# John Larch

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American actor (1914–2005)

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John Larch Larch in Convoy (1966) Born Harold Aronin (1914-10-04)October 4, 1914 Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. Died October 16, 2005(2005-10-16) (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Resting place Mount Sinai Memorial Park Other name Harry Larch Years active 1953–1990 Spouse Vivi Janiss ​ ​ (m. 1955; died 1988)​

**John Larch** (born **Harold Aronin**; October 4, 1914 – October 16, 2005; also credited **Harry Larch**) was an American [radio](/source/Radio), [film](/source/Film), and [television](/source/Television) [actor](/source/Actor).

## Early life

John Larch was born Harold Aronin[1] to Jewish parents in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1914.[2] Nicknamed "Harry" in childhood, Larch was the younger of two children of Mitchell Aronin and Rose (née Larch) Aronin, both of whom immigrated to the United States from Russian-occupied areas of [Poland](/source/Poland) prior to 1908. According to Massachusetts birth registries and federal census records, Mitchell supported his family as a "cutter" in [shoemaking](/source/Shoemaking) factories. By 1920, the Aronins had moved to New York City, where Mitchell continued to work as a shoe cutter.[3]

## Military service

Larch served four years in the United States Army during World War II, an experience that left him troubled for years after his discharge. In a 1965 interview with *[The Berkshire Eagle](/source/The_Berkshire_Eagle)*, a newspaper in his home state, he shared his views on how military service had affected him personally, especially his difficulties in readjusting to civilian life:

What was my hangup then? Just about everything. I was looking for the four years I had lost in service. I was also looking for a rhyme or reason to the mass murders that took place. I was looking for the ideals I had once had. I was disgusted with the world — a world in which civilians acted as though there hadn't been a worldwide holocaust.[4]

## Career

### Film

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After his lead role in the [radio](/source/Radio) serial *Captain Starr of Space* during the broadcast season of 1953–1954,[5] he began to perform increasingly in films. He was usually cast on the "big screen" in [Westerns](/source/Western_(genre)) (*[How The West Was Won](/source/How_the_West_Was_Won_(film))*, 1962) and in other action films outside that genre, including *[Miracle of the White Stallions](/source/Miracle_of_the_White_Stallions)* as General [George S. Patton Jr.](/source/George_S._Patton_Jr.) (1963), the television film *Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur* as General [Omar Bradley](/source/Omar_Bradley) (1976), and replacing [James Gregory](/source/James_Gregory_(actor)) as Mac in the [Matt Helm](/source/Matt_Helm) movie *[The Wrecking Crew](/source/The_Wrecking_Crew_(1969_film))* (1969) starring [Dean Martin](/source/Dean_Martin), [Sharon Tate](/source/Sharon_Tate), and [Elke Sommer](/source/Elke_Sommer). Larch also appears in two 1971 [Clint Eastwood](/source/Clint_Eastwood) films, *[Dirty Harry](/source/Dirty_Harry)* and *[Play Misty for Me](/source/Play_Misty_for_Me)*.

### Television

Larch had the role of Captain Ben Foster on the [NBC](/source/NBC) series *[Convoy](/source/Convoy_(TV_series))* (1965-1966).[6] He guest-starred in *[Jefferson Drum](/source/Jefferson_Drum)*; *[Johnny Ringo](/source/Johnny_Ringo_(TV_series))*; *[Riverboat](/source/Riverboat_(TV_series))*; *[Naked City](/source/Naked_City_(TV_series))* (three episodes); *[Stoney Burke](/source/Stoney_Burke_(TV_series))*; [*Route 66*](/source/Route_66_(TV_series)) (three episodes); *[The Fugitive](/source/The_Fugitive_(1963_TV_series))* (two episodes); *[The Invaders](/source/The_Invaders)*; *[The Restless Gun](/source/The_Restless_Gun)* (four episodes); *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke_(TV_series))* (seven episodes); *[The Virginian](/source/The_Virginian_(TV_series))* (four episodes, one of which was in 1970 as the Sheriff on *The Men From Shiloh*, which was the rebranded name that year for *The Virginian*); *[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)*; *[The Man From U.N.C.L.E.](/source/The_Man_From_U.N.C.L.E.)*; *[Hawaii Five-0](/source/Hawaii_Five-0_(1968_TV_series))*; *[Mission Impossible](/source/Mission%3A_Impossible_(1966_TV_series))* (two episodes); *[The Troubleshooters](/source/The_Troubleshooters_(1959_TV_series))*; *[Bus Stop](/source/Bus_Stop_(TV_series))*; *[The Law and Mr. Jones](/source/The_Law_and_Mr._Jones)*; *[Bat Masterson](/source/Bat_Masterson_(TV_series))* (season one, episode 30, which aired on 27 May 1959); *[The Rifleman](/source/The_Rifleman)*; the final episode of the [James Stewart](/source/James_Stewart) legal drama *[Hawkins](/source/Hawkins_(TV_series))*; *[The Feather and Father Gang](/source/The_Feather_and_Father_Gang)*; *[The Millionaire](/source/The_Millionaire_(TV_series))*; [three episodes of *Twilight Zone*](/source/The_Twilight_Zone_(1959_TV_series)): "[Perchance to Dream](/source/Perchance_to_Dream_(The_Twilight_Zone))", "[Dust](/source/Dust_(The_Twilight_Zone))", and "[It's a Good Life](/source/It's_a_Good_Life_(The_Twilight_Zone))", (S3 E8 1961) in which he played [Bill Mumy](/source/Bill_Mumy)'s father with Mumy as a young boy; *[Rawhide](/source/Rawhide_(TV_series))*, in the episode "[Incident At Sugar Creek](/source/List_of_Rawhide_episodes#Season_5_(1962–63))" (1962) as Sam Garrett; *[Vega$](/source/Vega%24)*, in the season three episode "[Deadly Blessing](/source/List_of_Vegas_(1978_TV_series)_episodes#Season_3_(1980–81))"; *[Dynasty](/source/Dynasty_(1981_TV_series))* (seven episodes); and *[Dallas](/source/Dallas_(TV_series))* (seven episodes). He also starred as hunter Sam in Daniel Boone in the episode, Chief Mingo. Appeared in *[Cannon](/source/Cannon_(TV_series))* (1973 TV series), Episode - To Ride A Tiger.

## Personal life

Larch married actress [Vivi Janiss](/source/Vivi_Janiss), the former wife of actor [Bob Cummings](/source/Bob_Cummings). Larch and Vivi married in Los Angeles in March 1955. Vivi died in 1988. The couple had no children.

### Joint acting appearances with Janiss

During their long acting careers, Larch and his wife Vivi performed together periodically on television. Larch, for example, appears with her in the 1968 episode "Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born" on the [CBS](/source/CBS) weekly crime drama *Hawaii Five-O* starring [Jack Lord](/source/Jack_Lord). On earlier television series, they appear in the roles of Johnny and Elsie in the 1959 episode "End of an Era" on [NBC](/source/NBC)'s [Western](/source/Western_(genre)) series *[Tales of Wells Fargo](/source/Tales_of_Wells_Fargo)*; as Isaiah and Rebecca Macabee in the 1960 episode "The Proud Earth" on the NBC [anthology](/source/Anthology) series *[Goodyear Theatre](/source/Goodyear_Theatre)*; as another married couple, Ben and Sarah Harness, in the 1960 episode "The Cathy Eckhart Story" on NBC's *[Wagon Train](/source/Wagon_Train)*; and as John and Mary Clark in "No Fat Cops", the 1961 premiere episode of *[The New Breed](/source/The_New_Breed_(TV_series))* starring [Leslie Nielsen](/source/Leslie_Nielsen).

## Death

Larch continued to reside in Los Angeles, in Woodland Hills, until his death in 2005 at age 91. He is interred in a wall crypt at [Mount Sinai Memorial Park](/source/Mount_Sinai_Memorial_Park) in nearby [Hollywood Hills](/source/Hollywood_Hills).[7]

## Partial filmography

- *[Bitter Creek](/source/Bitter_Creek_(film))* (1954) - Hired Gunman

- *[This Is My Love](/source/This_Is_My_Love)* (1954) - Police Detective (uncredited)

- *[Tight Spot](/source/Tight_Spot)* (1955) - First Detective (uncredited)

- *[Seven Angry Men](/source/Seven_Angry_Men)* (1955) - Truce Flag-Bearing Sergeant (uncredited)

- *[5 Against the House](/source/5_Against_the_House)* (1955) - Police Detective (uncredited)

- *[The Phenix City Story](/source/The_Phenix_City_Story)* (1955) - Clem Wilson

- *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)* (1955) - Clay

- *[The Naked Street](/source/The_Naked_Street)* (1955) - Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

- *[The McConnell Story](/source/The_McConnell_Story)* (1955) - Cy (uncredited)

- *[Illegal](/source/Illegal_(1955_film))* (1955) - District Attorney's Man (uncredited)

- *[The Killer Is Loose](/source/The_Killer_Is_Loose)* (1956) - Otto Flanders

- *[Behind the High Wall](/source/Behind_the_High_Wall)* (1956) - William Kiley

- *[Seven Men from Now](/source/Seven_Men_from_Now)* (1956) - Payte Bodeen

- *[Written on the Wind](/source/Written_on_the_Wind)* (1956) - Roy Carter

- *[Man from Del Rio](/source/Man_from_Del_Rio)* (1956) - Bill Dawson

- *[Gun for a Coward](/source/Gun_for_a_Coward)* (1957) - Stringer

- *[The Careless Years](/source/The_Careless_Years)* (1957) - Sam Vernon

- *[Quantez](/source/Quantez)* (1957) - Heller

- *[Man in the Shadow](/source/Man_in_the_Shadow_(American_film))* (1957) - Ed Yates

- *[The Restless Gun](/source/The_Restless_Gun)* (1957-1958) (4 episodes) - (Season 1 Episode 6: "The Shooting of Jett King") - Jett King - (Season 1 Episode 21: "Hornitas Town") - as Sheriff Ryker - (Season 1 Episode 29: "The Crisis at Easter Creek") - as Red-Eye Kirk - (Season 2 Episode 4: "Thunder Valley") - as Sheriff Anse Newton

- *[From Hell to Texas](/source/From_Hell_to_Texas)* (1958) - Hal Carmody

- *[The Saga of Hemp Brown](/source/The_Saga_of_Hemp_Brown)* (1958) - Jed Givens

- *[The Walter Winchell File](/source/The_Walter_Winchell_File)* (1958) (4 episodes) - (Season 2 Episode 1: "Portrait of A Cop: File #27") - Lieutenant Michaels - (Season 2 Episode 3: "Too Many Clues") - Lieutenant Michaels - (Season 2 Episode 4: "Exclusive Story: File #31") - Lieutenant Michaels - (Season 2 Episode 5: "A Short Run to Broadway") - Lieutenant Michaels

- *[Bat Masterson](/source/Bat_Masterson_(TV_series))* (1959) (Season 1 Episode 30: "The Secret is Death") - Garrickson

- *[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)* (1959) (Season 1 Episode 3: "The Newcomers") - Blake McCall

- *[Hell to Eternity](/source/Hell_to_Eternity)* (1960) - Captain Schwabe

- *[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)* (1955-1961) (7 episodes) - (Season 1 Episode 7: "Smoking Out the Nolans") (1955) - Clay Young - (Season 3 Episode 11: "Fingered") (1957) - Jim Cobbett - (Season 4 Episode 37: "The Constable") (1959) - Rance - (Season 5 Episode 10: "The Boots") (1959) - Zeno - (Season 5 Episode 25: "Jailbait Janet") (1960) - Dan - (Season 6 Episode 32: "Long Hours, Short Pay") (1961) - Serpa - (Season 7 Episode 5: "All That") (1961) - Shanks

- *[The Twilight Zone](/source/The_Twilight_Zone)* (1959-1961) (3 episodes) - (Season 1 Episode 9: "Perchance to Dream") - Dr. Eliot Rathmann - (Season 2 Episode 12: "Dust") - Sheriff Koch - (Season 3 Episode 8: 'It's a Good Life") - Mr. Fremont

- *[The Rifleman](/source/The_Rifleman)* (1961) (Season 3 Episode 15: "Six Years and a Day") - Jack Cooke

- *[Alfred Hitchcock Presents](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock_Presents)* (1962) (Season 7 Episode 15: "The Door Without a Key") - Sergeant Shaw

- *[How the West Was Won](/source/How_the_West_Was_Won_(film))* (1962) - Grimes (uncredited)

- *[Miracle of the White Stallions](/source/Miracle_of_the_White_Stallions)* (1963) - General [George S. Patton, Jr.](/source/George_S._Patton%2C_Jr.)

- *[The Wrecking Crew](/source/The_Wrecking_Crew_(1969_film))* (1969) - MacDonald

- *[The Great Bank Robbery](/source/The_Great_Bank_Robbery_(1969_film))* (1969) - Sheriff of Friendly

- *[Hail, Hero!](/source/Hail%2C_Hero!)* (1969) - Mr. Conklin

- *[Move](/source/Move_(1970_film))* (1970) - Mounted Patrolman

- *[Cannon for Cordoba](/source/Cannon_for_Cordoba)* (1970) - Warner

- *[Play Misty for Me](/source/Play_Misty_for_Me)* (1971) - Sergeant McCallum

- *[Dirty Harry](/source/Dirty_Harry)* (1971) - Chief

- *[Women in Chains](/source/Women_in_Chains)* (1972) - Barney

- *[Santee](/source/Santee_(film))* (1973) - Banner

- *[Winter Kill](/source/Winter_Kill)* (1974, TV Movie) - Dr. Bill Hammond

- *[Bad Ronald](/source/Bad_Ronald)* (1974, TV Movie) - Sergeant Lynch

- *[Framed](/source/Framed_(1975_film))* (1975) - Bundy

- *[The Amityville Horror](/source/The_Amityville_Horror_(1979_film))* (1979) - Father Nuncio

- *[Little House on the Prairie](/source/Little_House_on_the_Prairie_(TV_series))* (1980) "A New Beginning" - Arthur Mahoney

- *[Airplane II: The Sequel](/source/Airplane_II%3A_The_Sequel)* (1982) - Prosecuting Attorney

- *[Dallas](/source/Dallas_(TV_series))* (1985-1990) (7 episodes) - (Season 8 Episode 28: "Deeds and Misdeeds") (1985) - Wally Windham - (Season 8 Episode 29: "Deliverance") (1985) - Wally Windham - (Season 13 Episode 18: "The Crucible") (1990) - Arlen Ward / Atticus Ward - (Season 13 Episode 19: "Dear Hearts and Gentle People") (1990) - Arlen Ward - (Season 13 Episode 20: "Paradise Lost") (1990) - Arlen Ward - (Season 13 Episode 21: "Will Power") (1990) - Arlen Ward - (Season 13 Episode 22: "The Smiling Cobra") (1990) - Atticus Ward

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1955-Marriage_1-0)** "California County Marriages", marriage license and certificate of Harold Aronin to Vivi Janiss, March 26, 1955, Los Angeles, California; Bureau of Vital Statistics, California State Board of Health, Sacramento; digital image of original document, archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (CJCLDS), Salt Lake City, Utah.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915", Harold Aronin, October 4, 1914, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Archives, Boston.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920", family of Mitchell Aronin, "Fourth Assembly District", New York City, January 2, 1920; digital image of original enumeration page; CJCLDS Archives.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-be_4-0)** ["John Larch Finds Success At End of the 'Road Back'"](http://www.newspapers.com/clip/6129307/john_larch_problems_1965). *The Berkshire Eagle*. Massachusetts, Pittsfield. September 18, 1965. p. 28. Retrieved April 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Dionne, Jerome M. Curley, Dorothy V. Malcolm, and Nelson L. (2013). [*Legendary Locals of Salem*](https://books.google.com/books?id=gRL5AAAAQBAJ&q=%22John+Larch%22+actor&pg=PA103). Arcadia Publishing. p. 103. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781467100809](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781467100809). Retrieved January 15, 2017.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-etvs_6-0)** Terrace, Vincent (2011). *Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010* (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 208. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-6477-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-6477-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Wilson, Scott. *Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons*, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [John Larch](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:John_Larch).

- [John Larch](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488024/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [John Larch](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12096875) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)
- [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States)
- [Los Angeles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Los_Angeles)
- [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:California)
- [Radio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Radio)
- [Film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Film)
- [Television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Television)

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