Larry McCormick (TV)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Larry McCormick

Larry McCormick
Born February 3, 1933
Kansas City, Missouri
Died August 27, 2004 (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California
Occupation Television news reporter, News anchor, Actor, Cartoon Voice Over Actor
Employers Tribune Broadcasting/KTLA
Known for Longtime anchorman for KTLA-TV, Los Angeles

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.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

McCormick was born in Kansas City, Missouri. 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.[2]

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.[2][3]

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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; Barnaby Jones; The Jeffersons (in a memorable 1979 episode as Florence's strict and ultra-conservative born-again Christian beau); Murder, She Wrote; and Beverly Hills 90210. 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.

[edit] 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.[4][5]

On August 27, 2004, McCormick died of a cancer-related illness at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 71.[6]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Television work (as actor)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Larry McCormick (I)
  2. ^ a b c KTLA The CW | Celebrating 60 Years
  3. ^ Larry McCormick Photos - Larry McCormick News - Larry McCormick Information
  4. ^ KTLA Historical Timeline | About the Station | KTLA The CW | Where Los Angeles Lives
  5. ^ Los Angeles Television Station Honors Black Newsman Larry McCormick - KTLA-TV - Brief Article | Jet | Find Articles at BNET.com
  6. ^ Larry Mccormick Biography (1933(?)-)

[edit] External links