Larry Storch Has Died a Great Memory, over the years I have met many famous people by myself or with Laurie. Sometimes meeting a famous person goes just beyond just a hello and an autograph. In the case of Larry Storch, it was because of someone’s uninformed comment.
Larry Storch Has Died Background
When I was dating Laurie, I got word that Bob Burns was going to be at a Chiller Show in New Jersey. Bob Burns is a noted collector of science fiction items including the time machine. He is also a collector of Marx’s playsets. We went to the show and had a great time with Bob. (He ended up Laurie’s surprise wedding present.) While we were with Bob he was talking about his experience on Ghostbusters ( the television show with Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch). A man came up and said did you play Larry Storch? We look at each other not knowing what to say. Bob replied that no he played Tracy the gorilla. The man left.
Meeting Larry Storch
We would talk to Bob over the years about the incident Then I noticed a show in Cherry Hill New Jersey. One of the guests would be Larry Storch. We decided to go to the show. At the show, I went over to Larry and told the story. He got a laugh. I had him do an autographed photo for Bob.On the photo Larry put on it from the real Larry Storch. I paid for that photo and one for us. I send the photo to Bob and he got kicked out of it. Bob got together with Larry at a later time.
Final Thoughts
I saw Larry a few more times at the Chiller show and would say hello. He seemed to remember me. I always enjoy his career. I join his fans in mourning his passing. You can read his obituary here. Rest well Larry
Loved all his stuff: the F Troop role, Texas Jack in The Great Race, and that stupid movie with Tony Curtis, Wild and Wonderful, when he’s hiding in the closet and the guy finds him and asks “What are you doing in there?” and Larry says “Well, like man, ya gotta be someplace!”
How many times did I laugh at Larry Storch on “F Troop” as a child – or how about when he was a chimp turned human on “I Dream of Jeannie?” Funny guy and as you have related, from all accounts a genuinely nice guy, too.
I thought I had read somewhere where he died a few years ago. I was saddened then – another chunk of our childhood gone. Somehow, that hasn’t diminished the sense of loss I feel now.
It’s primarily the comic brilliance of Larry Storch that makes “F Troop” hold up so well after all of these years. And “Captain Newman, M.D.” is another one of my under-rated favorite movies.
CPL Agarn was such a memorable character. When I got my FT Apache set, the mounted frontiersman with the hat turned back was always described by me as “The guy with the CPL Agarn hat”. To this day when I say that to most collectors, they know what I mean. He definitely left his mark!
I can identify with Joe Costa’s post. I was a bit too young to get the jokes, but I loved those cavalry uniforms, Agarns’ hat (like the Marx cavalry outfit from SEARS that I had), and that the show took place in a fort.
Even though the jokes were lost on me, Larry Storch made a big impression as a funny and likable guy.
His bother, Jay Lawrence, was a gifted comedian and voice actor. You may remember him as the Sgt. who did impressions of Clark Gable and Ronald Coleman in “Stalag 17” (1953). Their mom must have been constantly amused when they were kids!
You’re absolutely correct, Gary. I’m glad you mentioned the Marx sets. For me, I played with the MPC Metallic Blue US Calvary and accompanying MPC Indians set while F Troop played in the background for inspiration.
Like you, I didn’t get the jokes, but when FTroop went from B&W to color, I could barely contain myself.
Loved all his stuff: the F Troop role, Texas Jack in The Great Race, and that stupid movie with Tony Curtis, Wild and Wonderful, when he’s hiding in the closet and the guy finds him and asks “What are you doing in there?” and Larry says “Well, like man, ya gotta be someplace!”
How many times did I laugh at Larry Storch on “F Troop” as a child – or how about when he was a chimp turned human on “I Dream of Jeannie?” Funny guy and as you have related, from all accounts a genuinely nice guy, too.
I thought I had read somewhere where he died a few years ago. I was saddened then – another chunk of our childhood gone. Somehow, that hasn’t diminished the sense of loss I feel now.
Thanks for posting this, Paul. “The New York Times” also has a very interesting obit on him. “F Troop” was indeed a classic!
F Troop was in a way my introduction to toy soldiers.
Larry Storch and Forrest Tucker were a great comedy team fulfilling those childhood memories. RIP Larry Storch.
It’s primarily the comic brilliance of Larry Storch that makes “F Troop” hold up so well after all of these years. And “Captain Newman, M.D.” is another one of my under-rated favorite movies.
CPL Agarn was such a memorable character. When I got my FT Apache set, the mounted frontiersman with the hat turned back was always described by me as “The guy with the CPL Agarn hat”. To this day when I say that to most collectors, they know what I mean. He definitely left his mark!
I can identify with Joe Costa’s post. I was a bit too young to get the jokes, but I loved those cavalry uniforms, Agarns’ hat (like the Marx cavalry outfit from SEARS that I had), and that the show took place in a fort.
Even though the jokes were lost on me, Larry Storch made a big impression as a funny and likable guy.
His bother, Jay Lawrence, was a gifted comedian and voice actor. You may remember him as the Sgt. who did impressions of Clark Gable and Ronald Coleman in “Stalag 17” (1953). Their mom must have been constantly amused when they were kids!
You’re absolutely correct, Gary. I’m glad you mentioned the Marx sets. For me, I played with the MPC Metallic Blue US Calvary and accompanying MPC Indians set while F Troop played in the background for inspiration.
Like you, I didn’t get the jokes, but when FTroop went from B&W to color, I could barely contain myself.
Thanks for the memories.
I never knew Jay Lawrence and Larry Storch were brothers. Love “Stalag 17” great movie with a lot of great lines.
I really HATE Alzheimer’s.
Me too, my mother died because of it.
Laughter is one of the greatest gifts one can give !