Person Biography:
Ivan Lawrence Blieden, better known as actor Larry Blyden, was born in Houston, Texas, to a lawyer father. He developed an early interest in acting, appearing in various theater productions as a teenager, but never considered a career in acting. After serving in the Marine Corps, he attended the University of Houston and worked as a local radio announcer to supplement his income.
Blyden's passion for acting eventually led him to train at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and later move to New York. He found success on Broadway, starring in a string of successful productions, including musicals and comedies. His notable roles included "Mr. Roberts", "Oh Men! Oh Women!", "Absurd Person Singular", "Flower Drum Song", "The Apple Tree", and "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum", for which he won a Tony Award in 1972.
Blyden also had a successful career in television, appearing in various anthology series and sitcoms, including "Joe & Mabel" and "Harry's Girls". He made guest appearances on shows such as "The Twilight Zone", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", and "Dr. Kildare".
In his personal life, Blyden was married to dancer Carol Haney from 1955 to 1962. They had two children, and after their divorce, Haney passed away suddenly at the age of 39 due to complications from diabetes. Blyden never remarried and raised their children as a single parent. He passed away at the age of 49 in a car accident while traveling in Morocco.
