Larry McCormick (TV)
Encyclopedia
Lawrence William "Larry" McCormick (February 3, 1933 – August 27, 2004) was an American television actor, reporter and news anchor, most notably working for Los Angeles
television station KTLA-TV.
to Pastor L.W. McCormick and Laura McCormick(Pianist and Vocalist). He began his broadcasting career in the late 1950s as a disc jockey
, upon graduating from University of Kansas City. He first came to Los Angeles in 1964, working at then-R&B radio station KGFJ. He later moved across town to popular Top-40 music outlet KFWB-AM, before they instituted an all-news format in the late 1960s.
McCormick became one of the first Black newscasters in the country, when he started at Los Angeles' KCOP-TV
in 1969. Shortly thereafter, he moved across town to KTLA in May 1971, and worked there until his passing in 2004.
At KTLA, he served as a features reporter (such as business and health & fitness) on the station's 10 pm weeknight newscasts, while serving as lead anchor on its weekend editions, and co-hosting Making It: Minority Success Stories, a program which profiled successful minority business people.
On August 27, 2004, McCormick died of a cancer-related illness at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles, at the age of 71.
, back when KTLA carried the telethon locally (the telethon has aired on KCAL-TV
since 1996). Also, for a twelve-year span (1988–2000), he hosted the Los Angeles Unified School District
Academic Decathlon, including two national academic decathlons.
As an actor, McCormick usually appeared in guest spots on TV shows, mostly on TV dramas and sitcoms, such as That Girl
; Barnaby Jones
; The Jeffersons
(in a memorable 1979 episode as Florence's strict and ultra-conservative born-again Christian
beau); Murder, She Wrote
; Beverly Hills, 90210
; and Angel
(1999). He also made appearances in such movies as The Punisher
(1989) and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
(2003), which was his final film appearance. McCormick also did voice over work in such Saturday morning cartoon series as Scooby-Doo
, and Dynomutt.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
television station KTLA-TV.
Biography
McCormick was born in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
to Pastor L.W. McCormick and Laura McCormick(Pianist and Vocalist). He began his broadcasting career in the late 1950s as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, upon graduating from University of Kansas City. He first came to Los Angeles in 1964, working at then-R&B radio station KGFJ. He later moved across town to popular Top-40 music outlet KFWB-AM, before they instituted an all-news format in the late 1960s.
McCormick became one of the first Black newscasters in the country, when he started at Los Angeles' KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV
KCOP-TV, channel 13, is a television station in Los Angeles, California. Owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, KCOP is a sister station to Fox network outlet KTTV , and is affiliated with the MyNetworkTV programming service...
in 1969. Shortly thereafter, he moved across town to KTLA in May 1971, and worked there until his passing in 2004.
At KTLA, he served as a features reporter (such as business and health & fitness) on the station's 10 pm weeknight newscasts, while serving as lead anchor on its weekend editions, and co-hosting Making It: Minority Success Stories, a program which profiled successful minority business people.
On August 27, 2004, McCormick died of a cancer-related illness at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles, at the age of 71.
Community involvement
McCormick was known to be very involved in the Los Angeles community, participating in various charities and events, including hosting local editions of the Jerry Lewis MDA TelethonJerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
, back when KTLA carried the telethon locally (the telethon has aired on KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV, channel 9, is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, USA, owned by the CBS Corporation. KCAL-TV shares its studio facilities with KCBS-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.-Digital...
since 1996). Also, for a twelve-year span (1988–2000), he hosted the Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District
Los Angeles Unified School District is the largest public school system in California. It is the 2nd largest public school district in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population...
Academic Decathlon, including two national academic decathlons.
Film and television acting career
In addition to being a news reporter, McCormick appeared in numerous films and television series over the years, often playing himself as a reporter, but also portrayed other kinds of roles.As an actor, McCormick usually appeared in guest spots on TV shows, mostly on TV dramas and sitcoms, such as That Girl
That Girl
That Girl is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It stars Marlo Thomas as the title character, Ann Marie, an aspiring actress, who had moved from her hometown of Brewster, New York to make it big in New York City...
; Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. A spin-off from Cannon, the show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement...
; The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
(in a memorable 1979 episode as Florence's strict and ultra-conservative born-again Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
beau); Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
; Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
; and Angel
Angel (TV series)
Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
(1999). He also made appearances in such movies as The Punisher
The Punisher (1989 film)
The Punisher is a 1989 film starring Dolph Lundgren as Frank Castle, directed by Mark Goldblatt from a screenplay by Boaz Yakin. It is loosely based on the Marvel Comics' character The Punisher. The film changes many details of the comic book origin and the main character does not wear the...
(1989) and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
(2003), which was his final film appearance. McCormick also did voice over work in such Saturday morning cartoon series as Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise based around several animated television series and related works produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969...
, and Dynomutt.
Awards and honors
In 1994, McCormick was honored with the Governor's Award, a high, prestigious honor given annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. In June 2001, KTLA honored McCormick by renaming one of its soundstages at Tribune Studios in his name.Filmography
- Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the MachinesTerminator 3: Rise of the Machines, commonly abbreviated as T3, is a 2003 science fiction action film directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken...
(2003) as KTLA Anchorman - S.W.A.T. (2003)
- A Song for Honest Abe (2001)
- The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of FearThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of FearThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear is a 1991 comedy film starring Leslie Nielsen as the comically bumbling Police Lt. Frank Drebin of Police Squad!. Priscilla Presley plays the role of Jane, with O.J. Simpson as Nordberg and George Kennedy as police captain Ed Hocken...
(1991) .... TV Reporter - The Punisher (1989)
- Throw Momma from the TrainThrow Momma from the TrainThrow Momma from the Train is a 1987 American black comedy film. It was inspired by the 1951 Alfred Hitchcock thriller Strangers on a Train, which also plays a role in the film...
(1987) .... Announcer - Gus (1976)
- The Love God? (1969)
- A Guide for the Married Man (1967)
Television work (as actor)
- Angel (2002)
- Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
(1999) - 80's Night (1999)
- SlidersSlidersSliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
(1999) - The Unstuck Man (1999)
- Fly Away Home (1996)
- Midnight Run for Your Life (1994)
- Columbo: Columbo Goes to College (1990)
- Knots LandingKnots LandingKnots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show centered on the lives of four married couples living in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle...
(1989-1990) as Presenter - Mathnet (1990)
- Dear John (1989)
- The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (1989)
- Alfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
(1985) - Streets of Justice (1985)
- The Fall GuyThe Fall GuyThe Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
(1984) - Matt HoustonMatt HoustonMatt Houston is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from 1982 to 1985. Created by Lawrence Gordon, the series was produced by Aaron Spelling.-Synopsis:...
(1984) - Apostle of Death (1984)
- The Murder of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
- Murder, She WroteMurder, She WroteMurder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
(1984) - The Murder of Sherlock Holmes: Pilot (1984)
- Shooting StarsShooting StarsShooting Stars is a British television comedy panel game broadcast on BBC Two as a pilot in 1993, then as 3 full series from 1995 to 1997, then on BBC Choice from January to December 2002 with 2 series before returning to BBC Two for another 3 series from 2008 until its axing in 2011...
(1983) (TV) - Between Two Brothers (1982)
- 240-Robert240-Robert240-Robert is an American drama series that ran on ABC from 1979 to 1981. The series title is a reference to the call-sign designation for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's search and rescue/paramedic teams.-Synopsis:...
(1981) - Act of Violence (1979) as Sportscaster
- Blind Ambition (1979) (mini) TV mini-series
- Barnaby JonesBarnaby JonesBarnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. A spin-off from Cannon, the show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement...
(3 episodes, 1973-1979) - The JeffersonsThe JeffersonsThe Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
(1979)...Buzz Thatcher - The Rockford FilesThe Rockford FilesThe Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
(1978) - Death Drug (1978)
- Dynomutt Dog Wonder (1978) (cartoon series) (voice)
- The Last Hurrah (1977)
- The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour (1976) (cartoon series) (voice)
- The Dream Makers (1975)
- Murdock's Gang (1973)
- The Doris Day ShowThe Doris Day ShowThe Doris Day Show is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 1968 until September 1973. In addition to showcasing Doris Day, the show is remembered for its many abrupt format changes over the course of its five-year run...
(1972) - McMillan & Wife (1971)
- Death Is a Seven Point Favorite (1971)
- Assault on the Wayne (1971)
- The Brady BunchThe Brady BunchThe Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family...
(1969) - Adam-12Adam-12Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
(1969) - That GirlThat GirlThat Girl is an American television situation comedy that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It stars Marlo Thomas as the title character, Ann Marie, an aspiring actress, who had moved from her hometown of Brewster, New York to make it big in New York City...
(1969) - The Snow Must Go On (1969)