Larry Pennell

February 21, 1929 – August 28, 2013

Larry Pennell, an actor with over 400 credits across genres in film, television and stage roles, passed away in Santa Monica, California; he was 84. A longtime Pacific Palisades resident, Larry is often remembered for his role as the charismatic Dash Riprock in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies.

Early on he starred in his own series, Ripcord, and later in Lassie. His television appearances include Wagon Train, The Virginian, Big Valley, Gunsmoke, Firefly, Quantum Leap, Magnum P.I., Silk Stalkings, Helter Skelter, Outer Limits, Thriller, The Twilight Zone and Mission Impossible.

Larry enjoyed travel and adventure. He moved to Europe with his wife and daughter in tow where roles in a number of foreign films soon followed. In Germany, he starred in Old Surehand, which remains popular there today at the annual Karl May film festival.

His feature film roles encompass Bubba Ho Tep, The Fear, Seasons of Life, Midway, Personal Best, The Great White Hope, The Revengers, Journey Through Rosebud, Devil’s Hairpin, The FBI Story and Mr. Baseball.

He won Best Actor for 5 Minutes at The Method Fest 2002. Larry’s stage work covered productions on both coasts including The Poker Game, Desperate Hours and Dead Autumn’s Soul. He wrote and starred in The Signing and Close-Up.

Larry was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, the only child of Harold Pennell, an entrepreneur and Ruth Pennell, a homemaker. When he was a little boy his family moved to Hollywood, California near Paramount Studios.

His mother took him on auditions, but show business did not capture the athletic boy’s interest. Instead, baseball became his passion for the next 20 years.

As first baseman at Hollywood High and later a HHS hall of fame inductee, he was tapped by Rod Dedeaux to play ball at USC. He attended USC on a baseball scholarship and became one of its all-time lettermen, but shy of graduation, he left to play for the Boston Braves organization.

He took leave of ball when called up by the U.S. Army and served in counterintelligence during the Korean War.

Upon his honorable discharge, the Brooklyn Dodgers bought his contract. He excelled in the minors, prompting Furman Bisher’s words in the Saturday Evening Post, July 11, 1959: “I shall always be frustrated by a desire to know how great a star he might have become.”

Over time, acting piqued his interest. He decided not to report to Brooklyn and redirected his drive to show business. Larry learned his craft from drama icons, such as Sanford Meisner and Jeff Corey.

His career was launched when he appeared in his first role in the film The Far Horizons. Larry continued to secure a wide variety of roles during his career that spanned over five decades.

Early in his career, he met his wife and soul mate Patti Throop – an actress, former Miss Oregon and Miss America semifinalist – when they were shooting a film.

Larry enjoyed a lifetime of sports, including tennis and boxing. He loved nature and was known to come to the rescue of lost and injured creatures, often dodging traffic to save them.

Larry mentored aspiring actors and baseball hopefuls, providing script readings or coaching little league.

He was an admirer of Gandhi, Thoreau and Lincoln and a patriot, with ancestral links to the Mayflower Compact and the American Revolution.

Larry is survived by his wife Patti and daughter Melanie. In his memory, contributions may be made to an organization special to his heart, the Best Friends Animal Society, a no-kill animal sanctuary, http://bestfriends.org/hone, (435) 644-2001.