Kene Holliday facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kene Holliday
Holliday as Curtis Baker in Carter Country in 1977
Born	Kenneth Earl Holliday (1949-06-25) June 25, 1949 (age 75) Copiague, Suffolk County, New York, U.S.
Other names	Kene Holiday
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Janifer Baker Holloway Darlene Collins Linda Copling
Children	2 sons, Kendall Holliday, Collinns Holliday

Kenneth Earl Holliday (born June 25, 1949) is an American actor. He has worked in plays, movies, and television shows. Many people know him for his role as Tyler Hudson, a private investigator on the TV show Matlock. He also played Sgt. Curtis Baker on Carter Country from 1977 to 1979. He was even nominated for an award for his acting in the movie Great World of Sound.

About Kene Holliday's Life

Kene Holliday grew up in Copiague, a town on Long Island, New York. He was raised in a Christian family. When he was 12 years old, his father passed away. His mother encouraged him to get involved in sports.

Early Life and School

At Copiague High School, Kene was a star in track and football. People called him "Mr. Hotshot" because he was so good at scoring points. After graduating in 1967, he went to the University of Maryland on a full scholarship for football.

Discovering Acting

While in college, Kene took a class about the history of theater. He loved it so much that acting became his new passion. In 1969, he played the main role in a play called The Hairy Ape. He was the first Black person to have a leading role on the college's main stage.

After college, Kene worked with a theater group in Washington, D.C.. He helped start the D.C. Black Repertory Company. He later starred in a play called Streamers.

Moving to Hollywood

The play Streamers helped Kene move to Los Angeles in 1976. There, he appeared as a guest star on many popular TV shows. These included Kojak, The Incredible Hulk, The Jeffersons, and Doogie Howser, M.D..

His first regular role was as Sgt. Curtis Baker on Carter Country. He was on this show from 1977 to 1979. Kene also provided the voice for the character Roadblock in the 1980s cartoon series, G.I. Joe. He also voiced Roadblock in G.I. Joe: The Movie in 1987.

Starring in Matlock

In 1986, Kene got a call from the producers of a new show called Matlock. They wanted him to play Tyler Hudson, the private investigator for the main character, Matlock. Kene worked alongside the famous actor Andy Griffith. Kene had watched The Andy Griffith Show when he was a kid, so he recognized all the characters from Andy Griffith's past work.

Other Work and Personal Life

Kene Holliday has appeared in many other movies and TV shows. These include Miracle on the Mountain (2000) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2005).

In 1998, he published a book of poetry called The Book of K-III: The Contemporary Poetics of Kene Holliday.

Kene Holliday later became a traveling evangelist. He and his wife spent many years performing and preaching in gospel musicals.

In 2002, Kene became the full-time caregiver for his mother, who had Alzheimer's disease. He also became a member of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. While caring for his mother, he took on the lead role in the movie Great World of Sound in 2007.

Selected Filmography

Kene Holliday has been in many TV shows and movies. Here are some of his notable roles:

Awards and Nominations

Kene Holliday has been recognized for his acting:

• Gotham Awards
  • 2008: Nominated for Breakthrough Actor for Great World of Sound
• Independent Spirit Award
  • 2008: Nominated for Best Supporting Male for Great World of Sound