Larry Drake

Biography

Larry Richard Drake (February 21, 1950 – March 17, 2016) was a celebrated American actor, best known for his compelling portrayal of Benny Stulwicz, a character with developmental disabilities, on the acclaimed television series L.A. Law from 1987 until its conclusion in 1994. His remarkable performance earned him two consecutive Emmy Awards in 1988 and 1989. Drake reprised this iconic role in the 2002 NBC reunion film, L.A. Law: The Movie.

Born to Lorraine, a homemaker, and Raymond Drake, a drafting engineer, Larry's career spanned numerous television and film projects. His notable appearances include roles in Time Quest, Dark Asylum, Bean, and the horror film Dr. Giggles. He also featured in the science fiction series Prey in 1998 and lent his voice to the character Pops on the animated show Johnny Bravo.

In his personal life, Drake married actress Ruth De Sosa in 1989, but the couple divorced two years later. He later wed horror writer and model Marina Drujko in 2009, although this marriage also ended the same year.

Tragically, Larry Drake passed away in his Los Angeles home on March 17, 2016, at the age of 66. His manager revealed that Drake had been dealing with health issues, specifically a rare form of blood cancer that led to complications.