Remembering John Larch

John Larch was born on October 4, 1914 in Salem, Massachusetts. Before becoming an actor he had been a professional baseball player. After failing to achieve his goal as a major league player he turned his career to acting. He was given the lead role in the radio serial ‘Captain Starr of Space’ (1953–1954), and he entered films in 1954. He usually appeared in westerns such as “How The West Was Won” and action films, including “Miracle of the White Stallions” (1963) as General George S. Patton Jr. John was an old friend of Clint Eastwood and appeared in several Eastwood films, including “Dirty Harry” (1971) and “Play Misty for Me” (1971). His authoritarian personality and demeanor generally typecast him as police officers, military men, attorneys and politicians. Quite a few of these turned out to be either corrupt or outright villains.

 

Larch appeared in only one Euro-western as Harry Warner in the 1970 film “Cannon for Cordoba”.

 

John Larch died in Woodland Hills, California on October 16, 2005.

 

Today we remember John Larch on what would have been his 100^th birthday.