User:Cmcronk/sandbox

Kenneth Gordon Kendall (November 27, 1921 - September 3, 2006, Los Angeles, California) was an American painter and sculptor who is best-known for his portraits of Hollywood celebrities, including the bronze bust of James Dean at Griffith Park Observatory.

Early Life and Family
Kendall was born on November 27, 1921, in Los Angeles to Fred and Hazel Katz. His father, Fred, toured the world in vaudeville and eventually settled in Hollywood around 1915. He became a theatrical agent and met Hazel Verne Heiser-Kendall, who was a clothing designer. They had another son, Lester Frederick Kendall, who also became a talent agent.

Hazel's sister was silent film actress Patty DuPont. "Miss DuPont" (as she was billed) had a leading role in Eric von Stroheim's 1922 film "Foolish Wives" as well as roles in several other silent films. She greatly influenced Kenneth's life and appears in several of Kendall's paintings.

Around the age of 16, Kendalll began working as an extra at various Hollywood studios. After graduating from Los Angeles High School in 1940, he served two years in the Navy. It is during this time when he focused on drawing portraits of his friends and fellow sailors. Returning to Los Angeles and his work as an extra in film and television, Kendall also pursued his career as an artist.

Career
In 1945, he worked as an extra in the film The Story of G.I. Joe with Robert Mitchum. He and Mitchum became friends and Kendall painted two oil portraits of the actor.

In 1953, he rented a store on Melrose Avenue (now the location of Fred Segal), which had a showroom with large windows open to the street.