Jay Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Jay Lawrence was an American stand up comedian, TV and film actor and voice over actor, and the younger brother of
stand-up comedian and television sitcom/voice over actor Larry Storch
.
dramatic, veriety show and sitcom projects such as The Colgate Comedy Hour
(1950), the original TV Dragnet
program in 2 appearances in 1995 and 1959, Get Smart
(1968), and Mayberry R.F.D.
(1968).
He also appeared as a voice actor on the ABC-TV
animated Saturday morning cartoon Hong Kong Phooey
(1976). Also as a film actor, Jay Lawrence performed in movies such as The Big Chase (1954), in which he portrayed Jim Bellows, Train Ride to Hollywood (1975), and The Halliday Brand
(1957), and a prominent supporting role as
Sgt. Bagradian in the critically acclaimed Billy Wilder
directed war/German POW prison camp drama Stalag 17
(1953) alongside actor William Holden
, who won an Oscar for his role in 1954 for Best Actor in a drama film.
radio in Cleveland, Ohio
, during which he provided a distinctive laugh on air which was used on the Old Ghoulardi
television horror picture show on WJW-TV
, which also became a staple on the Hoolihan and Big Chuck (1966)/ Big Chuck and Lil' John (1979) Friday, then Saturday night movie show programs, being used as a fill in at the end of each film intermission comedy skit sketch.
, (San Mateo County
) .
stand-up comedian and television sitcom/voice over actor Larry Storch
Larry Storch
Lawrence Samuel "Larry" Storch is an American actor best known for his comic television roles, including voice-over work for top cartoon shows, including Mr...
.
Early life
Lawrence was born in New York City, a son of Alfred Storch, a realtor, and his wife Sally (Kupperman) Storch, a telephone operator. He and his brother Larry attended the same school as Don Adams, who remained lifelong friends with him and Storch.Career
Lawrence first got his start in show business alongside his more famous brother Larry as a stand-up comic in New York City in 1940 while in his teens. A well in demand television actor in Hollywood, Lawrence's acting career spanned from 1950 to 1979, and he would appear in bothdramatic, veriety show and sitcom projects such as The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour
The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show stars many notable comedians and entertainers of the era, including Eddie Cantor, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Fred Allen, Donald O'Connor, Bud Abbott and Lou...
(1950), the original TV Dragnet
Dragnet (series)
Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...
program in 2 appearances in 1995 and 1959, Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
(1968), and Mayberry R.F.D.
Mayberry R.F.D.
Mayberry R.F.D. is a spin-off and direct continuation of The Andy Griffith Show under a new title, for the same sponsor, General Foods...
(1968).
Film and voice over projects
In addition to his work in television, Lawrence also appeared in nine film projects, also lending his voice to the 1974 adult-themed animated feature length project The Nine Lives of Fritz the CatThe Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat
The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat is a 1974 animated film directed by Robert Taylor. It is an adult animation featuring a series of drug-induced vignettes both related and unrelated to life in the 1970s. Starring Skip Hinnant as the voice of the titular feline protagonist, the film is a sequel to...
He also appeared as a voice actor on the ABC-TV
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
animated Saturday morning cartoon Hong Kong Phooey
Hong Kong Phooey
Hong Kong Phooey is a 16-episode Hanna-Barbera animated series that first aired on ABC Saturday morning from to . The main character, Hong Kong Phooey, is a superhero who uses Chinese martial arts to fight crime. Hong Kong Phooey is the secret alter ego of Penrod "Penry" Pooch, a "mild-mannered"...
(1976). Also as a film actor, Jay Lawrence performed in movies such as The Big Chase (1954), in which he portrayed Jim Bellows, Train Ride to Hollywood (1975), and The Halliday Brand
The Halliday Brand
The Halliday Brand is a 1957 Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Joseph Cotten.-Cast:* Joseph Cotten - Daniel Halliday* Viveca Lindfors - Aleta Burris* Betsy Blair - Martha Halliday* Ward Bond - Big Dan Halliday...
(1957), and a prominent supporting role as
Sgt. Bagradian in the critically acclaimed Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder
Billy Wilder was an Austro-Hungarian born American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, artist, and journalist, whose career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films. He is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Hollywood's golden age...
directed war/German POW prison camp drama Stalag 17
Stalag 17
Stalag 17 is a 1953 war film which tells the story of a group of American airmen held in a German World War II prisoner of war camp, who come to suspect that one of their number is a traitor...
(1953) alongside actor William Holden
William Holden
William Holden was an American actor. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1954 and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974...
, who won an Oscar for his role in 1954 for Best Actor in a drama film.
Radio work
In the 1960s, Lawrence also worked as a disc jockey for KYW-1100KYW
KYW may refer to:* KYW , a radio station licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States* KYW-TV, a television station licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
radio in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, during which he provided a distinctive laugh on air which was used on the Old Ghoulardi
Ghoulardi
Ghoulardi was a fictional character invented and portrayed by disc jockey, voice announcer, and actor Ernie Anderson as the horror host of late night Shock Theater at WJW-TV, Channel 8, in Cleveland, Ohio from January 13, 1963 through December 16, 1966....
television horror picture show on WJW-TV
WJW
WJW, channel 8, is a Fox-affiliated television station in Cleveland, Ohio. WJW is owned by Local TV LLC, a subsidiary of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners...
, which also became a staple on the Hoolihan and Big Chuck (1966)/ Big Chuck and Lil' John (1979) Friday, then Saturday night movie show programs, being used as a fill in at the end of each film intermission comedy skit sketch.
Death
Lawrence died on June 18, 1987 in Los Angeles. He is interred at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, CaliforniaColma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
, (San Mateo County
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
) .