Larry Riley (actor) facts for kids

Larry Riley (born June 20, 1953 – died June 6, 1992) was an American actor and musician. He was well-known for playing C.J. Memphis in the movie A Soldier's Story (1984). He also played Frank Williams in the popular TV show Knots Landing.

Larry Riley's Early Life and Acting Journey

Larry Riley was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He started acting when he was in high school. Later, he studied drama at Memphis State University. His first professional acting job was in 1971.

He performed in many plays both on and off-Broadway. Some of these plays included A Broadway Musical, I Love My Wife, and Big River. Big River was a musical based on the famous book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

In 1982, Larry won two special awards for his acting in the play A Soldier's Play. These were the Clarence Derwent and Obie Award. He later played the same role in the 1984 movie based on the play, called A Soldier's Story.

From 1984 to 1985, Larry toured the country with the musical Dreamgirls. He also performed in the touring show of Pippin.

Larry Riley on Television and Film

Larry Riley was also a familiar face on television. From 1980 to 1982, he played Calvin Barnes in the TV show The Doctors. He also made guest appearances on popular shows like Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice. In 1984, he appeared in the movie Crackers.

In 1985, Larry starred in the TV comedy Stir Crazy. This show was based on a movie from 1980.

A big role for Larry came in 1988 when he joined the long-running show Knots Landing. He played Frank Williams and was the first regular African American actor on the series. For this role, he won a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1991.

Larry also used his musical talents. He created a musical show called "Let The Good Times Roll". This show was a tribute to the musician Louis Jordan. It was very popular in 1988. Larry also lent his voice to the cartoon character Dumping Jack Trash in the animated series Fantastic Max.

Besides acting, Larry was a talented musician and singer. He sang two songs as Reverend Gillis in the movie Polly and its sequel, Polly! Comin' Home. He also sang in several episodes of Knots Landing and even wrote music for some of the episodes.

Larry Riley's Passing

Larry Riley passed away on June 6, 1992, in Burbank, California. He was almost 39 years old. He was survived by his wife, Nina, and his son, Larry Jr.

After his death, the Memphis Theatre Awards started giving out the "Larry Riley Award" each year. This award goes to a talented young actor in college or community theater who is starting a professional acting career. It is a special award that also comes with a check.

Larry Riley's Filmography

Awards and Nominations for Larry Riley