Larry J. Blake
Acting
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 Blvd. (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. (IMDB)
Media of
Larry J. Blake
Photos (21)
Filmography of
Larry J. Blake
Guard
... 1979
Cameron
... 1977
Jailer
... 1975
... 1975
Police Officer
... 1974
Police Chief
... 1974
Police Commissioner
... 1973
Poker Player with Glasses
... 1973
Water Balloon Game Barker-Operator (uncredited)
... 1971
Barber (uncredited)
... 1971
Salesman (uncredited)
... 1968
First Outspoken Man (uncredited)
... 1968
Prisoner in Compound
... 1968
Policeman
... 1968
Honest Hal (uncredited)
... 1966
Auctioneer (uncredited)
... 1966
Police Officer (uncredited)
... 1965
Policeman (uncredited)
... 1964
1st Reporter
... 1962
John Murphy
... 1961
Mac - Bartender (uncredited)
... 1960
Tenant (uncredited)
... 1960
... 1959
... 1958
Hap's Lead Henchman
... 1957
David T. Stone (uncredited)
... 1957
Auctioneer
... 1957
Roadblock Sergeant
... 1957
Detective
... 1956
Ray Perkins
... 1956
Motorcycle cop
... 1956
Hank Durgis
... 1956
... 1956
Max Harkness (as Larry Blake)
... 1956
Healy (uncredited)
... 1955
Connors
... 1955
Deputy sheriff
... 1955
Reporter #2
... 1955
Patrolman
... 1955
Wayne - Waiter (uncredited)
... 1955
Capt. Biff McGann (uncredited)
... 1954
Drunk (uncredited)
... 1954
Dave Singer
... 1953
Minetti
... 1953
Music Shop Clerk (uncredited)
... 1953
Mr. Devlin (uncredited)
... 1953
Detective Lt. Ed Brady (uncredited)
... 1953
Police Captain
... 1952
Gillis - Saloon Owner (uncredited)
... 1952
Ralph Crowley (uncredited)
... 1951
Police Radio Voice (uncredited) (voice)
... 1951
... 1951
Stan Benson (uncredited)
... 1951
Walt Williams
... 1950
1st Finance Man
... 1950
Pete Weiss
... 1950
Capt. Ed Roberts
... 1949
Plainclothesman
... 1949
Louie Perez (as Larry Blake)
... 1949
Martin (uncredited)
... 1949
Schultyz (as Larry Blake)
... 1948
Hollis Smith (as Larry Blake)
... 1948
Police Photographic Technician (uncredited)
... 1948
Det. Sgt. Sharpe
... 1947
Detective Lieutenant Jerry McMullen
... 1947
Emcee (uncredited)
... 1947
Charles
... 1946
Rick Daniels
... 1946
Karl
... 1946
Simon Gillette
... 1946
Policeman (Uncredited)
... 1944
Announcer
... 1940
Truck Driver
... 1939
Ben Dawson
... 1939
Interviewer
... 1939
Silent Sam (as Larry Blake)
... 1938
John P. 'Horseshoe' Donovan
... 1938
Larry Craine
... 1938
Trigger Magee
... 1938
Bill Sheldon
... 1938
Tony Michaels (as Larry Blake)
... 1937
Weil (as Larry Blake)
... 1937
Chief FBI Agent Wheeler (as Larry Blake)
... 1937