Actor, Writer and Producer. He is best know for his portrayal of 'Jimmy Olsen' on the 1950s television series, "Adventures of Superman". Raised in the east Los Angeles suburb of Montebello, at age 14 he became a California state bowling champion in his age group and considered a career as a pro. While attending Pasadena Junior College, Larson's instructors discovered that he had a gift for writing and motivated him to put together plays and star in them as well. He was given a screen test at Warner Bros. after he was spotted by a talent scout performing in a musical comedy that he had written. The audition led a contract and a role as Lieutenant "Shorty" Kirk in 1948's 'Fighter Squadron'. In 1951, Larson was offered the role of Olsen, an eager young reporter and photographer on 'Adventures of Superman', the first TV show to feature the Man of Steel from the comics. The series had its premiere in 1952 and ran until 1958. There were plans to bring the show back, but George Reeves, who played Superman, died in 1959 in what was ruled a suicide. Larson continued to appear in films while he was in the 'Superman' series, among them 'Battle Zone' (1952), 'Three Sailors and a Girl' (1953), 'About Mrs. Leslie' (1954) and 'Johnny Trouble' (1957), where he met a fellow actor, James Bridges. Larson and Bridges would later become producing partners on films, including 'The Baby Maker' (1970), 'Perfect' (1985) and 'Bright Lights, Big City' (1988), as well as partners in private life. They were together 35 years, until Bridges’s death in 1993. Larson wrote librettos and plays, among them 'Chuck', 'The Candied House', 'The Astronaut’s Tale' and 'The Hyacinth From Apollo'. He was the first playwright to be awarded a grant by the Rockefeller Foundation. He appeared in a 1991 episode of the series 'The Adventures of Superboy'; a 1996 episode of 'Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' and in the 2006 film 'Superman Returns'. His last television appearance was in a 2010 episode of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'. Larson died of natural causes.
Actor, Writer and Producer. He is best know for his portrayal of 'Jimmy Olsen' on the 1950s television series, "Adventures of Superman". Raised in the east Los Angeles suburb of Montebello, at age 14 he became a California state bowling champion in his age group and considered a career as a pro. While attending Pasadena Junior College, Larson's instructors discovered that he had a gift for writing and motivated him to put together plays and star in them as well. He was given a screen test at Warner Bros. after he was spotted by a talent scout performing in a musical comedy that he had written. The audition led a contract and a role as Lieutenant "Shorty" Kirk in 1948's 'Fighter Squadron'. In 1951, Larson was offered the role of Olsen, an eager young reporter and photographer on 'Adventures of Superman', the first TV show to feature the Man of Steel from the comics. The series had its premiere in 1952 and ran until 1958. There were plans to bring the show back, but George Reeves, who played Superman, died in 1959 in what was ruled a suicide. Larson continued to appear in films while he was in the 'Superman' series, among them 'Battle Zone' (1952), 'Three Sailors and a Girl' (1953), 'About Mrs. Leslie' (1954) and 'Johnny Trouble' (1957), where he met a fellow actor, James Bridges. Larson and Bridges would later become producing partners on films, including 'The Baby Maker' (1970), 'Perfect' (1985) and 'Bright Lights, Big City' (1988), as well as partners in private life. They were together 35 years, until Bridges’s death in 1993. Larson wrote librettos and plays, among them 'Chuck', 'The Candied House', 'The Astronaut’s Tale' and 'The Hyacinth From Apollo'. He was the first playwright to be awarded a grant by the Rockefeller Foundation. He appeared in a 1991 episode of the series 'The Adventures of Superboy'; a 1996 episode of 'Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' and in the 2006 film 'Superman Returns'. His last television appearance was in a 2010 episode of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'. Larson died of natural causes.
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Bio by: Louis du Mort