Jess Kirkpatrick

Jess Kirkpatrick (October 2, 1897 – August 9, 1976) was an American film and television actor. Born in Champaign County, Illinois, he attended the University of Illinois where he played as a halfback in football and earned recognition in Walter Eckersall's All-American team and football coach Robert Zuppke’s all-time backfield. Kirkpatrick supported himself through university by playing jazz drums in a student band and later worked as a singer and master of ceremonies on the radio show Melodies from the Sky. He then became an announcer for radio broadcasting station WGN for ten years before moving to Hollywood, California. There, he began his screen career playing a broadcaster in the 1946 film My Dog Shep and played Patrick Riley in the 1949 film The Judge.