Larry Bishop

The son of comic Joey Bishop, Larry Bishop grew up surrounded by show business, not to mention his father's "Rat Pack" pals such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Bishop fils decided to try acting, but for more than 25 years he languished in the obscure world of small parts until, in the 90s, Bishop began writing his own screenplays -- often tales of the mob -- and made his directorial debut with "Mad Dog Time" (1996). The latter was the story of a mob boss who is released from a mental ward. Bishop also wrote the script and played a key role. Also in 1996 came the release of "Underworld," which he wrote and had a role. Bishop was born in Philadelphia and raised across the Hudson from Manhattan in New Jersey, but by high school was in Beverly Hills, where he met such future filmmakers as Richard Dreyfuss, Rob Reiner, and Albert Brooks. After graduation, they performed together in an improvisational group, but it soon disbanded. Bishop turned to acting, making his feature film debut in "Wild in the Streets" (1968), the American International Pictures low-budget effort about a teen revolution which has become a cult classic. That same year he appeared in two other AIP movies, "The Savage Seven" and "The Devil's Eight." But his parts were small. Bishop played a pilot in "Angel Unchained" (1970), and a motorcycle gang member in "Shanks" (1974). Buddy Richard Dreyfuss gave Bishop a featured role in "The Big Fix" (1978), which Dreyfuss also produced, but by 1982, Bishop's film career had sputtered to where he was playing a bit role as a guard in "The Sting II." TV also offered unrewarding roles. Bishop guested on such series as "I Dream of Jeannie" and "King Fu," and in 1979 had a co-starring role in an unsold CBS pilot about a retail establishment called "Beane's of Boston." Bishop also had roles in the 1970 TV movie "High Midnight" (CBS), and "The Girl From Left Field" (ABC, 1973). Like many others, Bishop decided that if he was to get meatier roles, he would have to write them himself, but in case, unlike so many others, the attempt worked. He raised the money to make "Mad Dog Time" and it was picked up by MGM/UA earning good critical reaction.