Douglas C. Kenney (1946–1980)

Writer and Actor. Born in West Palm Beach, Florida. Doug was a student at Harvard University and was a member of the Signet society and editor of the Harvard Lampoon. He co-founded National Lampoon magazine in 1970. Doug edited the magazine and wrote much of its early material. Doug was one of the originating forces of what was to become known during the 1970s as the "new wave" of comedy, a dark, irreverent style of humor. He used it as the basis for the magazine. He was Editor-in-Chief from 1970 to 1972, Senior Editor 1973 to 1974, and Editor from 1975 to 1976. Doug co-wrote Animal House and Caddyshack, two of the highest grossing comedies of all time. He also played the role of "Stork" in Animal House, the nerdy frat brother who leads a marching band, during the parade scene, into a brick wall. Another best-selling classic of his was the cult favorite "Bored of the Rings", the book was a best-seller. Doug and fellow co writers received a nomination from The Writers Guild of America for his National Lampoon's Animal House screenplay. When Caddyshack opened to negative reviews in July 1980, Doug became deeply depressed, he began using increasing amounts of cocaine. Concerned friends took Doug to Hawaii to relax, after all his friends departed and he was once again alone, a friend that was about to travel back to Hawaii to stay again with Doug, got a telephone call stating that Doug had went missing. Doug had fallen from a thirty-foot cliff called the Hanapepe Lookout. Police found his abandoned vehicle the following day, but it was not until three days later that his body was discovered. His death was classified as "accidental" by Kauai police. He was 33 years old.