Larry Hovis

Personal Info

Known For Actor

Gender Male

Birthday 1936-02-20

Deathday 2003-09-09 (67 years old)

Place of Birth Wapato, Washington

Larry Hovis

Biography

Larry Hovis was born February 20, 1936, in Wapato, Washington. He grew up in Houston, Texas. He started out as a vocalist, singing with his sister Joan Hovis, then joined a quartet called "The Mascots", and they appeared on Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" (1948). While Larry was earning his degree in philosophy at the University of Houston, he was signed to Capitol Records, where he recorded the album "My Heart Belongs to Only You". In the late 1950s, he moved to New York and appeared in the Broadway shows "The Billy Barnes Revue" (1959) and "From A to Z" (1960). In 1963, Larry relocated his family to California, where he performed stand-up comedy routines in local clubs. His first notable appearance on a major TV show was in 1964 on "Gomer Pyle: USMC" (1964), appearing in ten episodes. He also appeared in two episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960). Larry eventually landed a minor role on the pilot episode of "Hogan's Heroes" (1965). When two other actors backed out of the series, he was given the permanent role of demolition man "Sgt. Carter". While a regular on the popular TV series, Hovis continued to write scripts for television specials and also wrote and performed on the breakthrough comedy series "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" (1967). In 1966, he wrote the screenplay for the film Out of Sight (1966). After the unexpected cancellation of "Hogan's Heroes" (1965), Hovis appeared in such TV programs as "The Doris Day Show" (1968), "Adam-12" (1968), "Chico and the Man" (1974), "Holmes and Yo-Yo" (1976), "Alice" (1976) and others. Behind the scenes Larry produced several game shows, including "Liar's Club" (1976), in which he was a panelist from 1976 to 1978. In 1993, he appeared in the theatrical film Shadow Force (1992).

Known For

Actor

1977
1976
1973
Here We Go Again

as Pool Man

1972
Wild in the Sky

as Capt. Breen

1968
Adam-12

as Art Phillips

1967
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

as Regular Performer

1965
Hogan's Heroes

as Andrew Carter

1964
Shindig!

as Self - Singer

1960
The Andy Griffith Show

as Gilly Walker

Writer

1973
Old Faithful

as Writer

1969
1966
Out of Sight

as Screenplay