Larry Hovis
Born: 1936-02-20 in Wapato, Washington
Died: 2003-09-09
Known For: Acting
Biography
Larry Hovis was born February 20, 1936, in Wapato, Washington. He grew up in Houston, Texas. He started out as a vocalist, singing with his sister Joan Hovis, then joined a quartet called "The Mascots", and they appeared on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" (1948). While Larry was earning his degree in philosophy at the University of Houston, he was signed to Capitol Records, where he recorded the album "My Heart Belongs to Only You". In the late 1950s, he moved to New York and appeared in the Broadway shows "The Billy Barnes Revue" (1959) and "From A to Z" (1960). In 1963, Larry relocated his family to California, where he performed stand-up comedy routines in local clubs. His first notable appearance on a major TV show was in 1964 on "Gomer Pyle: USMC" (1964), appearing in ten episodes. He also appeared in two episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960). Larry eventually landed a minor role on the pilot episode of "Hogan's Heroes" (1965). When two other actors backed out of the series, he was given the permanent role of demolition man "Sgt. Carter". While a regular on the popular TV series, Hovis continued to write scripts for television specials and also wrote and performed on the breakthrough comedy series "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1967). In 1966, he wrote the screenplay for the film Out of Sight (1966). After the unexpected cancellation of "Hogan's Heroes" (1965), Hovis appeared in such TV programs as "The Doris Day Show" (1968), "Adam-12" (1968), "Chico and the Man" (1974), "Holmes and Yo-Yo" (1976), "Alice" (1976) and others. Behind the scenes Larry produced several game shows, including "Liar's Club" (1976), in which he was a panelist from 1976 to 1978. In 1993, he appeared in the theatrical film Shadow Force (1992).
Filmography
1991
- Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind as Tillman
1977
- Sex and the Married Woman as Arnie Fish
1976
- Alice
- The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe as Clel Tonkins
1974
1973
- Old Faithful ... (Writer)
- Here We Go Again as Pool Man
1972
- Wild in the Sky as Capt. Breen
1971
- McMillan & Wife as O'Day
- The New Dick Van Dyke Show as Stan Corbett
1969
- Mitzi's 2nd Special ... (Writer)
1968
- Adam-12 as Art Phillips
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as Regular Performer
1967
- The Carol Burnett Show as Self
1966
- Out of Sight ... (Screenplay)
1965
- Hogan's Heroes as Andrew Carter
- Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show as Self/Carter
1964
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. as Larry (uncredited)
- Shindig! as Self - Singer
1961
1960
- The Andy Griffith Show as Gilly Walker