Background
Kennedy was born in Melbourne.
Kennedy was born in Melbourne.
University of New South Wales.
At the age of 18, Kennedy formed his own company named "Warlok Films" and produced many amateur short films under this logo. This award enabled him to travel overseas and gain invaluable knowledge of the international film/television industry. Upon his return he embarked upon a television and film course at the University of NSW, where he met George Miller.
The first mini-film made by both was Violence in the Cinema, filmed in Yarraville, Melbourne.
Their first major movie together was the international smash hit. This film set a record for the highest grossing film relative to budget, a record which was only broken with the advent of The Blair Witch Project (1999).
In 1982, Kennedy produced the film The Road Warrior, the sequel to Mad Max, which grossed over $100 million worldwide. In 1983, at the age of 33, Kennedy was killed at Warragamba Dam in New South Wales, Australia, when the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a lake.
Kennedy was seriously injured in the crash and died that night.
In his honour, the Australian Film Institute, with George Miller as a panel member, established the Byron Kennedy Award. This award is bestowed upon those whose work is marked by their pursuit of excellence within the film and television industry and is sponsored by Kennedy Miller, Warner Brothers, Village Roadshow, Greater Union, Cinemedia, and Steven Spielberg. The film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is dedicated to him.
His original production company, Kennedy Miller, is now Kennedy Miller Mitchell Pty Limited.