Background
The 6"4", 230-pound Kelley was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the Goodman School of Theatre there.
The 6"4", 230-pound Kelley was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the Goodman School of Theatre there.
The heavy-set actor created the role of Ike in Oklahoma! on Broadway. Kelley began acting on the stage in the 1930s. His Broadway credits include Within the Gates (1934-1935), Parnell (1935-1936), Saint Joan (1936), Hamlet (1936-1937), The Wingless Victory (1936-1937), The Star-Wagon (1937-1938), Mamba"s Daughters (1940), Strip for Action (1942-1943), Oklahoma (1943-1948), Loco (1946), Wonderful Journey (1946-1947) and Portrait in Black (1947).
Kelley died at the age of 82 in Woodland Hills, California.
Within the Gates (1934) as the gardener Parnell (1935) as first leader The Wingless Victory (1936) as Happy Penny The Star-Wagon (1937) as first thug.
