Henry Kulky
Known for Acting · 68 credits
- Born
- 1911-08-11
- Died
- 1965-02-12
- Place of birth
- Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USa
- Also known as
- Bomber Kulkovich · Henry 'Bomber' Kulkovich · Henry Kulkowich · Henry 'Bomber' Kulky · Henry Kulakowich
Biography
Henry Kulky (born Henry Kulakowich; August 11, 1911 – February 12, 1965) was an American actor and professional wrestler from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, probably best remembered as Chief Petty Officer Curly Jones from season 1 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Kulky began boxing in his teenage years. After six bouts, he stopped boxing when he was offered a position training wrestlers at St. Matthew's Lyceum in his native Hastings-on-Hudson.
Stanislaus Zbyszko convinced Kulky to compete professionally in 1939. Moving to Argentina, Kulky competed throughout South America under the ring name Bomber Kulkavich. The number of matches in which he competed is uncertain; one claim states that he won 172 of 175 matches. Kulky, however, claims that he won nearly all of 7,000 matches. While in South America, he is also said to have won the continent's judo crown.
Like most wrestlers who turned to acting in the 1950s he owed his big break to Mike Mazurki. The two appeared in several parts in the 1940s and 1950s, with Mazurki's agent getting him a part in Call Northside 777.
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. From 1953 to 1958, he played Otto Schmidlap in the television series The Life of Riley. In the series, Kulky portrayed a co-worker of series character Chester Riley, a wing riveter at an aircraft plant. In 1952 he appeared in an episode (#11) of Adventures of Superman, as a wrestler working for a crooked promoter. In 1954 he appeared in an episode (#141) of The Lone Ranger. From 1959 to 1962, Kulky was cast in the recurring role as Chief Max Bronsky in forty-six episodes of Jackie Cooper's CBS military sitcom-drama television series Hennesey. The role was close to Kulky's heart because during World War II, he was a boatswain's mate in the United States Navy.
Known For
Bonanza
1959
as Bearcat Sampson
Maverick
1957
as Bartender (uncredited)
I Love Lucy
1951
as Trainer (uncredited)
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Self/Sgt. Flannagan / Jerry
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964
as Curley Jones / Chief Curley Jones
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Fish Truck Driver
TV Shows (24)
Bonanza
1959
as Bearcat Sampson
Maverick
1957
as Bartender (uncredited)
I Love Lucy
1951
as Trainer (uncredited)
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Self/Sgt. Flannagan / Jerry
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964
as Curley Jones / Chief Curley Jones
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Fish Truck Driver
The Texan
1958
as Joe
Adventures of Superman
1952
as Crusher (uncredited)
Navy Log
1955
Cavalcade of America
1952
as Ernie
The Life Of Riley
1953
as Feeney's Big Goon (uncredited) / Otto Schmidlap / Otto Schmidlapp
The Abbott and Costello Show
1952
as Mulligan
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Public Defender
1954
as Murphy
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
as Referee (uncredited)
Pete and Gladys
1960
Racket Squad
1951
The Thin Man
1957
as Tom Culdane / Sandy - Henchman
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Father with Nine Kids (uncredited)
Hey, Jeannie!
1956
as Guy
Going My Way
1962
Hennesey
1959
as Chief Max Bronsky
Grindl
1963
U.S. Marshall
1956
as Pinto
Movies (44)
A Star Is Born
1954
as Cuddles (uncredited)
A Foreign Affair
1948
as Russian Sergeant (uncredited)
Call Northside 777
1948
as First Bartender (uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young
1949
as Strong Man (uncredited)
It's Always Fair Weather
1955
as Drunk in Bar (uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
1955
as Brakeman (uncredited)
Red Skies of Montana
1952
as Dawson (uncredited)
Illegal
1955
as Taylor
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
1955
as Prisoner (uncredited)
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
1953
as Stroogo (uncredited)
Bombers B-52
1957
as Calvin (uncredited)
The World in His Arms
1952
as Peter, Russian Servant
Love Me or Leave Me
1955
as Bouncer
Hell and High Water
1954
as McCrossin (uncredited)
I'll Cry Tomorrow
1955
as Man in Bar (uncredited)
Up Periscope
1959
as Chief Petty Officer York
To the Ends of the Earth
1948
as Giant Chinese Man (uncredited)
Phantom of the Rue Morgue
1954
as Maurice / Maurice - Sailor (uncredited)
Fixed Bayonets!
1951
as Vogl (uncredited)
Tobor the Great
1954
as Paul (Spy Henchman)
Down Among the Sheltering Palms
1953
as First Sergeant Jones
Love Nest
1951
as George Thompson
The Red Danube
1949
as Russian Officer at Camp 12 Deportation
The Human Jungle
1954
as Matty
New Faces
1954
as Mr. Dee (uncredited)
Tarzan's Magic Fountain
1949
as Vredak
New York Confidential
1955
as Gino
Guns of the Timberland
1960
as Logger
A Likely Story
1947
as Tremendo
You Never Can Tell
1951
as Gorilla / Prisoner (uncredited)
Fireman Save My Child
1954
as Harry
The Glory Brigade
1953
as Sgt. 'Smitty' Smitkowsky
Sierra Stranger
1957
as Bartender Matt
A Global Affair
1964
as Charlie - Newsstand Proprietor (uncredited)
Yukon Vengeance
1954
as Schmidt
Jiggs and Maggie Out West
1950
as 'Bomber' Kulkowich (as Henry Kulkowich)
South Sea Sinner
1950
as Bartender
Aim, Fire, Scoot
1952
as Sgt. Bonebreaker
A Snitch in Time
1950
as Steve (uncredited)
The Guy Who Came Back
1951
as Wizard, Wrestler
Target Hong Kong
1953
as Dutch Pfeifer
Alias the Champ
1949
as Bomber Kulkovich - Wrestler
Army Daze
1956
as Sergeant Bonebreaker
No Holds Barred
1952
as Mike the Mauler
About Henry Kulky
Henry Kulky (born Henry Kulakowich; August 11, 1911 – February 12, 1965) was an American actor and professional wrestler from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, probably best remembered as Chief Petty Officer Curly Jones from season 1 of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Kulky began boxing in his teenage years. After six bouts, he stopped boxing when he was offered a position training wrestlers at St. Matthew's Lyceum in his native Hastings-on-Hudson. Stanislaus Zbyszko convinced Kulky to compete professionally in 1939. Moving to Argentina, Kulky co… With 68 credits spanning from 1947 to 1964, Henry Kulky has appeared in 44 films and 24 TV shows.
Fans searching for Henry Kulky movies, Henry Kulky filmography, or the latest projects starring Henry Kulky can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Henry Kulky Movies
- A Star Is Born (1954) — as Cuddles (uncredited)
- A Foreign Affair (1948) — as Russian Sergeant (uncredited)
- Call Northside 777 (1948) — as First Bartender (uncredited)
- Mighty Joe Young (1949) — as Strong Man (uncredited)
- It's Always Fair Weather (1955) — as Drunk in Bar (uncredited)
Where to Watch Henry Kulky Films
Most Henry Kulky movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Henry Kulky, check our movies catalogue and browse page.