Larry Drake (February 21, 1950 – March 17, 2016) was an American actor, best known as Benny Stulwicz on L.A. Law.

Life and career

Drake was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Lorraine Ruth (née Burns), ahomemaker, and Raymond John Drake, a drafting engineer for an oil company. He graduated from Tulsa Edison High School and theUniversity of Oklahoma.

Drake is best known for his portrayal of developmentally disabled Benny Stulwicz on the television show L.A. Law from 1987 until the show's end in 1994, for which he won two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards (1988, 1989). 

He returned to the part of Benny in L.A. Law: The Movie, a "reunion movie" that aired on NBC in 2002.

Drake appeared in numerous television and film 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 (1983), American Pie 2, and Dark Night of the Scarecrow. He was a regular on the 1998 science fiction TV show Prey. Drake provided the voice acting for Pops on Johnny Bravo. In 2007 he co-starred in the made for TV movie Gryphon, a Sci-Fi Pictures original film.

Personal life

Drake was married once (1989–1991), to Ruth de Sosa.

Death

Drake died on March 17, 2016, aged 66. A cause of death is yet to be released, but TMZ reported that he was found dead in his Hollywood home by a friend.

Filmography

1971This Stuff'll Kill YaBubba
1975Trucker's WomanDiesel Joe
1976Date with a KidnapperAge Home Attendant
1976The Electric ChairCourtroom ObserverUncredited1978The SeniorsBus Sign InstallerUncredited1980The Big BrawlJudge #1
1981The White LionsFiske
1981Dark Night of the ScarecrowBubba RitterTelevision movie1983The Taming of the ShrewBaptista
1984The Karate KidYahoo #1 at Beach
1986The Ladies ClubCop No. 2
1988For KeepsNight Clerk
1988Too Good to be TrueGlen Robie
1989Oh, Henry!Henry
1990DarkmanRobert G. DurantNominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor1991Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart StoryMark Sisti
1992Dr. GigglesDoctor Evan Rendell (Dr. Giggles)
1992Blind Geronimo and His BrotherUnknown
1994One More MountainPatrick BreenTelevision movie1995Darkman II: The Return of DurantRobert G. Durant
1995The Journey of August KingOlaf Singletary
1996The BeastLucas CovenTelevision movie1997BeanElmer
1998ParanoiaCalvin Hawks
1998Overnight DeliveryHal Ipswich
1998The TreatRay
1999Batman Beyond: The MovieJackson ChappellTelevision movie1999InfernoRamsey Hogan
1999Durango KidsDudley
2000Runaway VirusDr. GriggsTelevision movie2000Time of Her TimeDr. Joyce
2001American Pie 2Natalie's Dad
2001Dark AsylumThe Trasher
2002TimequestJ. Edgar Hoover
2002L.A. Law: The MovieBenny StulwiczTelevision movie2002SpunDr. K
2005Jenny SaysDr. WeinhouseShort film2005I Will Avenge You, Iago!The Warden
2005Officer DownCaptain Raymond TaggartTelevision movie2005Mrs. HarrisHarris, Defense Team PsychiatristTelevision movie2006Love Hollywood StyleWalter
2006National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2Dean Dryer
2007GryphonArmandTelevision movie2008PathologyFat Bastard
2009Green Lantern: First FlightGanthet
2009Dead AirVernon

YearTitleRoleNotes1983American PlayhouseConveener / HomerEpisode: The Skin of Our Teeth1983Hardcastle and McCormickJesse RobertsEpisode: "Just Another Round of That Old Song"1986Code of VengeanceJack FergusenEpisode: "Rustler's Moon"1987HunterKirklandEpisode: "Hot Pursuit, Part 2"1987–1994L.A. LawBenny Stulwicz143 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (1988–89)
Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1988–89)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1989–90, 1992)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series1989Tales from the CryptSantaEpisode: "And All Through the House"1990Tales from the CryptTobiasEpisode: "The Secret"1995The Outer LimitsRobert VitaleEpisode: "The Message"1995The Naked TruthDr. Bryce FrommEpisode: "Elvis is Coming!"1996Superman: The Animated SeriesMr. EelanEpisode: "My Girl"1997Spy GameLeo LudwigEpisode: "Well, Nothing to Fear But Death Itself"1997Dead Man's GunSamuel "Buryin' Sam" RollerEpisode: "Buryin' Sam"1998PreyDr. Walter Attwood14 episodes1998Fantasy IslandBill TerkenEpisode: "Estrogen"1999Batman BeyondJackson ChappellEpisode: "The Winning Edge"1999–2004Johnny BravoPops34 episodes2000The Fearing MindPolice Officer HooperEpisode: "On the Road"2000Star Trek: VoyagerChellickEpisode: "Critical Care"2001Stargate SG-1BurrockEpisode: "Beast of Burden"2001ThievesRobert VentanaEpisode: "The Long Con"2002As Told by GingerDr. WeinsteinEpisode: "Never Can Say Goodbye"2002Six Feet UnderInspector GersonEpisode: "The Last Time"2002A Nero Wolfe MysteryHackettEpisode: "Help Wanted, Male"2002FireflySir Warwick HarrowEpisode: "Shindig"2003Crossing JordanTomEpisode: "Wild Card"2003Justice LeagueColonel Vox2 episodes2004What's New, Scooby-Doo?Moss T. MeisterEpisode: "Recipe for Disaster"20067th HeavenMr. RileyEpisode: "And More Secrets"2008Boston LegalBishop Luke BernardEpisode: "The Gods Must Be Crazy"

YearTitleRoleNotes2008Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Kazdan ParatusVoice only