Huntington Beach Councilman Kelly Has Massive Stroke

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  Councilman and former mayor Jack Kelly, a veteran television and motion picture actor, was in critical condition Thursday and not expected to live after having suffered a massive stroke, city officials said.

Kelly, 65, the co-star of the “Maverick”television series, was found unconscious in his home here Wednesday afternoon. He was rushed to Humana Hospital-Huntington Beach, and Mayor Jim Silva said late Thursday afternoon that Kelly remained in critical condition at that hospital and had been administered religious last rites.

“His wife, Jo, and daughter, Nicky, are with him at the hospital, and the family is devastated,” Silva said. “This is a very sad time for all the citizens of Huntington Beach. Jack loves this city like no one else.”

Kelly suffered a heart attack on April 28 and was hospitalized at Humana-Huntington Beach. He underwent heart surgery a week later. After recuperation at home, Kelly returned to the City Council at its June 1 meeting. He has regularly attended all council meetings since then, although sometimes pale and with mobility problems.

Kelly was first elected to the City Council in 1980, and he was reelected to another four-year term in 1984. He temporarily left the council in 1988 because city law allows only two consecutive terms. When he left the council, he said he might run for the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 1990. Instead, however, he chose to run for the City Council again, and he won a third four-year term that does not expire until 1994.

Kelly began his film career in 1950. His biggest hit came in 1957, when he was cast opposite actor James Garner in the popular “Maverick” series. When the series ended in 1962, Kelly appeared in several light-comedy movies and occasional television shows.

He also was often hired to do voices on radio and TV commercials. He said doing broadcast voice work was one “niche where age and beauty have no importance.”

Mainly, however, Kelly spent the years after “Maverick” investing in real estate and in managing property.

Garner once joked that Kelly “owns all of Orange County.”