Larry J. Blake

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Larry J. Blake was born in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York on April 24, 1914. At the age of 18, his talent at impersonations and dialects grew into a vaudeville act. Blake eventually became a headliner, playing the Orpheum circuit, as well as the Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. In 1936, he signed to a contract with Universal studios, and his first job was in the serial Secret Agent X-9 (1937). Right after that, he was chosen for a featured role in James Whale's The Road Back (1937), a sequel to All Quiet on the Western Front (1930). He appeared in other films for Universal including a string of 1938 films, Trouble at Midnight (1937), Air Devils (1938), Nurse from Brooklyn (1938), and The Jury's Secret (1938). With the outbreak of WWII, Blake joined the U.S. Navy serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He was mustered out and treated at a Naval hospital for his alcoholism. A Catholic priest helped Blake join Alcoholics Anonymous, and in 1946 he help start the first A.A. group for members of the motion picture industry. Blake returned to acting in 1946, working steadily in supporting and bit parts throughout the 1950s. He is best known for his roles in Sunset Blvd. (1950) and High Noon (1952). In Sunset Boulevard he played the first finance man who comes to repossess William Holden's car. In High Noon, Blake played Gillis, the owner of the saloon who is punched by Gary Cooper. As television's popularity began, Blake found plenty of work from westerns, crime dramas to comedies. He was a regular in The Pride of the Family (1953) television series, as well as the recurring part of the friendly jailer in Yancy Derringer (1958). His last role was as the museum security guard in Time After Time (1979), when he was forced to retire due to emphysema. Until his death in 1982, Blake continued helping others in the A.A. program. (IMDB)

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

1979
Time After Time
Movie Guard
1977
Demon Seed
Movie Cameron
1975
Search for the Gods
Movie Jailer
1975
The Strongest Man in the World
Movie Pete
1974
Herbie Rides Again
Movie Police Officer
1974
The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton
Movie Police Chief
1973
Kojak
TV show Desk Lt.
1973
The Stone Killer
Movie Police Commissioner
1973
Bonnie's Kids
Movie Poker Player with Glasses
1972
Kung Fu
TV show Dave Etling
1972
Ghost Story
TV show Mr. Mobley
1971
Diamonds Are Forever
Movie Water Balloon Game Barker-Operator (uncredited)
1971
One More Train to Rob
Movie Barber (uncredited)
1970
Night Gallery
TV show Charles Crowley
1969
Marcus Welby, M.D.
TV show Capt. Merriman
1968
The Love Bug
Movie Track Timekeeper (uncredited)

More credits

1968
Here's Lucy
TV show Manager Drive-In Movie
1968
Adam-12
TV show Booking Officer
1968
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
Movie Salesman (uncredited)
1968
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
Movie First Outspoken Man (uncredited)
1968
Hang 'em High
Movie Prisoner in Compound
1968
Carnival Nights
Movie Policeman
1967
The Second Hundred Years
TV show Thompson
1967
Ironside
TV show Auctioneer
1966
The Swinger
Movie Honest Hal (uncredited)
1966
Mission: Impossible
TV show Eckhart
1966
The Rare Breed
Movie Auctioneer (uncredited)
1965
That Darn Cat!
Movie Police Officer (uncredited)
1965
The F.B.I.
TV show Dispatcher
1965
That Funny Feeling
Movie Policeman
1964
Sex and the Single Girl
Movie Policeman (uncredited)
1964
The Munsters
TV show The Desk Sergeant (as Larry Blake)
1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV show Metcalf
1963
The Fugitive
TV show Charlie
1963
Arrest and Trial
TV show Barker
1962
Flashing Spikes
Movie 1st Reporter
1962
The Lucy Show
TV show Medicine Man
1962
The Beverly Hillbillies
TV show Cab Driver
1962
The Virginian
TV show Farnum
1962
Saints and Sinners
TV show Tom Parnell