Larry Storch
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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.
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[edit] Early life
Larry Storch was born in New York city to Alfred and Sally (Kuppermann) Storch. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II on the same submarine tender as lifelong friend Tony Curtis[1].
[edit] 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, The Flying Nun, That Girl, I Dream of Jeannie, Gormer Pyle, 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 also co-starred on the short lived series The Queen and I.
Storch also appeared on several 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 Larry hosting The Larry Storch Show in the early 50's.
An impressionist as well, Larry Storch does hundreds of voice's and dialects ranging from Muhammad Ali to Claude Rains and everyone in between. This proved useful for cartoons. Having voiced characters in several 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, Tennesse Tuxedo among dozens more. Larry worked with Mel Blanc and June Foray
Storch has been seen in over 25 Hollywood films, including The Great Race, Captain Newman Md, 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, 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.
After finding success in TV and films, Storch moved back to NYC to get back to what he loved most, 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 50 year Anniversary performing on Broadway with his first Broadway appearance in the 1958 Production Who was That Lady I Saw you With later a film Starring Dean Martin and Tony Curtis which Larry appeared. Storch, who is "Semi-Retired", likes to play his tenor sax in the park and do the occasional memorabilia show greeting his many fans.
Recorded a Comedy LP Larry Storch at The Bon Soir Released by Jubilee in the 60's.
Other Record's include Larry Storch Reads Philip Roth's Epstein, Larry Storch Pooped/Eighth Wonder of the World, Larry Storch I'm Walkin
Larry Storch is currently working on his autobiography, you can visit his Official Myspace Page for updates on this.
[edit] Personal life
Storch married Norma Catherine Greve on July 10, 1961. They remained married until her death in 2003. He has a bi-racial stepdaughter, June Cross who wrote the book "Secret Daughter" which is also an Emmy Winning "Frontline" special.
Larry had a brother Jay Lawrence who was also a Performer.
[edit] Trivia
- 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. [1]
- Splitsville paid tribute to Storch in their song "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Larry Storch, Larry Storch"
- Tony Curtis and Larry reunited for the musical version of Some Like It Hot in 2003.
Grew up and attended the same school in NYC along with Don Adams, Jerry Stiller, and Tony Curtis, retaining lifelong friendships.
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.
In less than 2 years time Storch appeared on 3 TV Guide Covers all with various F-Troop Co-stars, Storch having been the only one featured on all 3 covers. He also appeared on the cover of TV guide in 2000.
Larry Storch signs autographs for fans at film festivals including Chiller Theater and the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention. He played the recurring role of Charlie, the drunk, on Car 54, Where Are You?
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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