Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

Kens

Aargh! 9 Famous Pirates Named Ken

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piratekenEveryone secretly wants to be a pirate; there’s even an international “Speak Like a Pirate Day” held each year on September 19th around the world. Still, there’s more to pirating than saying “aargh!” and having a parrot as a best friend. These nine entries cover pirates from all walks of life (alas, I couldn’t make it happen with seafaring pirates); all of whom just happen to be named Ken.

  1. Ken Brett – Ken Brett was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1967 to 1981 and spent a year with the Pittsburgh Pirates between 1974 and 1975. During his time with the Pirates, Brett was the winning pitcher of the 1974 All-Star Game. All in all, Ken Brett had outings with 10 Major League teams in his 14 year career, including the Boston Red Sox (1967, 1969–1971), New York Yankees (1976) and Chicago White Sox (1976–1977).
  2. Pirate Ken™ – It is no secret that Barbie and Ken like to play dress-up, so it’s also not a surprise that that the Ken doll has donned a full pirate suit to celebrate Johnny Depp’s wildly popular turn as everyone’s favorite pirate, Jack Sparrow.
  3. Dread Pirate Kermit – Ken Morton, aka Dread Pirate Kermit, was a popular motorbike rally champion who sadly lost his life when he was thrown from his bike during the 2011 Utah 1088 rally. Morton was well known for his unique stickers and patches depicting Kermit the Frog wearing a pirate hat, set in a crossbones background. Although it is unclear exactly what caused Ken’s accident, it is widely believed that wind conditions on that particular day were the most likely contributor.
  4. Carry On Jack – Kenneth Williams plays a British Navy Captain in this comedy caper made in 1963. Williams’s character is named Captain Fearless, however, Fearless does not live up to his name. In typical Carry On fashion, Captain Fearless finds himself set adrift from his ship, only to end up in a sea war with Patch, Pirate Captain, aka Roger.
  5. Ken Evans – Not a lot of people will immediately recognize the name “Ken Evans,” but Evans was instrumental in the launch of both Radio Atlanta and Radio Caroline. During the sixties, both of these ships became famous the world over for illegal radio broadcasts. By mooring more than 5km off the coast outside of British territorial waters, pirate radio stations were able to transmit and avoid government regulation. Ken Evans was one of the pioneering producers of pirate radio; he later went on to work for the BBC in traditional radio.
  6. Ken Dilger – From 2002 to 2004, Ken Dilger was a mainstay for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his first year with the Buccaneers, Dilger saw victory as part of the Super Bowl XXXVI winning side. Ken is now a noted speaker, who appears in promotions on behalf of WGU Indiana (Western Governors University, Indiana).
  7. Kenny Chesney – This country singing star is absolutely obsessed with all things ocean, featuring beach bums, pirates and related themes in a lot of his music. Most notably in his track “Pirate Flag,” from the album Life on the Rock. The country singer draws parallels between simple country life and the life of a rebel pirate, which makes for an interesting spin on this traditional music genre.
  8. D. B. Cooper – While a fictional reference, the name comes from the hijacking of a Boeing 727 in November, 1971. The perpetrator parachuted from the aircraft after claiming a $200,000 ransom and was never found. Many years later, in 2003, a Minnesota man, Lyle Christiansen, came forward claiming that the hijacker was his brother, Kenneth Christiansen. Although the authorities found no plausible evidence to support the claim, a detective, Skipp Porteous, published a book in 2010 that aimed to prove that Christiansen was the perpetrator of the audacious hijacking.
  9. The Boat that Rocked – All good pirates need a nemesis, and who better to fill the role than British actor, Kenneth Brannagh. “The Boat that Rocked” tells the story of a group of pirate radio hosts defying the British government’s attempts to monopolize the airwaves during the sixties. Brannagh plays the part of Sir Alistair Dormandy, who will use any means possible to bring the party to an end. Dormandy becomes the typical anti-hero in this period comedy, leaving the audience wondering who the real pirates are.

From fictional seafarers to country singers with a penchant for the open waters, there’s no shortage of pirates in pop culture!

10 Famous Kids Named Ken

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kenosmondMany child stars never see a career as adults, and those who do often struggle to cope with the pressures of stardom. To add insult to injury, fame can be fleeting for a child star. One day you’re on the big screen, and the next you’re struggling to pay the rent. These 10 Kens were famous as kids and, thankfully, lived to tell the tale.

  • Ken Osmond –  Everyone knows him as Eddie Haskell from the 50s comedy Leave It to Beaver, but what few know is that Ken Osmond was acting from the age of four. After a series of roles in TV and film, a 14-year-old Osmond landed the role in Leave it to Beaver. It is this role he is most remembered for, but it was also a role that would lead to him being typecast for the rest of his career.
  • Ken Roczen – This teenage BMX and dirt bike rider hails from Germany, and is one of the youngest riders ever to earn a place in the Red Bull Motor Sports competition. He is a highly motivated and talented rider, which has earned him numerous podium spots in the sport. Ken’s dream is simply to dominate the sport and continue to win races.
  • Ken Amada – Persona 3 is a highly popular role playing game that surrounds the lives of high-school students who battle monsters known as shadows. Ken Amada is one of the central characters, capable of taking on two personas – Nemesis and Kala-Nemi. The game series is set during the year 2009 in a fictitious Japanese city.
  • Kenny Loggins – As a world class soft rock and country star, Kenny Loggins has been in the limelight for a lot longer than even some big fans realize. Shortly after graduating from high school, Loggins’s first band, Second Helping, enjoyed some success. They released three singles under the record label Viva Records.
  • Kenneth Anger – A Hollywood child, Ken Anger featured in a number of films in his younger years. However, Anger was more suited to a role behind the camera, which eventually led him to the director’s chair. Due to their graphic nature, his movies did not go over well with American audiences. He later went on to write a series of successful books on “the real” Hollywood, entitled Hollywood Babylon.
  • Elton John – Not only was Reginald Kenneth Dwight an exceptional piano player by the age of four, he formed his first successful band by the time he had turned 14. That band was the Corvettes, which was later renamed Bluesology. By 1961, the band was playing alongside greats like Ray Charles.
  • Ken Baumann – He hasn’t even reached the age of 25, and already Ken Baumann has carved out a career as both an actor and a director. He has been acting since the age of 11, however, his most famous role is that of Ben Boykewich in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. These days, Ben is now in his 20s, although he still plays a teen on the show.
  • Kenneth Leslie – Born in 1892, Kenneth Leslie became a child prodigy by the time he was 14. He was proficient in playing both the violin and piano, his talent for poetry was apparent, and he was soon recognized by prominent schools in his home country of Canada. Amazingly, Leslie also attended the Dalhousie University in Halifax at 14. In the 1930s, Kenneth was a prominent political activist in the United States, but he had a troubled personal life and racked up four failed marriages by the late 1950s, when his fourth wife left him for his own nephew.
  • Ken Doll – The eternal teenager, Ken Carson is the long-time significant other of the popular doll, Barbie. Ken has had a colorful life, taking on the roles of pirate, disco dancer, businessman and much more. The popular couple has gone through a number of changes throughout the years, but Ken has always managed to maintain his perfectly chiseled features and cheeky smile.
  • Ken Park – Despite being the titular character of the film Ken Park, Ken Park meets a grisly end by suicide in the opening scenes of this teenage buddy flick. The movie centers on the lives of Ken’s three friends as they struggle to cope with his death. Ken Park is a dark, erotic drama, which attempts to deal with various subplots in the lives of the teenage friends.

10 Famous Fashion Designers Named Ken

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Fashion design is a tough business, and only the very best can hope to make a mark in such a ruthless world. It takes commitment, passion and drive, along with a tough hide and determination to succeed. It is not an industry that is suited to everyone. Many who truly believed they had what it takes to make it have fallen before they even reached the catwalk. However, the ten elite names on this list will live on in fashion history. They have all made their mark on the fashion world, and they are all named Ken.

  • Ken Scott – Notorious for his psychedelic designs, Ken Scott was a pioneer of a number of styles. He was one of the first designers to showcase calf-length skirts way back in the ‘60s when such displays of human flesh were frowned upon by the wider public. It was a sad loss for the world when Ken Scott died in 1991, at the age of 72.
  • Ken Lawrence – Lawrence is a designer from Birmingham, Alabama who has already made waves in the Southern U.S. with his “House of DeVinci” Range. However, not satisfied with the success of his first endeavor, Lawrence has now launched another designer range under his own name, which he says will eclipse the “DeVinci” range.
  • Kenneth Cole – A prominent figure in the world of shoes, Kenneth Cole has long been the darling of socio-political fashionistas. His public support of AIDS awareness and research in the 1980s – a time when the subject was still taboo in the public domain – won him a legion of devoted fans. The designer is still a prominent activist, having recently challenged the status quo that pits teachers against student education with a satirical billboard that stated, “Shouldn’t Everyone Be Well Red?”
  • Kenneth D. King – This designer’s work is so timeless that it is permanently displayed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. King is perhaps most famous for his “leafy” collection, however, he has also won great acclaim for his original three “lines of inquiry” collection of leafing and cutwork, which he considers one of his crowning achievements in the fashion world.
  • Ken Downing – As the fashion director of luxury department store Neiman Marcus, Ken Downing is a powerhouse in the fashion industry. In April of 2013 it was announced that Downing would be the recipient of the prestigious Westphal Award – a reward that honors those who have made a significant contribution to the fashion industry. Although he is not center stage on the catwalk, you can be sure that Ken Downing’s place is cemented in the history of fashion.
  • Barbie’s Ken – The significant other of world famous doll Barbie, Ken is a fashion powerhouse in his own right. He has donned a pirate outfit to sail the seven seas, played prince to the courts of many a land and had a hippie phase during the 60s, among other things.  When it comes to fashion, this doll is never behind the times and so takes his rightful place on this list.
  • Ken Chu – This world traveling fashion designer was born in Massachusetts before going on to live in Hong Kong, China, New York and Paris. He has had work displayed in New York’s Saks Fifth Avenue. Chu’s style of design is a mixture of American, European and Asian elegance, which reflects his deep and diverse experiences of the many cultures he has come to call his own.
  • Kenneth Beatrice – Although not the designer in this case, Kenneth Beatrice does take the name from a significant figure in the designer’s life. The company is branded after founder Chelsie Ravenell’s uncle, Kenneth, and grandmother, Beatrice. The modern designer credits both relatives as being the inspiration behind his success; making the label name the perfect homage to his childhood heroes.
  • Kenny – Lindsay Sternberg is the owner of Kenny in LA, which is named for her late father. Besides the name, Sternberg draws much of the inspiration for the brand from other family members, including her mother and grandmother. The company was established in 2009, however, Lindsay has worked tirelessly, traveling all over the world to drive the brand to bigger and better things.
  • Ken Chow – The founder and lead designer for Krane, Ken Chow has roots in art and graphic design. The young designer incorporates much of his base talent in his clothing designs, giving each garment a unique look and feel. Ken has created a range of menswear with a distinctly vintage look mixed with many of the styles of today.