Harry Wesley Kenney Jr. came into this world in Dayton, Ohio, a city steeped in a rich industrial and cultural legacy, boasting a fascinating blend of past and present. His academic endeavors took him to Carnegie Tech, now proudly known as Carnegie Mellon University, where he successfully earned his degree. Fast forward to the 1950s, Kenney's professional trajectory began in New York City, where he was fortunate enough to be hired by the esteemed Dumont TV Network, a trailblazing television network that ruled the airwaves during its prime. As a director, Kenney was part of an era where every broadcast was performed live, and he demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating the complexities of working with multiple cameras to deliver top-notch content, showcasing his exceptional abilities under pressure.
The illustrious career of Kenney, a master of his craft, spanned an impressive decade at Dumont, where he showcased his remarkable versatility by directing an extensive range of genres, including dramatic productions, children's shows, game shows, sports programming, and variety programs. His tireless work ethic was truly remarkable, as he consistently demonstrated his ability to handle the demands of live broadcasting by directing up to 12 live shows in a single day.
As his career progressed, Kenney made the transition to directing for both film and television, accumulating a notable array of credits that would come to define his legacy. One of his most notable achievements was his work on the classic surf film Gidget, released in 1965, which has since become a beloved classic of its genre. Additionally, Kenney's contributions to the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family, which premiered in 1971, and the equally beloved sitcom The Jeffersons, which debuted in 1975, further solidified his reputation as a master director.
Throughout his career, Kenney's dedication to his craft and his ability to adapt to new challenges and genres have made him a highly respected figure in the world of television and film. His impressive body of work continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by audiences around the world, serving as a testament to his enduring legacy as a master director.
Kenney's illustrious career in television and film, marked by numerous triumphs, culminated in a pivotal transition to the realm of soap operas, where he assumed the role of executive producer on a trio of iconic and enduring programs: Days of Our Lives, which premiered in 1965, The Young and the Restless, which debuted in 1973, and General Hospital, which first aired in 1963.
Throughout his tenure in this field, Kenney amassed an impressive haul of accolades, earning a staggering seven Emmy Awards and garnering a total of nineteen nominations over the course of two decades.
Noted individual Kenney, having concluded his distinguished career, went on to impart his profound knowledge and valuable insights to the younger generation by taking up a teaching position at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles, commonly referred to as UCLA, where he had the opportunity to shape and mold the minds of the next crop of leaders and innovators.
Unfortunately, his remarkable life was tragically cut short on January 13, 2015, when he succumbed to the devastating effects of cardiac arrest, a sudden and unforeseen event that left a lasting impact on those who knew and loved him, at the tender age of 89, in the picturesque coastal city of Santa Monica, California, a place that had been his home for many years.
