Acting · Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, USa · Born August 11, 1911
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. Kulky's last role was as Chief Curley Jones in the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. He died on February 12, 1965, in Oceanside, California, of a heart attack suffered while he was studying a script.
TVVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964
as Curley Jones
MovieA Global Affair
1964
as Charlie - Newsstand Proprietor (uncredited)
Grindl
1963
TVGoing My Way
1962
TVPete and Gladys
1960
MovieGuns of the Timberland
1960
as Logger
TVHennesey
1959
as Chief Max Bronsky
TVBonanza
1959
as Bearcat Sampson
MovieUp Periscope
1959
as Chief Petty Officer York
TVThe Texan
1958
as Joe
MovieBombers B-52
1957
as Calvin (uncredited)
TVMaverick
1957
as Bartender (uncredited)
TVThe Thin Man
1957
as Tom Culdane
MovieSierra Stranger
1957
as Bartender Matt
TVU.S. Marshall
1956
as Pinto
TVHey, Jeannie!
1956
as Guy
TVThe Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
MovieArmy Daze
1956
as Sergeant Bonebreaker
MovieI'll Cry Tomorrow
1955
as Man in Bar (uncredited)
MovieIllegal
1955
as Taylor
MovieThe Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
1955
as Prisoner (uncredited)
TVNavy Log
1955
MovieIt's Always Fair Weather
1955
as Drunk in Bar (uncredited)
MovieLove Me or Leave Me
1955
as Bouncer
MovieNew York Confidential
1955
as Gino
MovieAbbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops
1955
as Brakeman (uncredited)
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Father with Nine Kids (uncredited)
MovieThe Human Jungle
1954
as Matty
MovieA Star Is Born
1954
as Cuddles (uncredited)
MovieTobor the Great
1954
as Paul (Spy Henchman)
MovieFireman Save My Child
1954
as Harry
MoviePhantom of the Rue Morgue
1954
as Maurice
TVPublic Defender
1954
as Murphy
MovieNew Faces
1954
as Mr. Dee (uncredited)
MovieHell and High Water
1954
as McCrossin (uncredited)
MovieYukon Vengeance
1954
as Schmidt
MovieThe 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
1953
as Stroogo (uncredited)
MovieThe Glory Brigade
1953
as Sgt. 'Smitty' Smitkowsky
MovieDown Among the Sheltering Palms
1953
as First Sergeant Jones
MovieTarget Hong Kong
1953
as Dutch Pfeifer
TVThe Life Of Riley
1953
as Feeney's Big Goon (uncredited)
TVThe Abbott and Costello Show
1952
as Mulligan
MovieNo Holds Barred
1952
as Mike the Mauler
MovieThe World in His Arms
1952
as Peter, Russian Servant
TVThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Fish Truck Driver
TVCavalcade of America
1952
as Ernie
TVAdventures of Superman
1952
as Crusher (uncredited)
MovieAim, Fire, Scoot
1952
as Sgt. Bonebreaker
MovieRed Skies of Montana
1952
as Dawson (uncredited)
MovieFixed Bayonets!
1951
as Vogl (uncredited)
TVI Love Lucy
1951
as Trainer (uncredited)
MovieLove Nest
1951
as George Thompson
TVThe Red Skelton Show
1951
as Sergeant Flannagan
MovieYou Never Can Tell
1951
as Gorilla / Prisoner (uncredited)
MovieThe Guy Who Came Back
1951
as Wizard, Wrestler
TVRacket Squad
1951
TVThe Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
MovieA Snitch in Time
1950
as Steve (uncredited)
MovieSouth Sea Sinner
1950
as Bartender
MovieJiggs and Maggie Out West
1950
as 'Bomber' Kulkowich (as Henry Kulkowich)
MovieAlias the Champ
1949
as Bomber Kulkovich - Wrestler
MovieThe Red Danube
1949
as Russian Officer at Camp 12 Deportation
MovieMighty Joe Young
1949
as Strong Man (uncredited)
MovieTarzan's Magic Fountain
1949
as Vredak
MovieA Foreign Affair
1948
as Russian Sergeant (uncredited)
MovieCall Northside 777
1948
as First Bartender (uncredited)
MovieTo the Ends of the Earth
1948
as Giant Chinese Man (uncredited)
MovieA Likely Story
1947
as Tremendo
