Phyllis Kennedy was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Stage Door, Mother Carey’s Chickens, and Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Personal and Family Life
Born on June 16, 1914, in Detroit, Michigan, Phyllis was educated in her hometown before working as a clothing model after graduating high school in 1932. She married Paul Card Howell on June 19, 1944, and they had two children together. Phyllis had a love for writing letters, enjoyed painting, and collected spoons.
Career
Phyllis began her acting career in New York, making her debut in a 1935 stage production of “Jane Eyre.” She gained recognition for her role as Hattie in the classic comedy Stage Door, which opened doors for her in film. Despite her talent, she often played small, uncredited roles in many films throughout her career, frequently portraying maids and waitresses.
Death and Legacy
Phyllis Kennedy passed away peacefully due to natural causes on December 29, 1998, in her home in Los Angeles, California. After her death, her cremains were scattered in the Garden of Roses at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park. She shared her death date with actor Don Taylor, reflecting a long and impactful career in entertainment.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Stage Door | 1937-10-08 | Hattie |
| Mother Carey’s Chickens | 1938-07-29 | Annabelle |
| Isn’t It Romantic? | 1948-10-06 | Miss Wilson |
| Artists and Models Abroad | 1938-12-20 | Marie |
| Joy of Living | 1938-05-06 | Marie |
| Vivacious Lady | 1938-05-13 | Jenny |
| On Again—Off Again | 1937-07-09 | Dancing Office Worker |
| Living in a Big Way | 1947-06-10 | Annie Pearl, the Maid |
| Love Affair | 1939-04-07 | Terry’s Maid Annie (uncredited) |
| East Side of Heaven | 1939-04-07 | Mamie (uncredited) |
| Coney Island | 1943-06-18 | Dolly |
| The Lady from Cheyenne | 1941-04-11 | Miss Dunbar |
| Dr. Christian Meets the Women | 1940-08-05 | Annie the Maid |
| Rhythm on the River | 1940-08-28 | Patsy Flick |
| Once More, My Darling | 1949-09-10 | Waitress |
| Time to Kill | 1942-12-24 | Ina Smithers |
| Partners in Time | 1946-04-04 | Abagail |
| Yankee Doodle Dandy | 1942-05-29 | Fanny (uncredited) |
| A Dangerous Profession | 1949-12-10 | |
| You’re My Everything | 1949-07-22 | Elizabeth, the Maid |
| Laugh Your Blues Away | 1942-11-12 | Priscilla Conklin |
| Finian’s Rainbow | 1968-10-09 | Sharecropper (uncredited) |
| A Foreign Affair | 1948-08-20 | WAC Technical Sergeant (uncredited) |
| The Jackie Robinson Story | 1950-05-16 | Baseball Fan in Stands (uncredited) |
| The Heavenly Body | 1944-03-23 | Ethel |
| Racket Squad | 1951-06-07 | |
| The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour | 1957-11-06 | Maid (uncredited) |