Larry Riley

Larry Riley (June 20, 1952 – June 6, 1992) was an American actor and musician, best known for his role as C.J. Memphis in the film A Soldier's Story and as Frank Williams in the prime-time TV soap opera Knots Landing.

Early life and career Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Riley began acting in high school before studying drama at Memphis State University. He made his professional stage debut in 1971, and went on to appear in various stage productions on and off-Broadway including A Broadway Musical, Shakespeare's Cabaret, I Love My Wife, and Big River, a musical based on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In 1982, Riley won a Clarence Derwent and Obie Award for his performance in A Soldier's Play. He later reprised the role in the 1984 film based on the play. From 1984 to 1985, Riley portrayed the role of Curtis Taylor, Jr. in the national touring company of Dreamgirls. He also appeared as the leading player in the U.S. touring company of Pippin.

From 1980 to 1982, Riley portrayed Calvin Barnes in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors. He later had guest roles on Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice, and appeared in Louis Malle's 1984 film Crackers. In 1985, Riley starred in the short-lived sitcom Stir Crazy, based on the 1980 film of the same name. He also voiced the arch-villain Dumping Jack Trash in the children's animated series Fantastic Max.

In addition to acting, Riley was also a musician and singer. He performed two songs in his role as Reverend Gillis in the Emmy-nominated Polly and the following year's sequel, Polly! Comin' Home. He sang in several episodes of Knots Landing and also composed the score for several episodes.

Illness and death In May 1989, Riley entered rehab for drug and alcohol abuse. The following year, he discovered he was HIV positive. According to his wife Nina, Riley "was not gay. He was not bisexual. He did not use needles at all. He speculated it was from a woman. Because he was quite the womanizer."

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1980–1982 The Doctors Calvin Barnes Unknown episodes 1982 Muggable Mary, Street Cop Steve Kelsey TV movie 1982 Hill Street Blues Vernon Tucker Episode: "Little Boil Blue" 1984 Crackers Boardwalk 1984 A Soldier's Story C.J. Memphis 1984 Miami Vice Bobby Price Episode: "Cool Runnin'" 1985 Stir Crazy Harry Fletcher 9 episodes 1985 Badge of the Assassin Herman Bell TV movie 1986 The Twilight Zone Joshua Episode: "Quarantine" 1986 The Fall Guy Cleveland Tudor Episode: "Two on a Skip" 1986 One Police Plaza Detective Starling TV movie 1987 Spenser: For Hire Bo Braxton Episode: "One for My Daughter" 1987 Long Gone Joe Louis Brown TV movie 1988–1992 Knots Landing Frank Williams 111 episodes, (final appearance) 1988 Dead Solid Perfect Spec TV movie 1988 Fantastic Max Dumping Jack Trash Voice, 3 episodes 1989 Unconquered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. TV movie 1989 Polly Reverend Gillis TV movie 1990 Polly: Comin' Home! Reverend Gillis TV movie

Awards and nominations