Larry Drake
| Larry Drake | |
|---|---|
 Larry Drake on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, August 28, 1988. | |
| Born |
Larry Richard Drake February 21, 1949 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died |
March 17, 2016 (aged 67) Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications from polycythemia vera |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
| Occupation | Actor, voice artist, comedian |
| Years active |
1971–2009 (Film) 1983–2008 (TV) |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth de Sosa (m. 1989; div. 1991) |
Larry Richard Drake (February 21, 1949 – March 17, 2016) was an American actor, voice artist, and comedian best known as Benny Stulwicz in L.A. Law, Robert G. Durant in both Darkman and Darkman II: The Return of Durant and the voice of Pops in Johnny Bravo.
Early life
Larry Richard Drake was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on February 21, 1949, the son of Raymond John Drake, a drafting engineer for an oil company, and Lorraine Ruth (née Burns), a homemaker.[1][2] He graduated from Tulsa Edison High School and the University of Oklahoma.[3]
Career
Drake is mostly remembered for his portrayal of developmentally disabled Benny Stulwicz in L.A. Law, from 1987 until the show's end in 1994, for which he won two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards (1988, 1989).[4][5][6][7] He returned to the role of Benny in L.A. Law: The Movie, a "reunion movie" that aired on NBC in 2002.[8]
He appeared in numerous film and television roles, including Time Quest, Dark Asylum, Paranoid, Bean, Overnight Delivery, The Beast, The Journey of August King, Murder in New Hampshire, Dr. Giggles,[9] Darkman,[10] Darkman II: The Return of Durant,[11] The Taming of the Shrew, American Pie 2,[12] and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. He was a regular on Prey.[13] Drake provided the voice Pops in Johnny Bravo. In 2007, he co-starred in Gryphon, a Sci-Fi Pictures original film.
Personal life
Drake was married from 1989 to 1991 to Ruth de Sosa. The couple had no children.[14][15]
Death
On March 17, 2016, Drake was found dead in his Los Angeles home at the age of 67. Drake's manager, Steven Siebert, reported that the actor had some health problems in the months before his death.[16] It was later reported that Drake suffered from a rare form of blood cancer that caused his blood to thicken. Other causes were cardiac arrest, hypertension and morbid obesity.[17]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | This Stuff'll Kill Ya | Bubba | |
| 1975 | Trucker's Woman | Diesel Joe | |
| 1976 | Date with a Kidnapper | Age Home Attendant | |
| 1976 | The Electric Chair | Courtroom Observer | Uncredited |
| 1978 | The Seniors | Bus Sign Installer | Uncredited |
| 1980 | The Big Brawl | Judge #1 | |
| 1981 | The White Lions | Fiske | |
| 1981 | Dark Night of the Scarecrow | Bubba Ritter | Television movie |
| 1983 | The Taming of the Shrew | Baptista | |
| 1984 | The Karate Kid | Yahoo #1 at Beach | |
| 1986 | The Ladies Club | Cop No. 2 | |
| 1988 | For Keeps | Night Clerk | |
| 1988 | Too Good to be True | Glen Robie | |
| 1989 | Oh, Henry! | Henry | |
| 1990 | Darkman | Robert G. Durant | Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1991 | Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story | Mark Sisti | |
| 1992 | Dr. Giggles | Doctor Evan Rendell (Dr. Giggles) | |
| 1992 | Blind Geronimo and His Brother | Unknown | |
| 1994 | One More Mountain | Patrick Breen | Television movie |
| 1995 | Darkman II: The Return of Durant | Robert G. Durant | |
| 1995 | The Journey of August King | Olaf Singletary | |
| 1996 | The Beast | Lucas Coven | Television movie |
| 1997 | Bean | Elmer | |
| 1998 | Paranoia | Calvin Hawks | |
| 1998 | Overnight Delivery | Hal Ipswich | |
| 1998 | The Treat | Ray | |
| 1999 | Inferno | Ramsey Hogan | |
| 1999 | Durango Kids | Dudley | |
| 2000 | Runaway Virus | Dr. Griggs | Television movie |
| 2000 | Time of Her Time | Dr. Joyce | |
| 2001 | American Pie 2 | Natalie's Dad | |
| 2001 | Dark Asylum | The Trasher | |
| 2002 | Timequest | J. Edgar Hoover | |
| 2002 | L.A. Law: The Movie | Benny Stulwicz | Television movie |
| 2002 | Spun | Dr. K | |
| 2005 | Jenny Says | Dr. Weinhouse | Short film |
| 2005 | I Will Avenge You, Iago! | The Warden | |
| 2005 | Officer Down | Captain Raymond Taggart | Television movie |
| 2005 | Mrs. Harris | Harris, Defense Team Psychiatrist | Television movie |
| 2006 | Love Hollywood Style | Walter | |
| 2006 | National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 | Dean Dryer | |
| 2007 | Gryphon | Armand | Television movie |
| 2008 | Pathology | Fat Bastard | |
| 2009 | Green Lantern: First Flight | Ganthet | |
| 2009 | Dead Air | Vernon | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | American Playhouse | Conveener / Homer | Episode: The Skin of Our Teeth |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Jesse Roberts | Episode: "Just Another Round of That Old Song" |
| 1986 | Code of Vengeance | Jack Fergusen | Episode: "Rustler's Moon" |
| 1987 | Hunter | Kirkland | Episode: "Hot Pursuit, Part 2" |
| 1987–1994 | L.A. Law | Benny Stulwicz | 143 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (1988–1989) Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1988–1989) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1989–1990, 1992) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Santa | Episode: "And All Through the House" |
| 1990 | Tales from the Crypt | Tobias | Episode: "The Secret" |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits | Robert Vitale | Episode: "The Message" |
| 1995 | The Naked Truth | Dr. Bryce Fromm | Episode: "Elvis is Coming!" |
| 1996 | Superman: The Animated Series | Mr. Eelan | Episode: "My Girl" |
| 1997 | Spy Game | Leo Ludwig | Episode: "Well, Nothing to Fear But Death Itself" |
| 1997 | Dead Man's Gun | Samuel "Buryin' Sam" Roller | Episode: "Buryin' Sam" |
| 1998 | Prey | Dr. Walter Attwood | 14 episodes |
| 1998 | Fantasy Island | Bill Terken | Episode: "Estrogen" |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Jackson Chappell | Episode: "The Winning Edge" |
| 1999–2004 | Johnny Bravo | Pops | 34 episodes |
| 2000 | The Fearing Mind | Police Officer Hooper | Episode: "On the Road" |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Voyager | Chellick | Episode: "Critical Care" |
| 2001 | Stargate SG-1 | Burrock | Episode: "Beast of Burden" |
| 2001 | Thieves | Robert Ventana | Episode: "The Long Con" |
| 2002 | As Told by Ginger | Dr. Weinstein | Episode: "Never Can Say Goodbye" |
| 2002 | Six Feet Under | Inspector Gerson | Episode: "The Last Time" |
| 2002 | A Nero Wolfe Mystery | Hackett | Episode: "Help Wanted, Male" |
| 2002 | Firefly | Sir Warwick Harrow | Episode: "Shindig" |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan | Tom | Episode: "Wild Card" |
| 2003 | Justice League | Colonel Vox | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Moss T. Meister | Episode: "Recipe for Disaster" |
| 2006 | 7th Heaven | Mr. Riley | Episode: "And More Secrets" |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Bishop Luke Bernard | Episode: "The Gods Must Be Crazy" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Star Wars: The Force Unleashed | Kazdan Paratus | Voice only |
References
- ↑ "Larry Drake profile". FilmReference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
- ↑ Lorraine Ruth Burns Drake (1924–2002) at Find a Grave
- ↑ Davis, Chuck (May 8, 1988). "L.A. Law Actor Turns One Scene Into Regular Character on Show". The Oklahoman.
- ↑ Haithman, Diane (November 3, 1988). "Larry Drake of L.A. Law Goes Mainstream". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ O'Connor, John J. (October 17, 1991). "Review/Television; On 'L.A. Law', New Faces but the Same Nasty Edge". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Review/Television; Life on 'L.A. Law' Grows Ever Odder". The New York Times. May 18, 1989.
- ↑ Selby, Holly (September 24, 1990). "Larry Drake's portrayal of Benny shatters stereotypes of the retarded". The Baltimore Sun.
- ↑ King, Susan (May 12, 2002). "Together Again". Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ Canby, Vincent (October 24, 1992). "Movie Review: Dr Giggles". The New York Times.
- ↑ James, Caryn (August 24, 1990). "Movie Review –With Brains and Skin, Another Cloaked Avenger Fights Evil". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Darkman-II-The-Return-of-Durant". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
- ↑ "American Pie 2 (2001)". Retrieved March 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Humanoids Make Scientists Paranoids". The New York Times. January 15, 1998. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
- ↑ Notice of death of Larry Drake, variety.com; accessed March 19, 2016.
- ↑ Mcphate, Mike (March 18, 2016). "Larry Drake, Lovable Clerk on 'L.A. Law', Dies at 67". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ↑ McPhate, Mike (March 18, 2016). "Larry Drake, Lovable Clerk on 'L.A. Law', Dies at 67". The New York Times. p. A21.
- ↑ 'L.A. Law' Star Larry Drake Rare Blood Cancer Led to Death, tmz.com; accessed April 2, 2016.