Kenneth Perkins

Biography

Kenneth Taylor Perkins was born on 16 May, 1890 to American parents in Kodaikanal, India. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in English literature. While at UC Berkeley Perkins became acquainted with future authors Frederick Schiller (Max Brand), Sidney Howard and Aubrey Drury. After graduation he became an English instructor at Pomona College at Claremont, California. During the First World War Perkins served with the US Army as a 2nd lieutenant in the field artillery. By the mid 1920s a number of Perkins books and short stories were appearing in magazines or being adapted for the cinema. Two of his plays, "Creoles" (1927) and "Desire" (1930) were produced on Broadway. His story "Ride Him Cowboy!" was adapted for the silver screen twice. Over his career, Perkins submitted scores of short stories (mostly westerns) for publication in magazines and newspapers. Kenneth Taylor Perkins died on 7 June, 1951 after a five month stay at Veterans Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. He was survived by his wife Grace and a daughter.