Actor Larry Drake who portrayed developmentally handicapped Benny in the 1980s drama LA Law passed away today according to his Agent Michael Eisenstadt, he was just 66 yrs old. Michael did not disclose the cause of death.
"Larry was such a nice man and a great and versatile actor," Eisenstadt said.
Drake was perhaps best known for playing Benny Stulwicz, a developmentally delayed law firm employee on "L.A. Law" from 1987 to 1994. He won two Emmys for the role, in 1988 and 1989.
Stulwicz allowed Drake to tap into "the simpler part of yourself and the child part in you," he told the Washington Post in 1988. "I think this is the reason this is getting to be such a big deal and people warm up to Benny so much. It is the childlike qualities...no, the unedited part of ourselves is a better way to say it. The unstructured part of ourselves."
Born in Tulsa, Drake, who was 6'3", discovered a love of acting as a teenager after a groin injury forced him to quit football. During his decades-long acting career, he appeared on TV shows including "7th Heaven" and "Six Feet Under," and the films "Darkman," "Bean," and "American Pie 2." He also acted in theater productions, including playing Lennie in a San Diego production of "Of Mice and Men."
Despite his success, however, Drake told the L.A. Times in 1988 that he wasn't interested in living ostentatiously.
"I don't want my life to be about a house and a car," he said. Good for him.
Rest in peace Larry.
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