What happened to him? Was he fired? Did he Quit?

http://www.accesshollywood.com/content/images/137/230x306/137722_larry-wilcox-as-officer-john-baker-in-the-television-series-chips-in-1981.jpg

The last I heard he was arrested about a year ago for securities fraud, mail fraud, and other charges. He was involved with others in a scheme to manipulate stock prices.

Yeah, he got a few years' probation for that. It was his choice to leave CHiPs, due to his deteriorating relationship with Erik Estrada and his wanting to move on to other projects.

He was lucky to get off that easy. Estrada has such a huge ego. Larry left the show over favoritism towards Estrada by the producers.

Larry is doing well. He lives a quiet life in Southern California with his wife and two teenage sons. He cares for his elderly father in law and works on philanthropic efforts and other projects. He's a lovely man. Yes he got in trouble last year but as the judge himself put it "It was an aberration in an otherwise exceptional life." He's personal and very dear friend of mine, in fact I am having lunch with him next week. He really is a good man who was led to make a terrible mistake by trusting the wrong people. He took responsibility for that and is now hoping to put it behind him.

BTW, he, along with his fellow cast members, will be reuniting next September in Los Angeles to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the show's premiere on NBC.

He left CHiPs because he wanted to pursue other projects and do more directing and producing. He loved playing Jon Baker though.

Larry is doing well. He lives a quiet life in Southern California with his wife and two teenage sons. He cares for his elderly father in law and works on philanthropic efforts and other projects. He's a lovely man. Yes he got in trouble last year but as the judge himself put it "It was an aberration in an otherwise exceptional life." He's personal and very dear friend of mine, in fact I am having lunch with him next week. He really is a good man who was led to make a terrible mistake by trusting the wrong people. He took responsibility for that and is now hoping to put it behind him.

BTW, he, along with his fellow cast members, will be reuniting next September in Los Angeles to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the show's premiere on NBC.

He left CHiPs because he wanted to pursue other projects and do more directing and producing. He loved playing Jon Baker though.

Interesting thank you for sharing...

I remembered seeing him on an episode of Matlock w/TV Legend Andy Griffith ever since his days on "CHiPs", but he and Estrada reunited in 1998 in the TNT Made for Cable Movie called "CHiPs '99" and I thought it was pretty good

Sue, please tell him hello!!! I've been watching the first two seasons of CHiPs on DVD that I checked out of the library the past couple of weeks. The episodes still held up pretty well in terms of the stunts and the bonds between the co-workers (that also includes Getraer, Grossman, Baricza, Fritz, etc.).

I also wonder how things would've turned out had Larry been cast as Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice, as I've read over the years that he was on the short list before Don Johnson got the part. In any case, I'm glad that he and his family are doing well. :cool:

Yes, Larry came very close to getting the role of Sonny Crockett (his screen test is amazing) but the studio head liked Don Johnson...and the rest is history. :)

I remembered seeing him on an episode of Matlock w/TV Legend Andy Griffith ever since his days on "CHiPs", but he and Estrada reunited in 1998 in the TNT Made for Cable Movie called "CHiPs '99" and I thought it was pretty good

Larry was on a ton of shows in the 80's. He did 4 episodes of Murder She Wrote, Matlock, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Hotel, MacGyver, a Perry Mason movie, Hardcastle and McCormack, Mike Hammer, etc. In the 70's he was on The Partridge Family, Room 222, MASH, Hawaii 5-0, Streets of San Francisco, Police Story, Cannon, and of course, Lassie. Lots of wonderful, classic shows!

He left CHiPs because he wanted to pursue other projects and do more directing and producing. He loved playing Jon Baker though.

Just as well - the bits and pieces I've seen of the final season are HORRIBLE. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Here's is a current pic of Larry:

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae66/BerryWriter/165746_499040843449_354728763449_6319842_4653902_n.jpg

Thanks!! I always thought he and baseball player Jim Thome look a lot alike. When they were doing CHiPs '99, I thought it would've been cool had Jim Thome been cast as Jon Baker's long-lost son!!! :lol:

Still looks pretty much the same.

He looks a lot more natural than Erik Estrada does these days - for sure.

He looks a lot more natural than Erik Estrada does these days - for sure.

Here's what Erik is up to these days-he's on the Mexican television version of "Dancing With the Stars". He doesn't quite have the moves he showed off on CHiPs anymore but for a man of 62 he's not bad. I tried and tried to embed it using the YouTube button but the site refused to cooperate. Sorry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0xaGtZhHqQ

Thanks for the video - he doesn't look BAD except for his hair. It's just that it looks so fake and the jet black isn't fooling anyone. I rather liked the salt and pepper look that he sported in CHiPs '99. He was great in the DVD featurette about the real CHP.

I get a kick out of the fact that Chris Pine is the son of the real-life Sgt. and Mrs. Getraer (I think it's awesome that Robert Pine and Gwynne Gilford are still married after 40 some years!). Has Larry said anything about his feelings about Chris' success?

Yes, Larry came very close to getting the role of Sonny Crockett (his screen test is amazing) but the studio head liked Don Johnson...and the rest is history. :)yeah I remember I think it was an A&E biography on CHiPs that the few seconds of Larry's Sonny Crocket screentest were shown, he had a sports jacket and turtleneck.