Larry J. Blake

Larry J. Blake (April 24, 1914 – May 25, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned over four decades, beginning in the golden age of vaudeville and extending into the late‑1970s television era. Born in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, New York, he first earned fame as a skilled impersonator, eventually headlining at iconic New York venues such as the Roxy Theatre and the Rainbow Room before receiving a screen test from Universal Studios in 1936. His film debut came a year later with the serial Secret Agent X‑9 (1937), and he quickly accumulated supporting roles in titles like The Road Back (1937) and The Jury’s Secret (1938), establishing himself as a reliable character actor often cast as policemen, detectives, or rugged side‑players. During World War II Blake served in the U.S. Navy, an experience marked by a battle with alcoholism that nearly led to a dishonorable discharge; a Jesuit priest introduced him to Alcoholics Anonymous while he recovered in a California military hospital. In 1947 he founded the first Motion Picture AA group, dedicating the next thirty‑five years to assisting colleagues and industry friends in achieving sobriety. After the war he returned to screen work, appearing in classics such as Sunset Boulevard (1950), High Noon (1952), and the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), as well as later family favorites like The Shaggy Dog (1959) and Herbie Rides Again (1974). His television résumé included frequent guest spots on Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Waltons, and a regular role on Pride of the Family (1953‑54). Blake’s final film role was a guard in Time After Time (1979). He died on May 25, 1982, and is interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery; his wife Teresa survived him until 2005, and their son Michael pursued a career as a makeup artist after an early stint as a child actor.