From Paul Rudd to Ginger Rogers, Kansas City is in the movies. Vote for your favorites
With the Academy Awards ceremonies fast approaching, we thought this is a good time to take a look at the Kansas City area’s record in that area.
Overall, it’s fairly impressive.
Local folks have taken home at least 40 Oscars over the years. Of course, 26 were by Walt Disney (32, according to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco), but there’s also the recently deceased Burt Bacharach (three), Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery, Ginger Rogers and many others — more recently, Kevin Willmott for his “BlackKklansman” screenplay. Interestingly, director Robert Altman never won a competitive Oscar, though he received an honorary award in 2006.
By contrast, films made in the Kansas City area have been largely shut out. And note that many movies set here were actually filmed elsewhere.
All of which inspired us to poll our readers about your favorites among the area’s actors, actresses and movies dating back to the silent era — whether or not they actually won an Oscar.
Just like the real Oscars, we present five candidates in each acting category — broken into silent/B&W and modern eras — and 10 in the best picture category.
You’ll likely notice that some categories are more loaded than others, which means leaving out excellent candidates. Let us know if you think there are any where we whiffed completely.
Your deadline to vote is the end of the day Friday, March 3.
We will incorporate the results in a more detailed account of Kansas City’s history in the movies in time for the March 12 Academy Awards ceremony.
Actresses, silent/B&W era
Joan Crawford, born in Texas, St. Agnes Academy: A Hollywood legend, she won the best actress Oscar for “Mildred Pierce” and was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award by John Wayne at the Golden Globes in 1970.
Jeanne Eagels, Kansas City: She was a star on Broadway, in silent films and finally in talkies; posthumously nominated for a best actress Oscar in 1929 after dying from a drug or alcohol overdose at age 39.
Gene Gauntier, Kansas City: A silent era pioneer, she was called the “Kalem Girl,” often starring as daredevils in movies she’d written. She also wrote the first film adaptation of “Ben-Hur.”
Jean Harlow, Kansas City: Known as the original blond bombshell, she was a huge Hollywood star before dying at the age of 26.
Ginger Rogers, Independence: Probably best known for dancing roles opposite Fred Astaire, but also the best actress Oscar winner for “Kitty Foyle” in 1941.
(If you can’t see the poll, click here.)
Honorable mention: Evelyn Merchant/Harlene Wood/Jill Jackson Miller, Northeast High School: Starred in three Three Stooges movies and several Westerns, then co-wrote the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Actresses, modern era
Sandahl Bergman, Shawnee Mission East High School: Best known for playing heroine Valeria in “Conan the Barbarian,” for which she won the Golden Globe for best new star of the year; also appeared in “All That Jazz,” “Xanadu” and “Red Sonja.”
Lynn Cohen, Kansas City: Her credits include “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” “The Station Agent,” “Munich” and “Invincible”; plus tons of TV credits, highlighted by “Sex and the City” and playing Judge Elizabeth Mizener on “Law & Order.”
Katherine McNamara, Lee’s Summit: Primarily a TV actress (“Shadowhunters,” “Arrow,” “Walker: Independence”), but she appeared in “Trust,” two “Maze Runner” movies and last year’s Hallmark movie “Love, Classified.”
Janelle Monae, Schlagle High School: Grammy-winning singer has had major roles in “Hidden Figures,” “Moonlight” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”
Dianne Wiest, born in Kansas City, high school in Virginia: She has best supporting actress Oscars for Woody Allen-directed movies “Hannah and Her Sisters” and “Bullets Over Broadway.”
(If you can’t see the poll, click here.)
Honorable mention: Edie McClurg, Kansas City, taught at UMKC: Character actress has appeared in everything from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” to “Carrie” and “A River Runs Through It,” plus voice roles in “The Little Mermaid” and “Wreck-It Ralph.”
Actors, silent/B&W era
Noah Beery, Kansas City: Transitioned from silent era to sound movies, appearing in nearly 200 films; father of character actor Noah Beery Jr.
Wallace Beery, Kansas City: Younger brother of Noah was Oscar winner for “The Champ” and at one time the highest-paid film actor in the world.
William Powell, born in Pittsburgh, attended Central High School: Was Nick Charles to Myrna Loy’s Nora Charles in the “Thin Man” series; nominated for best actor Oscar three times.
Charles (Buddy) Rogers, Olathe, University of Kansas: Starred in “Wings,” the first movie to win the best picture Oscar; married to Mary Pickford.
Craig Stevens, Paseo High School: Although best known for playing private detective Peter Gunn on TV, Stevens appeared in many movies, including “Humoresque” starring Joan Crawford and “Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
(Can’t see the poll? Click here.)
Honorable mention: Harrison Ford, Kansas City: No, not Indiana Jones; this Harrison Ford was such a force in silent films that he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Actors, modern era
Ed Asner, Wyandotte High School: Emmy winner who gained fame on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” appeared in dozens of movies; played John Wayne’s adversary in the “El Dorado” and voiced Carl in “Up.”
Don Cheadle, born in Kansas City, grew up in Denver: Oscar-nominated for “Hotel Rwanda” and “Crash”; appeared in all three “Ocean’s” movies as well as “Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Traffic” and multiple TV shows.
Chris Cooper, Southwest High School: Has appeared in “American Beauty,” “The Bourne Identity” and many more films, winning the best supporting actor Oscar for “Adaptation.”
Paul Rudd, Shawnee Mission West High School: “I Love You, Man,” “Anchorman” and “Ant-Man” star was People magazine’s 2021 Sexiest Man Alive.
Jason Sudeikis, Shawnee Mission West High School: Sure, “Ted Lasso” is a TV show, but don’t forget “We’re the Millers,” “Hall Pass” and “Horrible Bosses.”
(Can’t see the poll? Click here.)
Honorable mention: Stephen Henderson, Sumner High School: His name might not be familiar, but his face probably is from movies such as “Fences,” “Lincoln,” “Lady Bird,” “Dune” and “Manchester by the Sea.”
Movies (filmed at least partially here)
“In Cold Blood” (1967): Classic adaptation of Truman Capote’s classic nonfiction novel; mostly a western Kansas story.
“Prime Cut” (1972): Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman and Sissy Spacek starred in an odd story of a slaughterhouse owner, a cattle rancher and sex slaves.
“Bucktown” (1975): Shot here and set in a small Southern town, this “blaxploitation” film starred former Kansas City Chiefs player Fred Williamson and Pam Grier.
“The Day After” (1983): Hugely popular TV movie about nuclear winter coming to Kansas.
“Bird” (1988): Story of Kansas City jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker, directed by Clint Eastwood, won Oscar for sound.
“Mr. & Mrs. Bridge” (1990): Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward starred in film based on Kansas City author Evan S. Connell’s novels.
“Article 99” (1992): Brought Ray Liotta, Kiefer Sutherland and Forest Whitaker (who also starred in “Bird”) to Kansas City to film a comedy/drama set at a veterans hospital.
“Truman” (1995): TV movie starring Gary Sinise as the president from Independence.
“Kansas City” (1996): Director Robert Altman’s homage to his hometown, filled with Kansas City jazz.
“Ride With the Devil” (1999): Ang Lee-directed Civil War era bushwhacker romance/drama was filmed throughout the area.
(Can’t see the poll? Click here.)
Honorable mentions:
“Kansas City Confidential” (1952): A bank heist flick considered a film noir classic, but not filmed here.
“Pete Kelly’s Blues” (1955): Another classic set in Kansas City but filmed mostly in Burbank, California; with Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, Peggy Lee and Kansas City jazz.
“Kansas City Bomber” (1972): Recently deceased Raquel Welch evidently was briefly in town, but most of the movie was filmed in Portland, Oregon.
“The Burden of Proof” (1992): This two-part TV miniseries starring Hector Elizondo and Brian Dennehy is filled with views of Kansas City landmarks.
