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John Larroquette

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John Larroquette
Larroquette in 2011
Born
John Bernard Larroquette

(1947-11-25) November 25, 1947 (age 76)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1974–present
Notable credits
Spouse
Elizabeth Cookson
​
(m. 1975)​
Children3

John Bernard Larroquette[1] (/ˌlærəˈkɛt/; born November 25, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in the NBC military drama series Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976–1978), the NBC sitcom Night Court (1984–1992; 2023–present) for which he received four consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards wins for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series during the earlier incarnation, the NBC sitcom The John Larroquette Show (1993–1996), the David E. Kelley legal drama series The Practice (1997–2002), the ABC legal comedy-drama series Boston Legal (2004–2008), and the TNT series The Librarians (2014–2018).

In 2011, he made his Broadway debut in the musical revival of Frank Loesser's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying alongside Daniel Radcliffe. He played J. B. Bigley in a role for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. The following year he starred as William Russell in the Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man (2012) directed by Mike Nichols starring James Earl Jones, Candice Bergen, and Angela Lansbury.

He made his film debut by providing the opening narration of the horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), following which he appeared in films such as Stripes (1981), Choose Me (1984), Blind Date (1987), Madhouse (1990), Richie Rich (1994), and the Hallmark Channel mystery series McBride (2005–2008).

Early life

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Larroquette was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 25, 1947, the son of Berthalla Oramous, a department store clerk, and John Edgar Larroquette Jr., who was in the United States Navy.[2][3] His paternal grandfather, John Larroquette Sr., was born in France and emigrated to the United States in 1895.

Larroquette grew up in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, near the French Quarter. He played clarinet and saxophone through childhood and into high school. He attended Holy Cross School through his sophomore year before involuntarily moving to Francis T. Nicholls High School to finish his secondary education.[4] It was his senior year at Nicholls High School that he first discovered acting. He was offered a scholarship to Louisiana State University after winning a state high school speech title but decided not to attend the university.[4]

Career

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Early career

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His first acting role in Hollywood was providing the opening voiceover narration for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Larroquette did this as a favor for the film's director Tobe Hooper, and was paid in marijuana.[5] His first series regular role was in the 1970s NBC program Baa Baa Black Sheep, where he portrayed a World War II United States Marine Corps fighter pilot, 2nd Lt. Bob Anderson.

In a 1975 appearance on Sanford and Son, Larroquette played Lamont's counterpart in a fictitious sitcom based on Fred and Lamont called "Steinberg and Son". During the filming of Stripes (1981), his nose was nearly cut off in an accident. He ran down a hall into a door that was supposed to open but did not, and his head went through the window in the door.[6]

Night Court (1984–1992)

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Larroquette attending the Emmy Awards in 1988

Larroquette played Assistant District Attorney Dan Fielding on Night Court; the character was initially rather conservative, but changed after the sitcom's creator Reinhold Weege came to learn more about Larroquette's sense of humor.[7][8] The role won him Emmy Awards in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988. In 1989, he asked not to be considered for an Emmy Award.[9] His four consecutive wins were, at the time, a record.

Night Court ran on NBC from 1984 until 1992. Larroquette, Harry Anderson (as Judge Harry Stone), and Richard Moll (as bailiff Bull Shannon) appeared in every episode of the series. There was talk of spinning Dan Fielding off into his own show, but Larroquette said no to the idea.[7] Later, Larroquette ended up on the 2023 series continuation as the only regular character from the original in the revival. On February 13, 2024, while talking to reporters, Larroquette admitted feeling a little sad when he first walked on the set of the Night Court revival, due to being one of the only cast members from the original run still living. But as time went on, he started feeling better and credited co-star/executive producer Melissa Rauch for rejuvenating the franchise.[10]

The John Larroquette Show

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Instead of a spinoff, Larroquette and Don Reo developed a show revolving around some of Larroquette's own personal demons, particularly alcoholism. The John Larroquette Show, named by the insistence of NBC, starred Larroquette as the character John Hemingway. The show was lauded by critics, but failed to attract the prime-time audience, ranking around number 97 for most of the first season.

NBC threatened cancellation; however, Larroquette and Reo were granted the chance to retool the series, which saw it carry on for just over two more seasons, ending during its fourth season after 84 episodes, the last six of which were not aired. The show has a loyal cult following, although the series has never received an official home video release from Warner Bros.

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In 1998, he guest-starred on three episodes of the legal drama The Practice. His portrayal of Joey Heric, a wealthy, wisecracking, narcissistic psychopath with a habit of stabbing his gay lovers to death, won him his fifth Emmy Award. He reprised the role for one episode in 2002, for which he was once again nominated for an Emmy Award. He also appeared in an episode of The West Wing as White House Counsel Lionel Tribbey.

In 2003, Larroquette reprised his narration for the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From 2004 to 2006, he played the title role in the McBride series of ten Hallmark Mysteries television films. In 2007, he joined the cast of Boston Legal playing Carl Sack, a serious, ethical lawyer (the polar opposite of his more famous lawyer character, Dan Fielding). He also guest-starred in the drama House where he played a previously catatonic father awakened to try to save his son.

From 2014 to 2018, Larroquette was a regular on The Librarians as Jenkins (actually the long-lived Camelot knight Sir Galahad), who provides support to the Librarians as a researcher and caretaker.[11]

Film

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His starring roles include the 1989 film Second Sight with Bronson Pinchot, and Madhouse with Kirstie Alley. Other films in which Larroquette had significant roles include: Blind Date, Stripes, Meatballs Part II, Summer Rental, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, JFK, and Richie Rich.

Theatre

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Larroquette made his musical stage debut in the Los Angeles production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! as Old Max in 2009. He made his Broadway debut in the 2011 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as J B. Biggley alongside Daniel Radcliffe.[7] He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in the show.[12]

He appeared on Broadway in a revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man, starring James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, and Candice Bergen. In early 2019, he was back in New York City starring in the play Nantucket Sleigh Ride by John Guare, at the Lincoln Center Theatre. In this off-beat play, Larroquette portrayed the lead character, Edmund "Mundie" Gowery, for a three-month run.

Personal life

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Larroquette met his wife Elizabeth Ann Cookson in 1974 while working in the play Enter Laughing. They were married July 4, 1975, as that was the only day they had off from rehearsals.[8] Cookson brought her daughter Lisa from a previous relationship into the marriage, and she and Larroquette would have two sons together, Jonathan and Benjamin.[13] Jonathan co-hosts a comedy podcast called Uhh Yeah Dude.

Larroquette battled alcoholism from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 10, 2007, he joked, "I was known to have a cocktail or sixty." He stopped drinking on February 6, 1982.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 Follow Me, Boys! Lieutenant Uncredited
1974 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Narrator
1980 Altered States X-Ray Technician
1980 Heart Beat TV Talk Show Host
1981 Green Ice Claude
1981 Stripes Captain Stillman
1982 Cat People Bronte Judson
1983 Hysterical Bob X. Cursion
1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie K.K.K. Member
1984 Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Maltz, a Klingon warrior
1984 Choose Me Billy Ace
1984 Meatballs Part II Lieutenant Felix Foxglove
1985 Lifeforce Narrator
1985 Summer Rental Don Moore
1987 Blind Date David Bedford
1989 Second Sight Wilbur Wills
1990 Madhouse Mark Bannister
1990 Tune in Tomorrow Dr. Albert Quince
1991 JFK Jerry Johnson Director's cut
1994 Richie Rich Lawrence Van Dough
1995 Demon Knight Slasher Uncredited
2000 Isn't She Great Maury Manning
2003 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Narrator
2003 Beethoven's 5th Mayor Harold Herman
2006 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Narrator Uncredited
2006 Southland Tales Vaughn Smallhouse
2006 Kill Your Darlings Dr. Bangley
2007 The Rapture of the Athlete Assumed Into Heaven The Reporter Short film
2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Tomar-Re Voice[14]
2010 Gun Sam Boedecker
2010 Sudden Death! Commander Jenkins Short film
2011 Inventors Professor Morasco Short film
2015 F.Y.D. Frank Reese Voice, short film
2016 Camera Store Ray LaPine
2020 Keep Hope Alive Bernie Loewenstein
2022 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Narrator [15]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Doctors' Hospital Dr. Paul Herman 3 Episodes
1975 Sanford and Son Murray Steinberg Episode: "Steinberg and Son"
1975 Kojak Sailor Episode: "How Cruel the Frost, How Bright the Stars"
1975 Ellery Queen Bellhop Episode: "The Adventure of the Pharaoh's Curse"
1976 Rich Man, Poor Man Barone Episode: "Part IV: Chapter 6"
1978 Greatest Heroes of the Bible Currently Unknown Episode: "Joseph in Egypt"
1976–1978 Baa Baa Black Sheep 2nd Lieutenant Bob Anderson 29 episodes
1979 Three's Company Cop Episode: "Jack Moves Out"
1979 Fantasy Island Valery Episode: "The Inventor/On the Other Side"
1979 The 416th Lieutenant Jackson MacCalvey Television film
1980 Stunts Unlimited Leading Man Television film
1981 Mork & Mindy Baba Hope Episode: "Alienation"
1982 Dallas Phillip Colton 2 episodes
1982 Cassie & Co. Currently Unknown Episode: "Lover Come Back"
1982 Bare Essence Arthur Williams Television film
1982 9 to 5 Unknown Episode: "Dick Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
1983 The Last Ninja Army Officer Television film
1984 Remington Steele Nathan Fitts Episode: "Breath of Steele"
1984–1992 Night Court Reinhold Daniel Fielding Elmore 193 episodes
1986 Convicted Douglas Forbes Television film
1988 Hot Paint Gus Television film
1988 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "John Larroquette/Randy Newman & Mark Knopfler"
1991 One Special Victory Bo Television film
1995 Dave's World Dave's lawyer Episode: "Health Hath No Fury"
1993–1996 The John Larroquette Show John Hemingway 84 episodes
1997 The Defenders: Payback Michael Lane Television film
1997–2002 The Practice Joey Heric 5 episodes
1999 Payne Royal Payne 9 episodes
2000 The 10th Kingdom Anthony 'Tony' Lewis 10 episodes
2000 The West Wing Lionel Tribbey Episode: "And It's Surely to Their Credit"
2001 Walter and Henry Walter Television film
2001 The Heart Department Dr. Fred Biskin Television film
2001 Till Dad Do Us Part Gavin Corbett Television film
2001 The Incurable Collector Host 22 episodes
2002 Corsairs Brandon Corsair Television film
2003 Recipe for Disaster Patrick Korda Television film
2003–2004 Happy Family Peter Brennan 22 episodes
2004 Wedding Daze Jack Landry Television film
2005–2008 McBride Mike McBride 10 television films
2005 Kitchen Confidential Chef Gerard Episode: "Dinner Date with Death"
2005 Joey Benjamin Lockwood 4 episodes
2006 Arrested Development John Larroquette Episode: "S.O.B.s"
2006 House Gabriel Wozniak Episode: "Son of Coma Guy"
2007–2008 The Batman Mirror Master Voice, 2 episodes[14]
2007–2008 Boston Legal Carl Sack 33 episodes
2008–2011 Chuck Roan Montgomery 2 episodes
2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Randall Carver Episode: "Anchor"
2009 The Storm Bud McGrath 2 episodes
2009–2010 Phineas and Ferb Bob Webber Voice, 2 episodes[14]
2010 Parks and Recreation Frank Beckerson Episode: "Galentine's Day"
2010 Pleading Guilty Martin Gold Television film
2010 White Collar Donovan Episode: "In the Red"
2010 CSI: NY Chief Ted Carver 3 episodes
2010 15 Minutes David Sloan Television film
2011 Late Show with David Letterman J.B. Biggley Episode: "How to Succeed in Business Without Trying"
2012 Pound Puppies Mayor Voice, episode: "Squawk"[14]
2013 Deception Senator Dwight Haverstock 9 episodes
2014 Almost Human Dr. Nigel Vaughn Episode: "Unbound"
2014–2018 The Librarians Jenkins 41 episodes
2015 The Brink Robert Kittredge 7 episodes
2017–2018 Me, Myself & I Older Alex Riley 13 episodes
2018 Murphy Brown Judge Nate Campbell Episode: "A Lifetime of Achievement"
2018 Three Rivers Beau Television film
2019 The Twilight Zone President James Stevens Episode: "The Wunderkind"
2019 Blood & Treasure Jacob Whitman Reece III 5 episodes
2020 The Good Fight Gavin Firth 2 episodes
2023–present Night Court Dan Fielding Main role

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue
2011 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying J.B. Biggley Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway
2012 The Best Man William Russell Golden Theatre, Broadway
2016 1776 Benjamin Franklin New York City Center, Encores!
2019 Nantucket Sleigh Ride, by John Guare Edmund Gowery Newhouse Theatre, Lincoln Center

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Work Result
1985 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Night Court Won
1986 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Won
1987 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Won
1988 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
1990 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Male in a Television Series Nominated
1994 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series The John Larroquette Show Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated
1995 Viewers for Quality Television Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated
1998 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series The Practice Won
Viewers for Quality Television Best Recurring Player Won
2002 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Boston Legal Nominated
2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2011 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Won
Tony Awards Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Won
2015 Saturn Awards Best Guest Starring Role on Television The Librarians Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "John Larroquette". TV Guide. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "John Larroquette". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Leszczak, Bob (August 23, 2014). The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide. McFarland. p. 77. ISBN 9781476615394.
  4. ^ a b "John Larroquette arrives in his hometown to receive honorary UNO degree". nola.com. May 17, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Wright, Tracy (January 16, 2023). "John Larroquette was paid in marijuana to narrate 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' talks 'Night Court' reboot". Fox News. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  6. ^ "20 Questions", Playboy, April 1990.
  7. ^ a b c d Ouzounian, Richard (January 4, 2011). "John Larroquette: This is a Dark Ride". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  8. ^ a b Henderson, Kathy. "John Larroquette on Succeeding on Broadway and Looking Down on Daniel Radcliffe". Broadway.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  9. ^ Rabin, Nathan (June 5, 2008). "Random Roles: John Larroquette". AV Club. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008.
  10. ^ Rice, Lynette (February 13, 2024). "'Night Court' Star John Larroquette Says Making The Reboot Made Him Sad … At First". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Ausiello, Michael (April 10, 2014). "TNT Orders Librarians Series Starring Rebecca Romijn, Leverage Fave; Noah Wyle to Recur". TVLine. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  12. ^ Diamond, Robert (May 3, 2011). "2011 Tony Nominations Announced! THE BOOK OF MORMON Leads With 14!". Broadway World. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  13. ^ "Inside John Larroquette and Wife Elizabeth Larroquette's Decades-Long Marriage". April 25, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d "John Larroquette (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  15. ^ Squires, John (January 27, 2022). "Netflix's 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' – John Larroquette Is Back to Narrate the New Sequel!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
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