Larry Drake

{{Infobox person

| name = Larry Drake

| image = Larry Drake at the 1988 Emmy Awards.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Drake on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, August 28, 1988.

| birth_name = Larry Richard Drake

| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|2|21}}

| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|3|17|1949|2|21}}

| death_place = Hollywood, California, U.S.

| resting_place = Hollywood Forever Cemetery

| alma_mater = University of Oklahoma

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor}}

| years_active = 1971–2016

| spouse = {{marriage|Ruth de Sosa|1989|1991|end=divorced}}

}}

Larry Richard Drake (February 21, 1949 – March 17, 2016){{cite news| url=http://movieweb.com/larry-drake-dead-rip-la-law-darkman-dr-giggles| title=Larry Drake, L.A. Law & Darkman Actor, Passes Away at 67| journal=MovieWeb| access-date=September 16, 2022}} 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.{{cite news|first=Chuck|last=Davis| url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1988/05/08/la-law-actor-turns-one-scene-into-regular-character-on-show/62652866007/| title=L.A. Law Actor Turns One Scene Into Regular Character on Show| newspaper=The Oklahoman| location=Oklahoma City| date=May 8, 1988}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-03-ca-949-story.html|title=Larry Drake of L.A. Law Goes Mainstream|first=Diane|last=Haithman|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 3, 1988}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/17/arts/review-television-on-la-law-new-faces-but-the-same-nasty-edge.html|title=Review/Television; On 'L.A. Law', New Faces but the Same Nasty Edge|first=John J.|last=O'Connor|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 17, 1991}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/18/arts/review-television-life-on-la-law-grows-ever-odder.html?pagewanted=2|title=Review/Television; Life on 'L.A. Law' Grows Ever Odder|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 18, 1989}}{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1990/09/24/playing-a-special-role-larry-drakes-portrayal-of-benny-shatters-stereotypes-of-the-retarded/|title=Larry Drake's portrayal of Benny shatters stereotypes of the retarded|first=Holly|last=Selby|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=September 24, 1990}} He returned to the role of Benny in the 2002 reunion film L.A. Law: The Movie.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-12-tv-coverstory12-story.html|title=Together Again|first=Susan|last=King|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 12, 2002}}

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,{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9E0CE0DA1238F937A15753C1A964958260|title=Movie Review: Dr Giggles|first=Vincent|last=Canby |author-link=Vincent Canby |newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 24, 1992}} Darkman,{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CE2DB133AF937A1575BC0A966958260|title=Movie Review –With Brains and Skin, Another Cloaked Avenger Fights Evil|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Caryn|last=James|author-link=Caryn James|date=August 24, 1990}} Darkman II: The Return of Durant,{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/154212/Darkman-II-The-Return-of-Durant/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323181734/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/154212/Darkman-II-The-Return-of-Durant/overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 23, 2008|department=Movies & TV Dept.|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Sean D.|last=MacLaggan|date=2008|title=Darkman-II-The-Return-of-Durant|access-date=March 18, 2016}} The Taming of the Shrew, American Pie 2,{{cite web|url=http://au.movies.yahoo.com/galleries/gallery/6237497/american-pie-2-2001/6237499|title=American Pie 2 (2001)|access-date=March 18, 2016}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. He was a regular on Prey.{{cite news|first=Caryn|last=James|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/15/arts/television-review-humanoids-make-scientists-paranoids.html|title=Humanoids Make Scientists Paranoids|date=January 15, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 14, 2021}} Drake provided the voice of Pops in Johnny Bravo. In 2007, he co-starred in Gryphon, a Sci-Fi Pictures original film.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

Personal life

Drake was married from 1989 to 1991 to Ruth de Sosa,{{cite news| title= 'L.A. Law' Star Larry Drake Dies at 66| url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/larry-drake-dead-la-law-1201733239| first=Carmel| last=Dagan| date=March 17, 2016| newspaper=Variety| access-date=December 14, 2021}} 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 had a rare form of blood cancer that caused his blood to thicken.{{cite news| url=http://www.tmz.com/2016/04/02/larry-drake-blood-cancer-dead| title='L.A. Law' Star Larry Drake Rare Blood Cancer Led to Death| journal=TMZ| access-date=December 14, 2021}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
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 \| Television film
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 \| Television film
1989 \| Oh, Henry! \| Henry \| Television film
1990 \| Darkman \| Robert G. Durant \| Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1991 \| Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story \| Mark Sisti \| Television film
1992 \| Dr. Giggles \| Dr. Evan Rendell Jr. / Dr. Giggles \|
1992 \| Blind Geronimo and His Brother \| Unknown \|
1994 \| One More Mountain \| Patrick Breen \| Television film
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 \| Television film
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 \| Television film
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 \| Television film
2002 \| Spun \| Dr. K. \|
2005 \| Jenny Says \| Dr. Weinhouse \| Short
2005 \| I Will Avenge You, Iago! \| The Warden \|
2005 \| Officer Down \| Captain Raymond Taggart \| Television film
2005 \| Mrs. Harris \| Harris, Defense Team Psychiatrist \| Television film
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 \| Voice, direct-to-video{{cite web \|title=Larry Drake (visual voices guide) \|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Larry-Drake/ \|access-date=December 28, 2023 \|publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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.
2009 \| Dead Air \| Vernon \|
2016 \| The Secrets of Emily Blair \| John Doe \| Final film role

class="wikitable sortable"

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

| Television film

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

| Television film

1989

| Oh, Henry!

| Henry

| Television film

1990

| Darkman

| Robert G. Durant

| Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor

1991

| Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story

| Mark Sisti

| Television film

1992

| Dr. Giggles

| Dr. Evan Rendell Jr. / Dr. Giggles

1992

| Blind Geronimo and His Brother

| Unknown

1994

| One More Mountain

| Patrick Breen

| Television film

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

| Television film

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

| Television film

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

| Television film

2002

| Spun

| Dr. K.

2005

| Jenny Says

| Dr. Weinhouse

| Short

2005

| I Will Avenge You, Iago!

| The Warden

2005

| Officer Down

| Captain Raymond Taggart

| Television film

2005

| Mrs. Harris

| Harris, Defense Team Psychiatrist

| Television film

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

| Voice, direct-to-video{{cite web |title=Larry Drake (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Larry-Drake/ |access-date=December 28, 2023 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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.

2009

| Dead Air

| Vernon

2016

| The Secrets of Emily Blair

| John Doe

| Final film role

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
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 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)
1989–1990 \| 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"
1996 \|Road Rovers \|Captain Zachary Storm \|Voice, 2 episodes
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"
1999–2004 \| Johnny Bravo \| Pops, additional voices \| Voice, 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 \| Voice, 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 \| Voice, episode: "Maid of Honor"
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"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1983

| American Playhouse

| Conveener / Homer

| Episode: "The Skin of Our Teeth"

1983

| Hardcastle and McCormick

| Jesse Roberts