Henry Kulky
male
Born on August 11, 1911 (113 years old)
Passed Away on February 12, 1965
From Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USa
Known for Acting
Biography
Henry Kulky (born Henry Kulakowich; August 11, 1911 – February 12, 1965) was an American actor and professional wrestler from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, probably best remembered as Chief Petty Officer Curly Jones from season 1 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Kulky began boxing in his teenage years. After six bouts, he stopped boxing when he was offered a position training wrestlers at St. Matthew's Lyceum in his native Hastings-on-Hudson. Stanislaus Zbyszko convinced Kulky to compete professionally in 1939. Moving to Argentina, Kulky competed throughout South America under the ring name Bomber Kulkavich. The number of matches in which he competed is uncertain; one claim states that he won 172 of 175 matches. Kulky, however, claims that he won nearly all of 7,000 matches. While in South America, he is also said to have won the continent's judo crown. Like most wrestlers who turned to acting in the 1950s he owed his big break to Mike Mazurki. The two appeared in several parts in the 1940s and 1950s, with Mazurki's agent getting him a part in Call Northside 777. Because of his rather tough guy image, Kulky became typecast as military men, thugs, gangsters, bartenders, wrestlers and other "strong guys" who were at times quite friendly and lovable characters contrasting strongly with the tough guy image. From 1953 to 1958, he played Otto Schmidlap in the television series The Life of Riley. In the series, Kulky portrayed a co-worker of series character Chester Riley, a wing riveter at an aircraft plant. In 1952 he appeared in an episode (#11) of Adventures of Superman, as a wrestler working for a crooked promoter. In 1954 he appeared in an episode (#141) of The Lone Ranger. From 1959 to 1962, Kulky was cast in the recurring role as Chief Max Bronsky in forty-six episodes of Jackie Cooper's CBS military sitcom-drama television series Hennesey. The role was close to Kulky's heart because during World War II, he was a boatswain's mate in the United States Navy. Kulky's last role was as Chief Curley Jones in the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He died on February 12, 1965, in Oceanside, California, of a heart attack suffered while he was studying a script.
Cast Credits
- 1964
- 1963
- 1962
- 1960
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
- 1956
- 1955
New York Confidential
as
Gino
1955
Illegal
as
Taylor
1955
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
as
Brakeman (uncredited)
1955
It's Always Fair Weather
as
Drunk in Bar (uncredited)
1955
I'll Cry Tomorrow
as
Man in Bar (uncredited)
1955
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
as
Prisoner (uncredited)
1955
Love Me or Leave Me
as
Bouncer
1955
- no image
Navy Log
1955
- 1954
The Human Jungle
as
Matty
1954
Fireman Save My Child
as
Harry
1954
Tobor the Great
as
Paul (Spy Henchman)
1954
A Star Is Born
as
Cuddles (uncredited)
1954
Phantom of the Rue Morgue
as
Maurice
1954
Hell and High Water
as
McCrossin (uncredited)
1954
Yukon Vengeance
as
Schmidt
1954
New Faces
as
Mr. Dee (uncredited)
1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
as
Father with Nine Kids (uncredited)
1954
Public Defender
as
Murphy
1954
- 1953
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
as
Stroogo (uncredited)
1953
Target Hong Kong
as
Dutch Pfeifer
1953
Down Among the Sheltering Palms
as
First Sergeant Jones
1953
The Glory Brigade
as
Sgt. 'Smitty' Smitkowsky
1953
The Life Of Riley
as
Feeney's Big Goon (uncredited)
1953
The Life Of Riley
as
Otto Schmidlap
1953
The Life Of Riley
as
Otto Schmidlapp
1953
The Life Of Riley
as
Otto
1953
The Life Of Riley
1953
- 1952
No Holds Barred
as
Mike the Mauler
1952
Aim, Fire, Scoot
as
Sgt. Bonebreaker
1952
Red Skies of Montana
as
Dawson (uncredited)
1952
The World in His Arms
as
Peter, Russian Servant
1952
Adventures of Superman
as
Crusher (uncredited)
1952
Cavalcade of America
as
Ernie
1952
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
as
Fish Truck Driver
1952
The Abbott and Costello Show
as
Mulligan
1952
- 1951
Fixed Bayonets!
as
Vogl (uncredited)
1951
You Never Can Tell
as
Gorilla / Prisoner (uncredited)
1951
The Guy Who Came Back
as
Wizard, Wrestler
1951
Love Nest
as
George Thompson
1951
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Racket Squad
1951
The Red Skelton Show
as
Self/Sgt. Flannagan
1951
I Love Lucy
as
Trainer (uncredited)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
as
Jerry
1951
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
as
Referee (uncredited)
1951
- 1950
- 1949
- 1948
- 1947