joff Ellen and Rosie Sturgess joined the show. Attempts were made to make Graham a national star. Special Friday night episodes, called The Graham Kennedy Show, were recorded and sent to other cities.

At first, the national show was not as popular in Sydney. Critics felt Graham was too quiet. However, its popularity grew, and by July 1960, it had the highest ratings in Australia.

In 1960, Sir Frank Packer bought GTV-9. Graham continued to host IMT, and other performers like Patti Newton and Philip Brady became regulars. Graham was very good at understanding how television worked, which helped his comedy timing.

In 1964, Bert Newton took a break from the show for health reasons. When he returned, he hosted episodes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings. On 14 June 1965, IMT reached its 2,000th episode. More people watched this show in Melbourne than any other TV program in the world.

Graham left IMT on 23 December 1969. In his final episode, newsreader Sir Eric Pearce placed a crown on his head, symbolizing his title as "King of Australian Television."

The Graham Kennedy Show Returns

After some special appearances, Graham returned to regular television with The Graham Kennedy Show on 19 September 1972. This series ran until late 1973. The show returned in March 1975 and was Graham's first series in color.

Later Television Work

Graham appeared in the ABC drama Power Without Glory in 1976.

In 1977, he returned to television for Network Ten to host a comedy game show called Blankety Blanks. This show was a huge success for two seasons. It featured many of his friends from earlier shows, like Noeline Brown and Noel Ferrier. The show was so popular that Graham was paid a very large amount of money for each season.

In 1979, Graham was named King of Moomba, a special honor in Melbourne. He also provided the voice for the ABC documentary The Blainey View in 1982.

In 1983 and 1984, Graham hosted Channel Seven's morning news program Eleven AM. He later hosted Graham Kennedy's News Show on the Nine Network. This show was unique because it was a live news show with a studio audience. Graham often made jokes during commercial breaks and had fun with his co-host, Ken Sutcliffe.

On 13 February 1989, the show changed its name to Coast to Coast, with John Mangos joining as co-host. Graham's last regular series was Graham Kennedy's Funniest Home Video Show in 1990. His final TV appearance was an interview in February 1994.

Logie Awards

Graham Kennedy actually came up with the name Logie Award in 1960. He named it after John Logie Baird, who invented television.

Graham received many Logie Awards, including:

• 5 Gold Logies for the Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (1960, 1967, 1969, 1974, and 1978).
• A special Logie Award called the Star of the Decade in 1967.
• A Hall of Fame Logie Award in 1998.

Film and Television Roles

Film Appearances

Graham Kennedy also acted in several films:

Television Roles

He appeared in many television shows throughout his career:

Later Life and Legacy

Retirement Years

In 1991, Graham Kennedy retired to a property in Canyonleigh, New South Wales. He lived near his friends Tony Sattler and Noeline Brown. His main companions were his two horses, Dave and Sarah, and his dog, Henry.

Health Challenges

Graham's health became difficult in the 1990s. He had diabetes and other health issues. His friends Tony Sattler and Noeline Brown helped him a lot during this time. In 2001 and 2002, he was found unconscious at his home. He later moved into a nursing home.

Even though he earned a lot of money, his friends worried about his ongoing care costs. An "unnamed businessman" later helped him financially. This person was later confirmed to be Sam Chisholm.

Passing Away

On 25 May 2005, Graham Kennedy passed away at the age of 71 from complications related to pneumonia. His friend John Mangos described visiting him shortly before his death, noting his frail health.

Funeral Service

Graham Kennedy's funeral service was held on 31 May 2005. It was broadcast live on both the Seven and Nine television networks. Many of his friends and colleagues attended. His coffin was carried by players from the St Kilda Football Club, his favorite Australian rules football team. His ashes were later scattered at sea in Kiama.

Lasting Impact

Statue of Graham Kennedy at Waterfront City, Melbourne Docklands.

Graham Kennedy's shows were very important in Australian television history. In 2005, a program called 50 Years 50 Shows ranked the top 50 Australian TV shows. Graham's In Melbourne Tonight was ranked number one. Power Without Glory, Blankety Blanks, and Coast to Coast also made the list.

In 2006, after his death, Graham Kennedy was given the honor of Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This award recognized his great service to the entertainment industry and his influence on radio, television, and film in Australia.

The King Telemovie

A TV movie about Graham Kennedy's life, called The King, was filmed in 2006. It starred Stephen Curry as Graham Kennedy and Stephen Hall as Bert Newton. The movie premiered in 2007.

Comedic Style

Graham Kennedy was known for his unique comedic style. He often pushed the boundaries of what was considered acceptable on television at the time. His humor was funny and sometimes a bit cheeky. He was inspired by older stage comedians and used a mix of different comedy styles. He once told a fan, "There are no limits, love, there are no limits," showing his daring approach to comedy.

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