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Larry Drake

Highest Rated: 89% The Karate Kid (1984)

Lowest Rated: 0% Living the Dream (2006)

Birthday: Feb 21, 1950

Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA

Tall and husky in a gangly way, Larry Drake was so convincing as the developmentally-challenged Benny Stulwicz on NBC's "L.A. Law" for seven seasons (1987-94) that many viewers assumed he was himself developmentally challenged. The role won him two Emmy awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and turned an obscure stage career into that of a viable character player and occasional lead. Drake had migrated from Oklahoma to Dallas, TX to perform in regional theater after graduating from college. While he found regular work, he was unable to land a local TV commercial and decided to return to school. Auditioning for a university program towards a doctorate in theater, Drake was advised to abandon his plans for a teaching career and try his hand as a professional actor. Emboldened, he relocated to Southern California in 1980 and soon found employment at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre where he worked for four years. On occasion, Drake was able to snag small roles such as in the 1981 CBS movie "Dark Night of the Scarecrow," or in the feature "The Karate Kid" (1984). In 1987, Drake auditioned for a one-scene role on an episode of "L.A. Law"; the role was as a mentally-impaired adult male who had unwittingly committed a crime. Audience reaction to the character was so favorable that he was asked to join the regular cast of the series. His character, Benny Stulwicz, held a job at the law firm, learned to live on his own, found romance, tried to adopt a homeless teenaged boy, and provided an oddly common sense take on some of the more bizarre events at the firm. After winning his first Emmy, Drake landed strong supporting roles in TV-movies, including "Too Good to Be True" (NBC, 1988), a remake of the 1945 feature "Leave Her to Heaven," and "Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story" (CBS, 1991). By the late 90s, he had a pivotal role in the NBC miniseries "Peter Benchley's 'The Beast'" (1996) and returned to the series grind as co-star of the ABC drama "Prey" (1998). Trying to capitalize on his small screen fame, Drake segued to features as the deliciously sadistic crime boss Robert G Durant, the nemesis of Liam Neeson's "Darkman" (1990), a role he reprised in the Neeson-less sequel "Darkman II: The Return of Durant" (1995). He also portrayed a murderous heart surgeon in "Dr. Giggles" (1992) and a wealthy plantation owner searching for a runaway female slave in 'The Journey of August King" (1995). Drake continued working steadily in film and television, including roles in "American Pie 2" (2001) and "Firefly" (Fox 2002-03), while also ramping up his career as a voice actor, including recurring characters on the animated hit "Johnny Bravo" (Cartoon 1997-2004) and work on immersive video games. Larry Drake died on March 17, 2016 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 66 years old.

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Highest rated movies

89% 83% The Karate Kid Watchlist
83% 60% Darkman
Watchlist
63% 70% Green Lantern: First Flight
Watchlist
63% 64% Dark Night of the Scarecrow
Watchlist
57% 70% The Journey of August King
Watchlist
46% 39% Pathology
Watchlist
43% 39% Mrs. Harris
Watchlist
43% 53% Bean Watchlist
43% 52% Overnight Delivery
Watchlist
36% 75% Spun Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 16% The Secrets of Emily Blair John Doe (Character) - 2016
63% 70% Green Lantern: First Flight Ganthet (Voice) - 2009
46% 39% Pathology Fat Bastard (Character) $108.7K 2008
No Score Yet 9% Gryphon Armand (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 29% National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 Dean Dryer (Character) - 2006
0% 52% Living the Dream Richard (Character) - 2006
43% 39% Mrs. Harris Harris Defense Team Psychiatrist (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 8% Officer Down Capt. Raymond Taggart (Character) - 2005
36% 75% Spun Dr. K (Character) $410.2K 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet L.A. Law: The Movie Benny Stulwicz (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 17% Dark Asylum The Trasher (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 40% Durango Kids Dudley (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 62% TimeQuest J. Edgar Hoover (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Runaway Virus Dr. Griggs (Character) - 2000
0% 36% Desert Heat Ramsey Hogan (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Coyote Moon Ramsey Hogan (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Paranoia Calvin Hawks (Character) - 1998
43% 52% Overnight Delivery Hal Ipswich (Character) - 1998
43% 53% Bean Elmer (Character) $45.3M 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Time of Her Time Dr. Joyce (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 56% The Beast Lucas Coven (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet 43% Peter Benchley's The Beast Unknown (Character) - 1996
57% 70% The Journey of August King Olaf Singletary (Character) $6.0K 1995
33% 20% Darkman II: The Return of Durant Robert G. Durant (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet One More Mountain Patrick Breen (Character) - 1994
23% 42% Dr. Giggles Doctor Evan Rendell (Character) $8.2M 1992
No Score Yet 27% Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story Mark Sisti (Character) - 1991
83% 60% Darkman Robert G. Durant (Character) $32.8M 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Too Good to Be True Glen Robie (Character) - 1988
89% 83% The Karate Kid Yahoo 1 (Character) - 1984
63% 64% Dark Night of the Scarecrow Bubba Ritter (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Trucker's Woman Diesel Joe (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet This Stuff'll Kill Ya! Bubba (Character) - 1971

TV

Credit
86% 90% Boston Legal Bishop Luke Bernard (Guest Star) 2008
77% 96% Firefly Sir Warwick Harrow (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet 59% Johnny Bravo Unknown (Voice) 1999-2002
81% 96% Six Feet Under Inspector Gerson (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thieves Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
76% 80% Star Trek: Voyager Chellick (Guest Star) 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fantasy Island Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
33% No Score Yet Prey Dr. Walter Attwood (Character) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dead Man's Gun Unknown (Character) 1997
64% No Score Yet The Naked Truth Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Outer Limits Robert Vitale (Character) 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet L.A. Law Benny Stulwicz (Character) 1986-1994
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1989-1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hunter Kirkland (Guest Star) 1987