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 Boulevard (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.
Time After Time(1979)as Guard
Project U.F.O.(1978)as LAPD Bunco Detective
The Waltons(1972)as Charley
Kojak(1973)as Desk Lt.
Washington: Behind Closed Doors(1977)as Police Captain
Lassie(1954)
Jack Benny's Birthday Special(1969)as Self
Carnival Nights(1968)as Policeman
The Jerry Lewis Show(1967)as Self
The NBC Comedy Hour(1956)as Self, Self - Actor
The Frank Sinatra Show(1950)as Self - Sketch Actor
The Magical World of Disney(1954)as Police Officer, Track Timekeeper, Officer Ed Mercer, Pete
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years(1976)as Fireman
Superman Flies Again(1954)as Steve Martin
