Larry Drake

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For the major league outfielder, see Larry Drake (baseball).
Larry Drake
Larry Drake at the 1988 Emmy Awards.jpg
Larry Drake on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, August 28, 1988.
Born
Larry Richard Drake

(1950-02-21)February 21, 1950
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedMarch 17, 2016(2016-03-17) (aged 66)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Oklahoma
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1971–2016
Spouse(s)
Ruth de Sosa
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 1991)​

Larry Richard Drake (February 21, 1950 – March 17, 2016) was an American actor and comedian, best known as Benny Stulwicz in L.A. Law, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards. He also appeared as Robert G. Durant in both Darkman and Darkman II: The Return of Durant, a homicidal mental patient who escapes an insane asylum in the slasher black comedy Dr. Giggles, and was the voice of Pops in Johnny Bravo.

Early life[]

Larry Richard Drake was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1950, the son of Raymond John Drake, a drafting engineer for an oil company, and Lorraine Ruth (née Burns), a homemaker. He graduated from Tulsa Edison High School and the University of Oklahoma.[1]

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 twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. in 1988 and 1989.[2][3][4][5] He returned to the role of Benny in L.A. Law: The Movie, a "reunion movie" that aired on NBC in 2002.[6]

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,[7] Darkman,[8] Darkman II: The Return of Durant,[9] The Taming of the Shrew, American Pie 2,[10] and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. He was a regular on Prey.[11] Drake provided the voice of Pops in Johnny Bravo. In 2007, he co-starred in Gryphon, a Sci-Fi Pictures original film.[citation needed]

Personal life[]

Drake was married from 1989 to 1991 to Ruth de Sosa,[12] an actress and producer known for her roles in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Death[]

On March 17, 2016, Drake was found dead in his Los Angeles home at the age of 66. Drake's manager, Steven Siebert, reported that the actor had some health problems in the months before his death. It was later reported that Drake suffered from a rare form of blood cancer that caused his blood to thicken.[13]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1971 This Stuff'll Kill Ya! Bubba
1975 Trucker's Woman Joe 'Diesel Joe'
1976 The Electric Chair Courtroom Observer Uncredited
1976 Date with a Kidnapper Age Home Attendant
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 TV movie
1983 The Taming of the Shrew Baptista Short
1984 The Karate Kid Yahoo #1 At Beach
1986 The Ladies Club Cop #2
1988 For Keeps Night Clerk
1988 Too Good to Be True Glen Robie TV movie
1989 Oh, Henry! Henry TV movie
1990 Darkman Robert G. Durant Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1991 Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story Mark Sisti TV movie
1992 Dr. Giggles Dr. Evan Rendell Jr. / Dr. Giggles
1992 Blind Geronimo and His Brother Unknown
1994 One More Mountain Patrick Breen TV movie
1995 Darkman II: The Return of Durant Robert G. Durant Direct-to-video
1995 The Journey of August King Olaf Singletary
1996 The Beast Lucas Coven TV movie
1997 Bean Elmer
1998 Overnight Delivery Hal Ipswich
1998 Paranoia Calvin Hawks
1998 The Treat Ray
1999 Inferno Ramsey Hogan
1999 Durango Kids Dudley
2000 Runaway Virus Dr. Griggs TV movie
2000 Time of Her Time Dr. Joyce
2000 Timequest J. Edgar Hoover
2001 American Pie 2 Natalie's Dad
2001 Dark Asylum 'The Trasher'
2002 L.A. Law: The Movie Benny Stulwicz TV movie
2002 Spun Dr. K.
2005 Jenny Says Dr. Weinhouse Short
2005 I Will Avenge You, Iago! The Warden
2005 Officer Down Captain Raymond Taggart TV movie
2005 Mrs. Harris Harris, Defense Team Psychiatrist TV movie
2006 Living the Dream Richard
2006 Love Hollywood Style Walter
2006 National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 Dean Dryer
2007 Gryphon Armand The Sorcerer
2008 Pathology 'Fat Bastard'
2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Ganthet Direct-to-video
2009 Dead Air Vernon
2016 The Secrets of Emily Blair John Doe (final film role)

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 (1990)
1989 Tales from the Crypt Killer 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 Episode: "Maid of Honor" Parts 1 & 2
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[]

  1. ^ Davis, Chuck (May 8, 1988). "L.A. Law Actor Turns One Scene Into Regular Character on Show". The Oklahoman.
  2. ^ Haithman, Diane (November 3, 1988). "Larry Drake of L.A. Law Goes Mainstream". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ O'Connor, John J. (October 17, 1991). "Review/Television; On 'L.A. Law', New Faces but the Same Nasty Edge". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "Review/Television; Life on 'L.A. Law' Grows Ever Odder". The New York Times. May 18, 1989.
  5. ^ Selby, Holly (September 24, 1990). "Larry Drake's portrayal of Benny shatters stereotypes of the retarded". The Baltimore Sun.
  6. ^ King, Susan (May 12, 2002). "Together Again". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ Canby, Vincent (October 24, 1992). "Movie Review: Dr Giggles". The New York Times.
  8. ^ James, Caryn (August 24, 1990). "Movie Review –With Brains and Skin, Another Cloaked Avenger Fights Evil". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Sean D. MacLaggan (2008). "Darkman-II-The-Return-of-Durant". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "American Pie 2 (2001)". Retrieved March 18, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Humanoids Make Scientists Paranoids". The New York Times. January 15, 1998. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Notice of death of Larry Drake, variety.com; accessed March 19, 2016.
  13. ^ 'L.A. Law' Star Larry Drake Rare Blood Cancer Led to Death, tmz.com; accessed April 2, 2016.

External links[]

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