Jack Kelly: The Maverick Who Stayed
Jack Kelly (September 16, 1927 – November 7, 1992) was an American film and television actor best known for playing Bart Maverick in the ABC western series Maverick. He appeared in approximately 75 episodes across the show’s entire five-season run, more than any other actor on the program.
Early Life and Education
John Augustus Kelly Jr. was born in Astoria, Queens, New York, one of four children to Ann Mary (née Walsh) and John Augustus Kelly Sr. His mother, known as Ann “Nan” Kelly, had been a popular stage actress and John Robert Powers model. His father worked as a theater ticket broker before moving the family to Hollywood and entering the real estate business. Kelly came from a theatrical family; his sister was actress Nancy Kelly, and his other two siblings, Carole and William Clement, also pursued careers in show business.
During World War II, Kelly served as a weather observer in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was stationed on the first B-29 to fly over the Arctic Circle.
Career and Achievements
Kelly made his film debut in an uncredited role in the 1939 biopic The Story of Alexander Graham Bell. In early 1954, he appeared in the film noir Drive a Crooked Road, written by Blake Edwards and Richard Quine. On July 15, 1954, he played the gunfighter, cattleman, and bandit Clay Allison in the television series Stories of the Century.
During the 1955–1956 television season, Kelly starred in a series based on the 1942 feature film Kings Row, playing Dr. Parris Mitchell, a young psychiatrist. The show was one-third of the Warner Bros. Presents wheel series, hosted by Gig Young, and rotated at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday with Casablanca and Cheyenne. After Kings Row ended in 1956, Kelly appeared in Forbidden Planet (1956) and She Devil (1957), along with guest roles on Fireside Theater, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Lux Video Theatre, and Gunsmoke.
Notable Events and Milestones
Maverick premiered on ABC in 1957 with James Garner as Bret Maverick. The show’s demanding filming schedule caused production delays, prompting producers to introduce a brother character to avoid running out of episodes. Kelly was introduced as Bart Maverick in “Hostage,” the eighth episode of the series. The two actors rotated as leads, sharing famous episodes including “Shady Deal at Sunny Acres,” which the 1973 film The Sting later appeared to be based on, and the “Pappy” episode in which Garner played both Bret and their father Beauregard “Pappy” Maverick while Kelly played Bart and elderly Uncle Bentley “Bent” Maverick through trick photography.
Garner left the show following a contract dispute in 1960 to pursue theatrical film roles. Roger Moore then played Bart’s cousin Beau Maverick in 14 episodes starting in 1960, sharing the screen with Kelly in three of them. Robert Colbert appeared in two episodes as a third brother named Brent. The series was canceled after its fifth season, which featured Kelly as the only Maverick in new episodes alternating with reruns of Garner shows. Kelly’s billing was reversed in the fifth season, appearing above Garner’s.
Later Life and Politics
After his television career, Kelly became a politician, serving as mayor of Huntington Beach, California, from 1983 to 1986.
Additional Resources
For more detailed information about Jack Kelly’s life and career, readers can consult his Wikipedia biography and other entertainment history archives that document the production and cultural impact of Maverick and his other television and film appearances.
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