Larry Storch

Infobox actor
name = Larry Storch


caption = Larry Storch, Broadway actor (2004)
birthdate = birth date and age|1923|1|8
birthplace = New York, New York

Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Storch (born January 8, 1923) is an American actor best known for his comedic television roles, including voiceover work for top cartoon shows, including Mr. Whoopee on "Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales", and his live-action role the bumbling Corporal Randolph Agarn on "F Troop".

Early life

Storch was born in New York, New York, the son of Sally (née Kupperman), a telephone operator, and Alfred Storch, a realtor. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/87/Larry-Storch.html Larry Storch Biography (1923-) ] ] He attended the same school as Don Adams, who remained his lifelong friend. Storch served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the submarine tender USS Proteus (AS-19), along with future actor Tony Curtis. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000348/bio IMDb Bio for Tony Curtis, referencing service with Larry Storch] ]

Performing career

Storch was originally a stand up comic. This led to guest appearances on dozens of television shows, including the Groovy Guru on "Get Smart", "Sergeant Bilko", "Columbo", "CHiPs", "Fantasy Island", "McCloud", "Emergency!", "The Flying Nun", "That Girl", "I Dream of Jeannie", "Gomer Pyle", "Gilligan's Island" and "All in the Family". In 1975, Larry co-starred with a gorilla and Forrest Tucker on the Saturday morning show "The Ghost Busters". Larry also appeared on "The Love Boat", and as Al Bundy's Childhood Hero on "Married... with Children" and a semi-regular on "Car 54, Where Are You?" He co-starred on the short lived series "The Queen and I".

Variety show appearances

Storch appeared on many variety shows including "Sonny and Cher", "Laugh-in", "Hollywood Squares", "Playboy After Dark", "The Hollywood Palace", "Toast of the Town", several appearances on Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, and Steve Allen Shows. Jackie Gleason personally asked Storch to fill in for the summer while Gleason was on hiatus. This resulted in his hosting "The Larry Storch Show" in the early 1950s. He played a recurring role as Charlie, a drunk, on "Car 54, Where Are You?".

As an impressionist and voice over actor

An impressionist, Storch does hundreds of voices and dialects ranging from Muhammad Ali to Claude Rains. This has proved useful for cartoons. He voiced characters in numerous TV and film animations including "Batman", "The Groovy Goolies", "The Inspector", "The Brady Kids", "Kool Kat", "Koko The Clown", "Treasure Island", "Return from Oz", "Scooby Doo", "Tennessee Tuxedo" and many more. Larry worked with Mel Blanc and June Foray. He was the first actor to voice Batman's enemy, "The Joker". It was produced by Filmation animation in the 1970s. Larry continued his association with Filmation as a voice-over actor in other series the company produced.

Cary Grant—who never actually said the line "Judy, Judy, Judy" in any movie or performance—attributed the phrase's origin to a Storch performance in which he impersonated Grant. [ [http://www.carygrant.net/articles/judy.htm Article - "Judy, Judy, Judy" - The Ultimate Cary Grant Pages ] ]

Film appearances

Storch has appeared in more than 25 Hollywood films, including "The Great Race", "Captain Newman, M.D.", "Sex and the Single Girl", "Wild and Wonderful", "The Prince Who Was a Thief", all starring Tony Curtis. He also appeared in "S.O.B" directed by Blake Edwards as well as "The Great Bank Robbery", "Airport 75", "I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore", and sci-fi cult films "The Monitors" & "Without Warning". Recently, he worked with Anthony Michael Hall in "Funny Valentine" and appeared in the 2005 documentary feature "The Aristocrats". Tony Curtis and Storch reunited for the musical version of "Some Like It Hot" in 2003.

tage work

After finding success in TV and films, Storch moved back to NYC to get back to stage work. He received rave reviews for the off-Broadway production "Breaking Legs" co-starring Philip Bosco and Vincent Gardenia the show extended several times before hitting the road. On Broadway he appeared in the productions "Porgy and Bess" (which Larry considers his favorite), "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Annie Get Your Gun" with Reba McEntire, later touring the country with the production starring Marilu Henner, and in 2004 "Sly Fox" with Richard Dreyfus and old friend Irwin Corey, Larry being 82 and Professor Corey being 90 years young at the time doing 8 shows a week! In March 2008, Storch celebrated his 50th anniversary performing on Broadway--his first Broadway appearance was in the 1958 Production "Who was That Lady I Saw You With", later a film starring Dean Martin and Tony Curtis in which Larry appeared. Storch, who is "semi-retired", likes to play his sax in the park and do the occasional memorabilia show greeting his many fans.

Comedy LPs

He recorded a comedy LP "Larry Storch at The Bon Soir" released by Jubilee in the 1960s. Other records include "Larry Storch Reads Philip Roth's Epstein", "Larry Storch Pooped/Eighth Wonder of the World", "Larry Storch / I'm Walkin". In less than two years' time Storch appeared on three "TV Guide" covers, all with various "F-Troop" co-stars, Storch being the only one featured on all three covers. He also appeared on the cover of "TV Guide" in 2000.

Recent work

Storch is currently working on his autobiography. You can visit his Official Myspace Page for updates. Storch signs autographs for fans at film festivals including Chiller Theater and the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention.

Personal life

Storch married Norma Catherine Greve on July 10, 1961. They remained married until her death in 2003. He has a biracial stepdaughter, June Cross, who wrote the book "Secret Daughter", which is also an Emmy Winning "Frontline" special.

Storch had a brother, Jay Lawrence, who was also a performer.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0832415|name=Larry Storch
* [http://www.nndb.com/people/933/000022867/ Larry Storch page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thelarrystorch Official Larry Storch MySpace page]