Larry Hovis was born on February 20, 1936, in Wapato, Washington, a small town located in the central part of the state. He spent his early years in Houston, Texas, where he developed a strong passion for music. As a young vocalist, Larry sang with his sister Joan Hovis, and they even appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts in 1948.
Larry's music career continued to flourish as he pursued a degree in philosophy at the University of Houston. During his college years, he was signed to Capitol Records and recorded the album "My Heart Belongs to Only You." In the late 1950s, Larry moved to New York City, where he made his Broadway debut in the shows "The Billy Barnes Revue" in 1959 and "From A to Z" in 1960.
In the early 1960s, Larry relocated his family to California, where he began performing stand-up comedy routines in local clubs. His big break came in 1964 when he appeared in ten episodes of the popular TV show Gomer Pyle: USMC. He also made guest appearances on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960 and Hogan's Heroes in 1965.
Larry's role as Sergeant Carter on Hogan's Heroes became a permanent fixture, and he went on to write scripts for television specials and comedy series. He also wrote and performed on the groundbreaking comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in 1967. In addition to his on-screen work, Larry wrote the screenplay for the film Out of Sight in 1966.
After the unexpected cancellation of Hogan's Heroes, Larry continued to appear in various TV programs, including The Doris Day Show, Adam-12, Chico and the Man, Holmes and Yoyo, and Alice. Behind the scenes, Larry produced several game shows, including Liar's Club, in which he was a panelist from 1976 to 1978.
In 1993, Larry appeared in the theatrical film Shadow Force, marking a return to his acting roots. Throughout his career, Larry Hovis demonstrated his versatility as a performer, writer, and producer, leaving a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
