Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Kenneth MacKenna


Kenneth MacKenna was an American actor and film director, born Leo Mielziner, Jr. in Canterbury, New Hampshire.

He acted in and directed plays while in his teens. He served in the military. After returning to NYC he signed a three year acting contract with producer William A. Brady. He appeared in seven Broadway shows by 1923 and toured the country in two of those. After sound films became the rage he signed a contract with Fox Films in 1929 and moved to California. Starting in 1931 he also directed a few films. He resumed his Broadway theatre career in the mid 1930s. Soon MGM hired him as a story editor in New York and later back in Hollywood he was made department head. He returned to acting in the late 1950s both on stage and in film.