Larry Drake

Lawrence Richard Drake (February 21, 1950 – March 17, 2016) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Benny Stulwicz in L.A. Law, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards. He also appeared as Robert G. Durant in both Darkman and Darkman II: The Return of Durant, a homicidal mental patient who escapes an insane asylum in the slasher black comedy Dr. Giggles, and was the voice of Pops in Johnny Bravo.

Early life Larry Richard Drake was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1950, the son of Raymond John Drake, a drafting engineer for an oil company, and Lorraine Ruth (née Burns), a homemaker. He graduated from Tulsa Edison High School and the University of Oklahoma.

Career Drake is mostly remembered for his portrayal of developmentally disabled Benny Stulwicz in L.A. Law, from 1987 until the show's end in 1994, for which he twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. in 1988 and 1989. He returned to the role of Benny in the 2002 reunion film L.A. Law: The Movie.

He appeared in numerous film and television roles, including Time Quest, Dark Asylum, Paranoid, Bean, Overnight Delivery, The Beast, The Journey of August King, Murder in New Hampshire, Dr. Giggles, Darkman, Darkman II: The Return of Durant, The Taming of the Shrew, American Pie 2, and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. He was a regular on Prey. Drake provided the voice of Pops in Johnny Bravo. In 2007, he co-starred in Gryphon, a Sci-Fi Pictures original film.

Drake also performed frequently on stage at theaters including South Coast Repertory, Old Globe Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre Center, and the Dallas Theater Center, with more than 100 roles over the course of his career.

Drake was a longtime student of acting teacher and coach Stephen Book and his Improvisation Technique, the application of improvisation to scripted acting. In 2003, Drake became Book's assistant at the Stephen Book Acting Workshop in Hollywood and in 2006 began teaching his own classes there as well. He continued teaching at the workshop until his death.

Personal life Drake was married from 1989 to 1991 to Ruth de Sosa, an actress and producer known for her roles in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Death On March 17, 2016, Drake was found dead in his Los Angeles home at the age of 67. Drake's manager, Steven Siebert, reported that he had some health problems in the months before his death. It was later reported that Drake had a rare form of blood cancer that caused his blood to thicken.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1971 This Stuff'll Kill Ya! Bubba 1975 Trucker's Woman Joe 'Diesel Joe' 1976 The Electric Chair Courtroom Observer Uncredited 1976 Date with a Kidnapper Age Home Attendant 1978 The Seniors Bus Sign Installer Uncredited 1980 The Big Brawl Judge #1 1981 The White Lions Fiske 1981 Dark Night of the Scarecrow Bubba Ritter Television film 1983 The Taming of the Shrew Baptista Short 1984 The Karate Kid Yahoo #1 At Beach 1986 The Ladies Club Cop #2 1988 For Keeps Night Clerk 1988 Too Good to Be True Glen Robie Television film 1989 Oh, Henry! Henry Television film 1990 Darkman Robert G. Durant Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor 1991 Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story Mark Sisti Television film 1992 Dr. Giggles Dr. Evan Rendell Jr. / Dr. Giggles 1992 Blind Geronimo and His Brother Unknown 1994 One More Mountain Patrick Breen Television film 1995 Darkman II: The Return of Durant Robert G. Durant Direct-to-video 1995 The Journey of August King Olaf Singletary 1996 The Beast Lucas Coven Television film 1997 Bean Elmer 1998 Overnight Delivery Hal Ipswich 1998 Paranoia Calvin Hawks 1998 The Treat Ray 1999 Inferno Ramsey Hogan 1999 Durango Kids Dudley 2000 Runaway Virus Dr. Griggs Television film 2000 Time of Her Time Dr. Joyce 2000 Timequest J. Edgar Hoover 2001 American Pie 2 Natalie's Dad 2001 Dark Asylum 'The Trasher' 2002 L.A. Law: The Movie Benny Stulwicz Television film 2002 Spun Dr. K. 2005 Jenny Says Dr. Weinhouse Short 2005 I Will Avenge You, Iago! The Warden 2005 Officer Down Captain Raymond Taggart Television film 2005 Mrs. Harris Harris, Defense Team Psychiatrist Television film 2006 Living the Dream Richard 2006 Love Hollywood Style Walter 2006 National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 Dean Dryer 2007 Gryphon Armand The Sorcerer 2008 Pathology 'Fat Bastard' 2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Ganthet Voice, direct-to-video 2009 Dead Air Vernon 2016 The Secrets of Emily Blair John Doe Final film role

Television Year Title Role Notes 1983 American Playhouse Conveener / Homer Episode: "The Skin of Our Teeth" 1983 Hardcastle and McCormick Jesse Roberts Episode: "Just Another Round of That Old Song" 1986 Code of Vengeance Jack Fergusen Episode: "Rustler's Moon" 1987 Hunter Kirkland Episode: "Hot Pursuit, Part 2" 1987–1994 L.A. Law Benny Stulwicz 144 episodesPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (1988–1989)Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1988–1989)Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1989–1990, 1992)Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (1990) 1989–1990 Tales from the Crypt Killer Santa, Tobias 2 episodes: "And All Through the House" and "The Secret" 1995 The Outer Limits Robert Vitale Episode: "The Message" 1995 The Naked Truth Dr. Bryce Fromm Episode: "Elvis Is Coming!" 1996 Superman: The Animated Series Mr. Eelan Voice, episode: "My Girl" 1996Road RoversCaptain Zachary StormVoice, 2 episodes 1997 Spy Game Leo Ludwig Episode: "Well, Nothing to Fear but Death Itself" 1997 Dead Man's Gun Samuel 'Buryin' Sam' Roller Episode: "Buryin' Sam" 1998 Prey Dr. Walter Attwood 14 episodes 1998 Fantasy Island Bill Terken Episode: "Estrogen" 1999 Batman Beyond Jackson Chappell Voice, episode: "The Winning Edge" 1999–2001 Johnny Bravo Pops, additional voices Voice, 26 episodes 2000 The Fearing Mind Police Officer Hooper Episode: "On the Road" 2000 Star Trek: Voyager Chellick Episode: "Critical Care" 2001 Stargate SG-1 Burrock Episode: "Beast of Burden" 2001 Thieves Robert Ventana Episode: "The Long Con" 2002 As Told by Ginger Dr. Weinstein Voice, episode: "Never Can Say Goodbye" 2002 Six Feet Under Inspector Gerson Episode: "The Last Time" 2002 A Nero Wolfe Mystery Hackett Episode: "Help Wanted, Male" 2002 Firefly Sir Warwick Harrow Episode: "Shindig" 2003 Crossing Jordan Tom Episode: "Wild Card" 2003 Justice League Colonel Vox Voice, episode: "Maid of Honor" 2004 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Moss T. Meister Voice, episode: "Recipe for Disaster" 2006 7th Heaven Mr. Riley Episode: "And More Secrets" 2008 Boston Legal Bishop Luke Bernard Episode: "The Gods Must Be Crazy"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2008 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Kazdan Paratus