Henry Kulky

Infobox actor
name = Henry Kulky


imagesize = 265px
caption = Henry Kulky as CPO Jones in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
birthname = Henry Kulkovich
birthdate = August 11, 1911
location = Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USA
deathdate = February 12, 1965
deathplace = Oceanside, California, USA
othername = Bomber Kulkovich, Henry 'Bomber' Kulkovich, Henry Kulkowich, Henry 'Bomber' Kulky
yearsactive =
spouse =
partner =
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website =

Henry Kulky was an American actor and former professional Wrestler from New York, probably best remembered as Chief Petty Officer Curley Jones from season 1 of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ".

Biography

Born Henry Kulkovich in New York Kulky began boxing in his teenage years. He had fought only six bouts when he was offered the job of teaching wrestling at St. Matthew's Lyceum in Hastings. In 1939, he was apparently convinced to give professional wrestling a chance by wrestler turned promoter Stanislaus Zbyszko and became a champion wrestler in the 1940s. [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Movies/2007/10/27/4610208.html "From the mat to the Bottom of the Sea" at Slam Sports] ] Like most wrestlers who turned to acting in the 50's he owed his big break to Mike Mazurki. The two appeared in several parts in the 40's and 50's, with Mazurkis agent getting him a part in "Call Northside 777" [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Movies/2007/10/27/4610208.html "From the mat to the Bottom of the Sea" at Slam Sports] ] . 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. 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. His last role, and (arguably) his most famous roles, was as Curley Jones in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea". He died of a heart attack while studying a script for the shows second season in 1965.

Partial Filmography

*"Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea " (TV) (Season 1) (1964-1965) .... CPO Curley Jones
*"Hennesey" (TV) (1960-1962) .... Chief Max Bronsky
*"Bonanza" (TV) (Old Sheba) (1964) .... Bearcat Sampson
*"Guns of the Timberland (1960) .... Logger
*"Up Periscope" (1959) .... Chief Petty Officer York
*"Sierra Stranger" (1957) (as Henry 'Bomber' Kulky) .... Bartender Matt
*"Hell and High Water" (1954) Gunner McCrossin
*"The Life of Riley" (TV) (4 episodes) (1953-1956) .... Otto Schmidlap
*"Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok" (TV) (3 episodes) (1952-1955) .... King
*"The Abbott and Costello Show" (TV) (The Paperhangers) (1952) .... Mulligan
*"The Kid from Amarillo" (1951) .... Zeno
* "Fixed Bayonets!" (1951) .... Vogl
*"Alias the Champ" (1949) (as Bomber Kulkovich) .... Bomber Kulkovich
*"Call Northside 777" (1948) ... First Bartender (uncredited)
*"A Likely Story" (1947) .... Tremendo

References

External links

*
* [http://www.vttbots.com/page2.html "Henry Kulky as CPO Curly Jones" at vttbots.com]
* [http://www.vttbots.com/kulky_bio.html "Henry Kulky Bio" from "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" Syndication Package by FOX]
* [ [http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Movies/2007/10/27/4610208.html "From the mat to the Bottom of the Sea" at Slam Sports]