Larry McCormick (TV)

Lawrence William 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.[1]

Larry McCormick
Born
Lawrence William McCormick

(1933-02-03)February 3, 1933
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 2004(2004-08-27) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Occupation(s)Television news reporter, news anchor, actor, voice actor
Years active1964–2004
EmployerTribune Broadcasting/KTLA
Known forLongtime anchorman for KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

Biography

McCormick was born in Kansas City, Missouri 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 1958, working at then-R&B radio station KGFJ, from 1958-63. He later moved across town to popular Top-40 music outlet KFWB-AM from 1964-1968 before they instituted an all-news format in the spring of 1968.[2]

McCormick became one of the first African-American newscasters in the country, leaving his morning drive slot as disc jockey on radio, KGFJ Los Angeles, where he was also PD, Program Director, from 1968-1969, transitioning to KCOP-TV winter of 1969. Shortly thereafter, he moved across town to KTLA in May 1971, and worked there until his death 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.[2][3]

On August 27, 2004, McCormick died of a cancer-related illness at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 71.[4]

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 Telethon, 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.[2]

Film, stage 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 characters.

In 1968, he made his stage acting debut as Speed in The Odd Couple at the Ebony Showcase Theater in Los Angeles. The production starred Nick Stewart and Morris Erby and was directed by James Wheaton.[5][6]

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 The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour and Dynomutt, Dog Wonder.

Awards and honors

In 1994, McCormick was honored with the Governors 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.[7][8] He was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in Television.

Larry McCormick Walk of Fame Star

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1960 Please Don't Eat the Daisies Elevator Operator Uncredited
1967 A Guide for the Married Man Maitre D' Uncredited
1969 The Love God? Rich
1971 The Love Machine Reporter Uncredited
1976 Gus N.Y. Broadcaster
1978 Death Drug Newscaster
1987 Throw Momma from the Train Announcer
1989 The Punisher TV Newsreader
1991 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear TV Reporter
1996 Fly Away Home TV Anchor
2001 A Song for Honest Abe Bill Simmons Short film
2003 S.W.A.T. Himself
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines KTLA Anchorman (final film role)

Television work (as actor)

References
  1. Larry McCormick (I)
  2. KTLA The CW | Celebrating 60 Years Archived 2007-10-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Larry McCormick Photos – Larry McCormick News – Larry McCormick Information
  4. Larry Mccormick Biography (1933(?)-)
  5. Harford, Margaret (17 Jun 1968). "'The Odd Couple' at Ebony Showcase". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. p. 82. Retrieved 11 Sep 2017. The squabbling poker pals are Earl Watkins as Murray the cop, Douglass Brown who goes on vacations with his wife because he cannot drive a car, Larry McCormick and James Goodwin.
  6. "Negro version of 'Odd Couple' set". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. 21 May 1968. p. 64. Retrieved 11 Sep 2017. Larry McCormick, KGFJ disc jockey, will make his acting debut in the show.
  7. KTLA Historical Timeline | About the Station | KTLA The CW | Where Los Angeles Lives Archived 2007-10-24 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Los Angeles Television Station Honors Black Newsman Larry McCormick - KTLA-TV - Brief Article | Jet | Find Articles at BNET.com Archived 2007-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
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