Larry Riley (actor)

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox person | name = Larry Riley | image = Larry Riley (actor)_resize.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Riley as Frank Williams in ''Knots Landing'' | birthname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1952|6|20|mf=y}} | birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|6|6|1952|6|20|mf=y}} | death_place = Burbank, California, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|musician}} | years_active = 1971–1992 | spouse = {{marriage|Nina Girvetz|1991|1992}} }}

'''Larry Riley''' (June 20, 1952 – June 6, 1992) was an American actor and musician, best known for his role as C.J. Memphis in the film ''A Soldier's Story'' (1984) and as Frank Williams in the prime-time TV soap opera ''Knots Landing''.

==Early life and career== Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Riley began acting in high school before studying drama at Memphis State University.<ref name="people">{{cite journal|last=Gliatto|first=Tom |authorlink=Tom Gliatto|date=June 22, 1992|title=Death in Knots Landing|journal=People|volume=37|issue=24|issn=0093-7673|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112961,00.html}}</ref> He made his professional stage debut in 1971, and went on to appear in various stage productions on and off-Broadway including ''A Broadway Musical'', ''Shakespeare's Cabaret'', ''I Love My Wife'', and ''Big River'', a musical based on ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn''. In 1982, Riley won a Clarence Derwent and Obie Award for his performance in ''A Soldier's Play''. He later reprised the role in the 1984 film based on the play.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/10/obituaries/larry-riley-39-actor-on-knots-landing.html|title=Larry Riley, 39, Actor On 'Knots Landing'|date=June 10, 1992|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 1, 2009}}</ref> From 1984 to 1985, Riley portrayed the role of Curtis Taylor, Jr. in the national touring company of ''Dreamgirls''. He also appeared as the leading player in the U.S. touring company of ''Pippin''.<ref name=filmref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/4/Larry-Riley.html|title=Larry Riley Biography (1952–1992)|publisher=filmreference.com|access-date=December 1, 2009}}</ref>

From 1980 to 1982, Riley portrayed Calvin Barnes in the NBC daytime soap opera ''The Doctors''. He later had guest roles on ''Hill Street Blues'' and ''Miami Vice'', and appeared in Louis Malle's 1984 film ''Crackers''. In 1985, Riley starred in the short-lived sitcom ''Stir Crazy'', based on the 1980 film of the same name.<ref name=filmref /> In 1988, he won the role of Frank Williams on the long-running nighttime soap ''Knots Landing'', becoming the series' first regular African American cast member.<ref name="people" /> The role garnered Riley a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Primetime Supporting Role in 1991. Riley also created a musical tribute to Louis Jordan entitled "Let The Good Times Roll", which enjoyed success at the Cinegrill of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1988.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-03-ca-738-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Don | last=Heckman | title=CABARET REVIEW : Riley's Tribute to Louis Jordan | date=November 3, 1988}}</ref> He also voiced the arch-villain Dumping Jack Trash in the children's animated series ''Fantastic Max''.

In addition to acting, Riley was also a musician and singer. He performed two songs in his role as Reverend Gillis in the Emmy-nominated ''Polly'' and the following year's sequel, ''Polly! Comin' Home''. He sang in several episodes of ''Knots Landing'' and also composed the score for several episodes.<ref name="https://books.google.com/books?id=vbkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62&dq=Larry+Riley&ei=Qt0US_yzIoKgMsTtleMK#v=onepage&q=Larry%20Riley&f=false">{{cite journal|date=June 29, 1992|title=Actor Larry Riley, 39, Dies of AIDS in Burbank, Calif.|journal=Jet|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=82|issue=10|pages=62|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vbkDAAAAMBAJ&q=Larry+Riley&pg=PA62}}</ref>

==Illness and death== In May 1989, Riley entered rehab for drug and alcohol abuse. The following year, he discovered he was HIV positive. According to his wife Nina, Riley "was not gay. He was not bisexual. He did not use needles at all. He speculated it was from a woman. Because he was quite the womanizer."<ref name="people" /> Fearful that news of his diagnosis would ruin his career, Riley did not disclose his illness to anyone except his wife and continued working on ''Knots Landing'' until his death. To explain his dramatic weight loss, Riley claimed that he was suffering from kidney failure due to high blood pressure. Riley's true illness was revealed by his wife and doctor after his death.<ref name="people" />

On June 6, 1992, Riley died of AIDS-related kidney failure in Burbank, California, only two weeks short of his 40th birthday. He was survived by his second wife Nina and a son, Larry, Jr.<ref>{{cite book|title=Theatre World 1991–1992, Volume 48|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|year=2000|pages=240|isbn=1-55783-142-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=601qLRRrZ28C&q=Larry+Riley+AIDS&pg=PA240}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=March 29, 1993|title=Late Actor Larry Riley Of 'Knots Landing' Leaves $200,000 Estate To Widow|journal=Jet|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=83|issue=22|pages=51|issn=0021-5996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sboDAAAAMBAJ&q=Larry+Riley&pg=PA51}}</ref>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1980–1982 | ''The Doctors'' | Calvin Barnes | Unknown episodes |- | 1982 | ''Muggable Mary, Street Cop'' | Steve Kelsey | TV movie |- | 1982 | ''Hill Street Blues'' | Vernon Tucker | Episode: "Little Boil Blue" |- | 1984 | ''Crackers'' | Boardwalk | |- | 1984 | ''A Soldier's Story'' | C.J. Memphis | |- | 1984 | ''Miami Vice'' | Bobby Price | Episode: "Cool Runnin'" |- | 1985 | ''Stir Crazy'' | Harry Fletcher | 9 episodes |- | 1985 | ''Badge of the Assassin'' | Herman Bell | TV movie |- | 1986 | ''The Twilight Zone'' | Joshua | Episode: "Quarantine" |- | 1986 | ''The Fall Guy'' | Cleveland Tudor | Episode: "Two on a Skip" |- | 1986 | ''One Police Plaza'' | Detective Starling | TV movie |- | 1987 | ''Spenser: For Hire'' | Bo Braxton | Episode: "One for My Daughter" |- | 1987 | ''Long Gone'' | Joe Louis Brown | TV movie |- | 1988–1992 | ''Knots Landing'' | Frank Williams | 111 episodes, (final appearance) |- | 1988 | ''Dead Solid Perfect'' | Spec | TV movie |- | 1988 | ''Fantastic Max'' | Dumping Jack Trash | Voice, 3 episodes |- | 1989 | ''Unconquered'' | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | TV movie |- | 1989 | ''Polly'' | Reverend Gillis | TV movie |- | 1990 | ''Polly: Comin' Home!'' | Reverend Gillis | TV movie |}

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Awards and nominations |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Title of work ! Result |- |1982 |Clarence Derwent Awards |Most Promising Male |''A Soldier's Play'' |'''Won''' |- |1982 |Drama Desk Award |Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play |''A Soldier's Play'' |'''Nominated''' |- |1990 |Soap Opera Digest Awards |Outstanding Supporting Actor: Prime Time |''Knots Landing'' |'''Nominated''' |- |1991 |Soap Opera Digest Awards |Outstanding Supporting Actor: Prime Time |''Knots Landing'' |'''Won''' |- |1992 |Soap Opera Digest Awards |Outstanding Actor: Prime Time |''Knots Landing'' |'''Nominated''' |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IBDB name}} * {{iobdb name|10580}} * {{IMDb name|0727104|Larry Riley}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202080220/http://www.artistswithaids.org/artforms/music/catalogue/rileyl.html ArtistswithAIDS.org]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, Larry}} Category:AIDS-related deaths in California Category:American male film actors Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American male soap opera actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male voice actors Category:American television composers Category:Deaths from kidney failure in California Category:Singers from Tennessee Category:Male actors from Memphis, Tennessee Category:University of Memphis alumni Category:1952 births Category:1992 deaths Category:20th-century African-American male actors Category:20th-century American male actors Category:20th-century American composers Category:20th-century American male composers Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers