Henry Kulky
| Henry Kulky | |
|---|---|
 Kulky as CPO Jones in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea |
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| Born | Henry Kulkovich August 11, 1911[1] Hastings-on-Hudson, New York U.S.[1] |
| Died | February 12, 1965 (aged 53) Oceanside, California U.S. |
| Other names | Bomber Kulkovich Henry "Bomber" Kulkovich Henry Kulkowich Henry "Bomber" Kulky |
| Years active | 1947 – 1965 |
Henry Kulky (August 11, 1911 - February 12, 1965) was an American actor and former 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.
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[edit] Career
Born Henry Kulkovich from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, 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 Hastings-on Hudson, New York.[1]
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.[1]
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.[1]
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. In 1949, he began playing Otto Schmindlap on The Life of Riley, his first of several regular parts on television shows.[2] The show was about Chester Riley a man who worked as a wing riveter at an aircraft plant, and Kulky portrayed a co-worker. Jackie Cooper's television series Hennesey was Kulky's next big TV role. The show was close to Kulky's heart because during the Second World War, he was a Boatswain's Mate in the US Navy.
[edit] Death
Kulky's last role was as Curley Jones in the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He died of a heart attack in 1965 while studying a script.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964–1965)
- Hennesey (1960–1962)
- Bonanza (1964)
- Guns of the Timberland (1960)
- Up Periscope (1959)
- Sierra Stranger (1957)
- Hell and High Water
- The Life of Riley
- Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
- The Abbott and Costello Show
- The Kid from Amarillo (1951)
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951)
- A Snitch in Time (1950)
- Alias the Champ (1949)
- Call Northside 777 (1948)
- A Likely Story (1947)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Oliver, Greg (2007-10-27). "From the mat to the Bottom of the Sea". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Movies/2007/10/27/4610208.html. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ Kulky Bio
