As a kid growing up in a tough neighborhood, kinetic wise-guy Larry Storch took in the multi-ethnic flavor of his surroundings and started blurting out various accents as a juvenile to provoke laughs and earn attention. Little did he know then that this devious little talent would take him on a six-decade journey as a prime actor and comedian. Larry's gift as an impressionist paid off early as a t ...
show all As a kid growing up in a tough neighborhood, kinetic wise-guy Larry Storch took in the multi-ethnic flavor of his surroundings and started blurting out various accents as a juvenile to provoke laughs and earn attention. Little did he know then that this devious little talent would take him on a six-decade journey as a prime actor and comedian. Larry's gift as an impressionist paid off early as a teen in vaudeville houses. Following military duty during WWII as a seaman (1942-1946), he received his first break on radio with "The Kraft Music Hall" when he was asked to sub for an ailing Frank Morgan . Larry not only delivered his patent star impersonations, he did a devastating one of Morgan himself that went over well. A summer hosting replacement on the TV variety "The "Cavalcade of Stars" (1949)" led to his own variety series "Larry Storch Show, The" (1953)". In musical revues from the early 1950s with such showcases as "Red, Hot and Blue" and "Curtain Going Up," Larry also became a fixture on the night club circuit as well. He made a leap into legit acting with the musical "You Never Know" (1955) and comedies "The Tender Trap" (1956) and "Who Was that Lady I Saw You With?" (1958) in which he played a hyper Russian spy. In the meantime, a long-lasting friendship that formulated during his Navy days paid off in spades. Star Tony Curtis started finding work for his buddy in his films, beginning with an unbilled bit in the Universal costumer "Prince Who Was a Thief (1951)". When Larry's career was going through a noticeable lull in the early 60s, Curtis again came to the rescue by giving him top supporting roles in some of his prime cinematic fluff -- "Who Was That Lady? (1960)", in which he recreated his stage role, "40 Pounds of Trouble (1962)", "Sex and the Single Girl (1964)" and "Wild and Wonderful (1964)". TV audiences soon started catching his manic-looking mug regularly on sitcom TV. Larry's biggest claim to fame would come via his role as Forrest Tucker's beleaguered sidekick, Corporal Agarn, on the western comedy "F Troop" (1965)". While continuing to make an "impression" in night clubs, Larry found a lucrative outlet in animation too, giving vocal life to four decades' worth of cartoons, including the "Tennessee Tuxedo," "Underdog," "Pink Panther and "Scooby-Doo" series. He also provided the voice of Koko the Clown in the syndicated cartoon show "Out of the Inkwell" (1961)". Beginning in the 1980s he made a comic resurgence of sorts under the theater lights, appearing in a healthy run opposite Jean Stapleton and Marion Ross in "Arsenic and Old Lace" between 1986-1988, and was subsequently featured in the musicals "Oklahoma!" (1990) and in "Annie Get Your Gun" (2000), the latter as Chief Sitting Bull. He also appeared with his friend Curtis again, this time in a musical stage version of Curtis' classic film "Some Like It Hot." Larry was married to wife Norma from 1961 until her death from cancer in 2003.
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