John Larroquette

John Bernard Larroquette (; born November 25, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in the NBC military drama series Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976–1978), the NBC sitcom Night Court (1984–1992; 2023–2025) for which he received four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards wins for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series during the earlier incarnation, the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (1993–1996), the David E. Kelley legal drama series The Practice (1997–2002), the ABC legal comedy-drama series Boston Legal (2004–2008), and the TNT series The Librarians (2014–2018).

In 2011, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revival of Frank Loesser's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying alongside Daniel Radcliffe. He played J. B. Bigley in a role for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. The following year he starred as William Russell in the Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man (2012) directed by Mike Nichols starring James Earl Jones, Candice Bergen, and Angela Lansbury.

He made his film debut by providing the opening narration of the horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), following which he appeared in films such as Stripes (1981), Choose Me (1984), Blind Date (1987), Madhouse (1990), Richie Rich (1994), and the Hallmark Channel mystery series McBride (2005–2008).

Early life Larroquette was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 25, 1947, the son of Berthalla Oramous, a department store clerk, and John Edgar Larroquette Jr., who was in the United States Navy. His paternal grandfather, John (Jean Edgar) Larroquette Sr., was born in France (1881) and emigrated to the United States in 1895.

Larroquette grew up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, near the French Quarter. He played clarinet and saxophone through childhood and into high school. He attended Holy Cross School through his sophomore year before involuntarily moving to Francis T. Nicholls High School to finish his secondary education. It was his senior year at Nicholls High School that he first discovered acting. He was offered a scholarship to Louisiana State University after winning a state high school speech title but decided not to attend the university.

Career Early career His first acting role in Hollywood was providing the opening voiceover narration for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Larroquette did this as a favor for the film's director Tobe Hooper, and was paid in marijuana. His first series regular role was in the 1970s NBC program Baa Baa Black Sheep, where he portrayed a World War II United States Marine Corps fighter pilot, 2nd Lt. Bob Anderson.

In a 1975 appearance on Sanford and Son, Larroquette played Lamont's counterpart in a fictitious sitcom based on Fred and Lamont called "Steinberg and Son". During the filming of Stripes (1981), his nose was nearly cut off in an accident. He ran down a hall into a door that was supposed to open but did not, and his head went through the window in the door.

Night Court (1984–1992)

Larroquette played Assistant District Attorney Dan Fielding on Night Court; the character was initially rather conservative, but changed after the sitcom's creator Reinhold Weege came to learn more about Larroquette's sense of humor. His four consecutive wins were, at the time, a record.

Night Court ran on NBC from 1984 until 1992. Larroquette, Harry Anderson (as Judge Harry Stone), and Richard Moll (as bailiff Bull Shannon) appeared in every episode of the series. There was talk a spin-off show revolving around Dan Fielding, but Larroquette rejected the idea.

The John Larroquette Show Instead of a spin-off, Larroquette and Don Reo developed a show revolving around some of Larroquette's own personal demons, particularly alcoholism. The John Larroquette Show, named by the insistence of NBC, starred Larroquette as the character John Hemingway. The show was lauded by critics, but failed to attract the prime-time audience, ranking around number 97 for most of the first season.

NBC threatened cancellation; however, Larroquette and Reo were granted the chance to retool the series, which saw it carry on for just over two more seasons, ending during its fourth season after 84 episodes, the last six of which were not aired. The show has a loyal cult following, although the series has never received an official home video release from Warner Bros.

Boston Legal and other television roles In 1998, he guest-starred on three episodes of the legal drama The Practice. His portrayal of Joey Heric, a wealthy, wisecracking, narcissistic psychopath with a habit of stabbing his gay lovers to death, won him his fifth Emmy Award. He reprised the role for one episode in 2002, for which he was once again nominated for an Emmy Award. He also appeared in an episode of The West Wing as White House Counsel Lionel Tribbey.

In 2003, Larroquette reprised his narration for the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From 2004 to 2006, he played the title role in the McBride series of ten Hallmark Mysteries television films. In 2007, he joined the cast of Boston Legal playing Carl Sack, a serious, ethical lawyer. He also guest-starred in the drama House where he played a previously catatonic father awakened to try to save his son.

From 2014 to 2018, Larroquette was a regular on The Librarians as Jenkins (actually the long-lived Camelot knight Sir Galahad), who provides support to the Librarians as a researcher and caretaker.

Film His starring roles include the 1989 film Second Sight with Bronson Pinchot, and the 1990 film Madhouse with Kirstie Alley. Other films in which Larroquette had significant roles include: Stripes (1981), Blind Date (1987), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Choose Me (1984), Meatballs Part II (1984), Summer Rental (1985), JFK (1991), and Richie Rich (1994).

Theatre In 1975 he portrayed the lead role in the comedic play Tarboosh! at the Studio Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Larroquette made his musical stage debut in the Los Angeles production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! as Old Max in 2009. He made his Broadway debut in the 2011 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as J B. Biggley alongside Daniel Radcliffe.

He appeared on Broadway in a revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man, starring James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, and Candice Bergen. In early 2019, he was back in New York City starring in the play Nantucket Sleigh Ride by John Guare, at the Lincoln Center Theatre. In this off-beat play, Larroquette portrayed the lead character, Edmund "Mundie" Gowery, for a three-month run.

Personal life Larroquette met his wife Elizabeth Ann Cookson in 1974 while working in the play Enter Laughing. They married on July 4, 1975, as that was the only day they had off from rehearsals. Cookson had a daughter, Lisa, from a previous relationship, and she and Larroquette would have two sons together, Jonathan and Benjamin. Jonathan co-hosts a comedy podcast called Uhh Yeah Dude.

Larroquette battled alcoholism from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 10, 2007, he joked, "I was known to have a cocktail or sixty." He stopped drinking on February 6, 1982.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1966 Follow Me, Boys! Lieutenant Uncredited 1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Narrator 1980 Altered States X-Ray Technician 1980 Heart Beat TV Talk Show Host 1981 Green Ice Claude 1981 Stripes Captain Stillman 1982 Cat People Bronte Judson 1983 Hysterical Bob X. Cursion 1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie K.K.K. Member 1984 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Maltz, a Klingon warrior 1984 Choose Me Billy Ace 1984 Meatballs Part II Lieutenant Felix Foxglove 1985 Lifeforce Narrator 1985 Summer Rental Don Moore 1987 Blind Date David Bedford 1989 Second Sight Wilbur Wills 1990 Madhouse Mark Bannister 1990 Tune in Tomorrow Dr. Albert Quince 1991 JFK Jerry Johnson Director's cut 1994 Richie Rich Lawrence Van Dough 1995 Demon Knight Slasher Uncredited 2000 Isn't She Great Maury Manning 2003 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Narrator 2003 Beethoven's 5th Mayor Harold Herman 2006 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Narrator Uncredited 2006 Southland Tales Vaughn Smallhouse 2006 Kill Your Darlings Dr. Bangley 2007 The Rapture of the Athlete Assumed Into Heaven The Reporter Short film 2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Tomar-Re Voice 2010 Gun Sam Boedecker 2010 Sudden Death! Commander Jenkins Short film 2011 Inventors Professor Morasco Short film 2015 F.Y.D. Frank Reese Voice, short film 2016 Camera Store Ray LaPine 2020 Keep Hope Alive Bernie Loewenstein 2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Narrator

Television Year Title Role Notes 1975 Doctors' Hospital Dr. Paul Herman 3 episodes 1975 Sanford and Son Murray Steinberg Episode: "Steinberg and Son" 1975 Kojak Sailor Episode: "How Cruel the Frost, How Bright the Stars" 1975 Ellery Queen Bellhop Episode: "The Adventure of the Pharaoh's Curse" 1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Barone Episode: "Part IV: Chapter 6" 1978 Greatest Heroes of the Bible Currently Unknown Episode: "Joseph in Egypt" 1976–1978 Baa Baa Black Sheep 2nd Lieutenant Bob Anderson 29 episodes 1979 Three's Company Cop Episode: "Jack Moves Out" 1979 Fantasy Island Valery Episode: "The Inventor/On the Other Side" 1979 The 416th Lieutenant Jackson MacCalvey Television film 1980 Stunts Unlimited Leading Man Television film 1981 Mork & Mindy Baba Hope Episode: "Alienation" 1982 Dallas Phillip Colton 2 episodes 1982 Cassie & Co. Currently Unknown Episode: "Lover Come Back" 1982 Bare Essence Arthur Williams Television film 1982 9 to 5 Unknown Episode: "Dick Doesn't Live Here Anymore" 1983 The Last Ninja Army Officer Television film 1984 Remington Steele Nathan Fitts Episode: "Breath of Steele" 1984–1992 Night Court Reinhold Daniel Fielding Elmore 193 episodes 1986 Convicted Douglas Forbes Television film 1988 Hot Paint Gus Television film 1988 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "John Larroquette/Randy Newman & Mark Knopfler" 1991 One Special Victory Bo Television film 1995 Dave's World Dave's lawyer Episode: "Health Hath No Fury" 1993–1996 The John Larroquette Show John Hemingway 84 episodes 1997 The Defenders: Payback Michael Lane Television film 1997–2002 The Practice Joey Heric 5 episodes 1999 Payne Royal Payne 9 episodes 2000 The 10th Kingdom Anthony 'Tony' Lewis 10 episodes 2000 The West Wing Lionel Tribbey Episode: "And It's Surely to Their Credit" 2001 Walter and Henry Walter Television film 2001 The Heart Department Dr. Fred Biskin Television film 2001 Till Dad Do Us Part Gavin Corbett Television film 2001 The Incurable Collector Host 22 episodes 2002 Corsairs Brandon Corsair Television film 2003 Recipe for Disaster Patrick Korda Television film 2003–2004 Happy Family Peter Brennan 22 episodes 2004 Wedding Daze Jack Landry Television film 2005–2008 McBride Mike McBride 10 television films 2005 Kitchen Confidential Chef Gerard Episode: "Dinner Date with Death" 2005 Joey Benjamin Lockwood 4 episodes 2006 Arrested Development John Larroquette Episode: "S.O.B.s" 2006 House Gabriel Wozniak Episode: "Son of Coma Guy" 2007–2008 The Batman Mirror Master Voice, 2 episodes 2007–2008 Boston Legal Carl Sack 33 episodes 2008–2011 Chuck Roan Montgomery 2 episodes 2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Randall Carver Episode: "Anchor" 2009 The Storm Bud McGrath 2 episodes 2009–2010 Phineas and Ferb Bob Webber Voice, 2 episodes 2010 Parks and Recreation Frank Beckerson Episode: "Galentine's Day" 2010 Pleading Guilty Martin Gold Television film 2010 White Collar Donovan Episode: "In the Red" 2010 CSI: NY Chief Ted Carver 3 episodes 2010 15 Minutes David Sloan Television film 2011 Late Show with David Letterman J.B. Biggley Episode: "How to Succeed in Business Without Trying" 2012 Pound Puppies Mayor Voice, episode: "Squawk" 2013 Deception Senator Dwight Haverstock 9 episodes 2014 Almost Human Dr. Nigel Vaughn Episode: "Unbound" 2014–2018 The Librarians Jenkins 41 episodes 2015 The Brink Robert Kittredge 7 episodes 2017–2018 Me, Myself & I Older Alex Riley 13 episodes 2018 Murphy Brown Judge Nate Campbell Episode: "A Lifetime of Achievement" 2018 Three Rivers Beau Television film 2019 The Twilight Zone President James Stevens Episode: "The Wunderkind" 2019 Blood & Treasure Jacob Whitman Reece III 5 episodes 2020 The Good Fight Gavin Firth 6 episodes 2023–2025 Night Court Dan Fielding 47 episodes

Theatre

Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryNominated workResult American Comedy Awards 1990 Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series Night Court Drama Desk Awards 2011 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Golden Globe Awards 1987 Best Supporting Actor – Television Night Court Primetime Emmy Awards 1985 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Night Court 1986 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 1987 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 1988 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series 1994 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series The John Larroquette Show 1998 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Practice 2002 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Saturn Awards 2015 Best Guest Starring Role on Television The Librarians Screen Actors Guild Awards 2007 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Boston Legal 2008 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Tony Awards 2011 Best Featured Actor in a Musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Viewers for Quality Television 1994 Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series The John Larroquette Show 1995 Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series 1998 Best Recurring Player The Practice