Background
The middle of five children, Kelly was born and reared in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where his grandfather and father were police officers/detectives and his mother a social worker
The middle of five children, Kelly was born and reared in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where his grandfather and father were police officers/detectives and his mother a social worker
He attended and graduated from Roselle Catholic High School in 1970. A graduate of Saint Vincent College (Latrobe, Pennsylvania) in 1974, Kelly also pursued an Master of Fine Arts at Catholic University (Washington, District of Columbia) on a full scholarship.
He is best known for his role on the 1980s American Broadcasting Company television series Hardcastle and McCormick (1983–1986) as ex-con Mark "Skid" McCormick. Kelly appeared in numerous Office-Broadway and Office-Office-Broadway productions, primarily at The Public Theater and Second Theatre. He toured with the National Players, the nation"s oldest classical touring company.
He starred on Broadway as Brick opposite Kathleen Turner"s Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and opposite Madeline Kahn"s Billie in Born Yesterday.
In 2003, he appeared at the Mark Taper Forum (Los Angeles), originating the role of Richard in Living Out by Lisa Loomer. Kelly starred on daytime television in Ryan"s Hope as Senator Frank Ryan (1978-1981).
He returned to daytime television on As the World Turns, playing Colonel Winston Mayer (2007-2009).
He guest-starred in some television series, such as Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Memphis Beat, The West Wing, NCIS: Los Angeles, Supernatural, Boston Legal, Las Vegas and Walker, Texas Ranger.
He also appeared in miniseries and television movies, such as Passing Glory, The Tuskegee Airmen, Citizen Cohn, From the Earth to the Moon and The Nutcracker, among others His feature film roles include the 1983 horror film Cujo, The Good Son, The In Crowd, Chill Factor, Nowhere to Hide, Bad Company, Someone to Watch Over Maine, The Guardian and Star Trek: Insurrection. BROADWAY
Born Yesterday Richard Rodgers Theater (1989)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Eugene O"Neill Theatre (1990)
OFF-BROADWAY
Mission Margarida"s Way Public Theater (1977)
Hunchback of Notre Dame Public Theater (1977)
Fishing Second Theatre (1981)
Juno"s Swans Second Theatre (1985)
REGIONAL
Henry IV Participant 1 National Players (1974)
Charley"s Aunt National Players (1974)
School for Wives National Players (1974)
An Enemy of the People Arena (1975)
Once in a Lifetime Arena (1975)
A Bird in the Hand The Wayside Theater (1975)
Number Time for Sergeants The Wayside Theater (1975)
Of Mice and Men Cohoes Music Hall (1976)
The Best Manitoba Actors Theatre of Louisville (1976)
Much Ado About Nothing Actors Theatre of Louisville (1976)
A Christmas Carol Actors Theatre of Louisville (1976)
Arturo Ui Actors Theatre of Louisville (1977)
The Rainmaker Actors Theatre of Louisville (1977)
Tennessee Williams: A Celebration Williamstown Theatre Festival (1982)
Room Service Williamstown Theatre Festival (1982)
Enemies Williamstown Theatre Festival (1982)
Barbarians Williamstown Theatre Festival (1986)
Hawthorne Country Williamstown Theatre Festival (1986)
The Lucky Spot Williamstown Theatre Festival (1986)
Living Out Mark Taper Forum (2003)
The Art of Losing Blank Theatre Company (2012).
A product of regional repertory theater, Kelly has been a company member of the Williamstown Theater Festival (Massachusetts), The Folger Theater (District of Columbia), Arena (District of Columbia), and the Actors Theatre of Louisville among others