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Jackie Kelk

1923 – 2002

Actor and comedian

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About Jackie Kelk

Lived 1923 – 2002 (aged 79). Jackie Kelk was an American actor, stage actor, television actor and film actor.

John Daly "Jackie" Kelk (August 6, 1923 – September 5, 2002) was an American stage, radio, film, and television actor and stand-up comedian. He is best known for portraying the role of Homer Brown on the radio series The Aldrich Family and as the original voice of Jimmy Olsen on The Adventures of Superman.

Early years Kelk was born John Daly Kelk in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willy Kelk. He attended St. Gregory's Academy before changing to Professional Children's School in New York. In 1932, he was cast as a snobby bow-tied boy named "Georgie Bassett" in the Penrod Vitaphone comedy shorts. The shorts were similar to the popular and long running Our Gang shorts, and were based on books by Booth Tarkington.

At age 10, Kelk appeared in the 1934 drama Born to Be Bad. Percy in Flare Path (1942–1943), Elliot Smollens in Tenting Tonight (1947), and Herbie in Me and Juliet (1953–1954).

Kelk's debut in network radio came on The Cohens, which starred Fanny Brice. and in January 1946 he joined the cast of Celebrity Club on CBS. He played Jimmy Olsen from 1940 to 1947 on the radio show The Adventures of Superman and Homer Brown, best friend of Henry Aldrich on the teenage radio comedy The Aldrich Family. He had the role of Oliver in the soap opera Valiant Lady. From 1949 to 1950, Kelk reprised his role as Homer Brown in the television adaptation of The Aldrich Family.

During the 1950s, Kelk continued with roles in both film and television. In 1951, he starred in title role on the NBC live sitcom Young Mr. Bobbin. The series debuted on August 26, 1951, and was canceled after one season. Kelk later had guest starring roles on Those Whiting Girls, The Lineup, Date with the Angels and Leave It to Beaver. He also appeared in bit parts in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) and The Pajama Game (1957). From 1958 to 1959, Kelk had a recurring role as obstetrician Dr. Bo Boland during the first season of the ABC sitcom The Donna Reed Show. It was Kelk's final acting role.

Death On September 5, 2002, Kelk died of a lung infection at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California at the age of 79. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in New Canaan, Connecticut.

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Important facts

People in Jackie Kelk's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jackie Kelk's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jackie Kelk?

actor and comedian (1923-2002)

When was Jackie Kelk born?

Jackie Kelk was born on 6 August 1923 in Brooklyn.

When did Jackie Kelk die?

Jackie Kelk died on 5 September 2002 in Rancho Mirage.

What was Jackie Kelk's occupation?

Jackie Kelk was an actor, stage actor, television actor and film actor.

What nationality was Jackie Kelk?

Jackie Kelk was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jackie Kelk

· Wikidata: Q6116454

· DBpedia: Jackie Kelk

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jackie Kelk. https://biography.guide/jackie-kelk/

MLA: "Jackie Kelk." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jackie-kelk/.

Chicago: "Jackie Kelk." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jackie-kelk/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-24 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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