Larry Hankin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Larry Hankin
Hankin in 2011
Born	Lawrence Alan Hankin (1937-12-07) December 7, 1937 (age 87) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Syracuse University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1963–present

Lawrence "Larry" Alan Hankin (born December 7, 1937) is an American actor you've probably seen in many famous movies and TV shows. He is a character actor, which means he is known for playing unique and memorable supporting characters.

Some of his most famous roles include Mr. Heckles on the TV show Friends, the police sergeant in Home Alone, and Carl Alphonse in the movie Billy Madison. He also played Charley Butts in Escape from Alcatraz and Old Joe in the popular series Breaking Bad.

Early Life and Education

Larry Hankin was born in New York City on December 7, 1937. He grew up in the Far Rockaway neighborhood in the borough of Queens. After finishing high school, he attended Syracuse University, where he studied acting and made friends who would also go on to work in movies and television.

Acting Career

Starting in Theater

Hankin began his career in the 1960s with a famous comedy group called The Second City. There, he learned about improvisational theater, or "improv," where actors make up their scenes on the spot without a script. In 1963, he helped start his own improv group in San Francisco called The Committee. This experience helped shape his skills as a quick-witted and funny actor.

Famous Movie Roles

Hankin has appeared in many popular films. He often works with famous directors and actors. He had small but funny parts in three movies by director John Hughes: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), She's Having a Baby (1988), and Home Alone (1990).

Some of his other well-known movie appearances include:

• Escape from Alcatraz (1979) - He played Charley Butts, an inmate alongside Clint Eastwood.
• Annie (1982) - He had a small role as the dog catcher.
• Running Scared (1986) - He played a character named Ace.
• Pretty Woman (1990) - He made a brief appearance as a landlord.
• Billy Madison (1995) - He played Carl Alphonse, the man who helps Adam Sandler's character in the academic decathlon.
• El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) - He returned to his role as Old Joe, the junkyard owner.

In 1980, Hankin wrote, produced, and starred in a short film called Solly's Diner. The film was so good that it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

Memorable TV Appearances

Larry Hankin is also famous for his roles on television. His part as Mr. Heckles, the grumpy downstairs neighbor on Friends, is one of his most recognized roles. He appeared in five episodes and even returned for the special Friends: The Reunion in 2021.

He also appeared in other hit shows:

• Seinfeld - He played Tom Pepper, the actor hired to play Kramer in the show-within-a-show.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager - He played different alien characters in the Star Trek universe.
• Breaking Bad - He played Old Joe, the clever junkyard owner who helps the main characters.
• Home Improvement - He appeared in one of the show's popular Halloween specials.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of the many movies and TV shows Larry Hankin has been in.

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Larry Hankin para niños