American actor (1949–2016)
Larry Drake
Larry Drake on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, August 28, 1988.
Born Larry Richard Drake
(1949-02-21 ) February 21, 1949Died March 17, 2016(2016-03-17) (aged 67) Resting place Hollywood Forever Cemetery Alma mater University of Oklahoma Occupation Years active 1971–2016 Spouse
Ruth de Sosa
(
m. 1989;
div. 1991)
Larry Richard Drake (February 21, 1949 – March 17, 2016)[ 1] was an American actor. He was 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, 1949, 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 .[ 2]
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.[ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] He returned to the role of Benny in L.A. Law: The Movie , a reunion film that aired on NBC in 2002.[ 7]
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 ,[ 8] Darkman ,[ 9] Darkman II: The Return of Durant ,[ 10] The Taming of the Shrew , American Pie 2 ,[ 11] and Dark Night of the Scarecrow . He was a regular on Prey .[ 12] 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,[ 13] 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 67. Drake's manager, Steven Siebert, reported that he 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.[ 14]
Filmography
Film
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
144 episodesPrimetime 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)
1989–1990
Tales from the Crypt
Killer Santa, Tobias
2 episodes
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
Voice, episode: "My Girl"[ 15]
1996
Road Rovers
Captain Zachary Storm
Voice, 2 episodes[ 15]
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
Voice, episode: "The Winning Edge"[ 15]
1999–2004
Johnny Bravo
Pops, various voices
Voice, 34 episodes[ 15]
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
Voice, episode: "Never Can Say Goodbye"[ 15]
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
Voice, episode: "Maid of Honor"[ 15]
2004
What's New, Scooby-Doo?
Moss T. Meister
Voice, 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
References
^ "Larry Drake, L.A. Law & Darkman Actor, Passes Away at 67" . MovieWeb . Retrieved September 16, 2022 .
^ Davis, Chuck (May 8, 1988). "L.A. Law Actor Turns One Scene Into Regular Character on Show" . The Oklahoman . Oklahoma City .
^ 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 .
^ MacLaggan, Sean D. (2008). "Darkman-II-The-Return-of-Durant" . Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2016 .
^ "American Pie 2 (2001)" . Retrieved March 18, 2016 .[permanent dead link ]
^ James, Caryn (January 15, 1998). "Humanoids Make Scientists Paranoids" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ Dagan, Carmel (March 17, 2016). " 'L.A. Law' Star Larry Drake Dies at 66" . Variety . Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ " 'L.A. Law' Star Larry Drake Rare Blood Cancer Led to Death" . TMZ . Retrieved December 14, 2021 .
^ a b c d e f g h "Larry Drake (visual voices guide)" . Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 28, 2023 . A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
External links
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