Larry Saperstein
{{Short description|American actor (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Larry Saperstein
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Laurence Benjamin Saperstein
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|04|12}}
| birth_place = Islip, New York, U.S.
| alma_mater = Pace University
| occupation = Actor, dancer
| yearsactive = 2007–present
| website = {{URL|https://www.larrysaperstein.com/}}
}}
Laurence Benjamin Saperstein (born April 12, 1998{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}) is an American actor and dancer. He stars as Big Red in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Life and career
Saperstein is from Islip, New York on the south shore of Long Island. He is Jewish.{{Cite journal|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/325974/hsm-series-julia-lester-larry-saperstein-perform-classics-for-disney-holiday-special/|title=HSM Series' Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special|journal=Jewish Journal|first=Erin|last=Ben-Moche|date=December 11, 2020|accessdate=January 14, 2021|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114220944/https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/325974/hsm-series-julia-lester-larry-saperstein-perform-classics-for-disney-holiday-special/|url-status=live}} He began dancing at age 6 and was a member of the Tap City Youth Ensemble. He spent several summers at the Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts. He attended Islip High School and was selected as a 2016 Long Island Scholar Artist.{{Cite web|url=https://islipfpa.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/larry-saperstein-long-island-scholar-artist/|title=Larry Saperstein, Long Island Scholar Artist|website=Islip Fine and Performing Arts|date=September 28, 2015|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223053244/https://islipfpa.wordpress.com/2015/09/28/larry-saperstein-long-island-scholar-artist/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.islipufsd.org/news/article.aspx?id=43308|title=Seniors Merit being Commended|website=Islip School District|date=January 4, 2016|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629165341/https://www.islipufsd.org/news/article.aspx?id=43308|url-status=live}} He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production and Design for Stage and Screen from Pace University in New York City in 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.larrysaperstein.com/meet-larry.html|title=Meet Larry|website=Larry Saperstein|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223053246/https://www.larrysaperstein.com/meet-larry.html|url-status=live}}
Saperstein has been acting since he was 3 years old at a community theater with his parents.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/a-star-search-for-li-s-most-talented-kids-1.2521475|title=A star search for LI's most talented kids|journal=Newsday|first=Beth|last=Whitehouse|date=December 7, 2010|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223053244/https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/a-star-search-for-li-s-most-talented-kids-1.2521475|url-status=live}} Larry landed his first role at the age of 6 as Winthrop Paroo in Star Playhouse's production of The Music Man.{{Cite journal|url=https://talknerdywithus.com/2019/11/exclusive-interview-with-larry-saperstein-from-high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series/|title=Exclusive Interview with Larry Saperstein from 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series'|journal=Talk Nerdy with Us|first=Bryna|last=Kramer|date=November 22, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223053245/https://talknerdywithus.com/2019/11/exclusive-interview-with-larry-saperstein-from-high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series/|url-status=live}} He has had several theatre roles in Long Island and touring on the West Coast.
Saperstein played Lucius in the 2015 ABC Television film Fan Girl starring Kiernan Shipka.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.popsugar.com.au/celebrity/photo-gallery/46571738/image/46571734/Larry-Saperstein-as-Big-Red|title=It's the Start of Something New! Here's the Cast For the High School Musical TV Show|journal=PopSugar Australia|first=Corinne|last=Sullivan|date=September 4, 2019|access-date=February 22, 2020|archive-date=February 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223053245/https://www.popsugar.com.au/celebrity/photo-gallery/46571738/image/46571734/Larry-Saperstein-as-Big-Red|url-status=live}}
In February 2019, it was announced Saperstein would star in his breakout onscreen role in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as Big Red, Ricky Bowen (Joshua Bassett)'s best friend who fills in as the school production's stage manager.{{Cite journal|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/high-school-musical-disney-cast-starts-production-streaming-series-reboot-1202558398/|title='High School Musical': Disney+ Sets Cast, Starts Production On Streaming Series Reboot|journal=Deadline|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=February 15, 2019|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011310/https://deadline.com/2019/02/high-school-musical-disney-cast-starts-production-streaming-series-reboot-1202558398/|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|url=https://teenplicity.com/larry-sapersteins-big-high-school-musical-series-debut/|title=Larry Saperstein's Big High School Musical Debut|journal=Teenplicity|first=Mary|last=Ayers|date=November 8, 2019|access-date=February 23, 2020|archive-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217213607/https://teenplicity.com/larry-sapersteins-big-high-school-musical-series-debut/|url-status=live}} The series premiered that November. Saperstein was the final main to be cast.
In June 2021, Saperstein came out as bisexual via social media.{{Cite web|date=June 2, 2021|title=High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Actor Larry Saperstein Comes Out as Bisexual|url=https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1275743/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-actor-larry-saperstein-comes-out-as-bisexual|access-date=June 2, 2021|publisher=E!|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215853/https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1275743/high-school-musical-the-musical-the-series-actor-larry-saperstein-comes-out-as-bisexual|url-status=live}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan=3|2011
| Finding | Boy | rowspan=2|Short film |
| Blindfold
| Jeremy |
| We Are the Hartmans
| | |
| 2015
| Fan Girl | Lucius | Television film |
| rowspan=2|2019
| Porno | Todd | |
| First Wives Club
| Timmy | Episode: "Plan B" |
| 2019–2023
| High School Musical: The Musical: The Series | Big Red | Main role (Season 1–2) |
| TBA
| Gap Year | | Second Unit Director |
Stage
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2007
| Winthrop Paroo | Star Playhouse, Commack |
| 2008
| Evita | Children's Choir | Star Playhouse, Commack |
| 2010
| Oliver! | Charley Bates | John W. Engeman Theater, Northport |
| 2009–2010
| Tommy Mara Jr. | West Coast tour |
| 2010
| Ensemble | John W. Engeman Theater, Northport |
| 2014
| Cats | Skimbleshanks | Islip Town Hall West, Islip |
| 2016
| | Lighting designer; Islip Town Hall West, Islip |
| 2018
| Lighting Designer | Pace University |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saperstein, Larry}}
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American bisexual male actors
Category:American LGBTQ dancers
Category:American male child actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:Male actors from New York (state)