View Full Version : I Love Larry Tate!


Janice
08-05-2003, 01:30 PM
Larry Tate is one of the best characters to ever appear on TV in my opinion. When he's in a scene, I rarely take my eyes off him. He's very funny, and his expressions are great. When he walks in Darrin's office and finds him in some crazy costume or predicament, his reactions are priceless. When he's not in an episode, I miss him.
Also, learning about the tragedy in David White's life of losing his son to terrorism in 1988 makes me feel sad watching him sometimes. I think to myself, 'Oh David, in XYZ years, your world will fall apart.'
Enough of my morbidness--does anyone else think Larry Tate is the greatest? He seems like he was a nice guy in real life...someone I would have liked to have known. He had the nicest way about him.

rml83
08-05-2003, 02:00 PM
Larry's the BEST. Really. What an underappreciated character. He somehow always manages to crack me up with any simple line or facial expression. I was thinking about it today when I was watching "Hippie Hippie Hooray." The scene in Darrin's office after Serena leaves and Larry talks to him is priceless. "Who cares about the account? It's you I care about! You, and that poor little girl who used to be Samantha!" David White was a great actor who somehow managed to work really well with every single actor on the show for all eight seasons. He's done a lot of guest appearances on some of my favorite shows, too.

Novarro
08-05-2003, 07:28 PM
Yes, David White was really special. He had a huge talent and managed to turn Larry from being a possibly unlikeable character into someone who you knew was a decent person and who could be very funny. I always remember the wonderful episode when Endora zapped a vanity spell on Darrin, David 's reactions to his hippy beads and gold lame suit are priceless. I also loved all his scenes with Serena who was always very hot for her "Cotton Top".Hilarious!!
Sure he was money hungry for the accounts and fired Darrin all the time but you knew he really cared about Darrin like a son in a way.
David also had one of his finest moments in the wonderful "Sisters at Heart" Christmas episode when he overrode his desire for the account and told the racist client to get lost. That showed Larry's real moral character I thought.
It has been said that David was a lost man after his son's death resulting from terrorism and was never the same again. All in all a special man who graced "Bewitched", with his unique talent for all eight seasons
Cheers
Simon

donaldshelton
08-06-2003, 10:35 PM
Where on the internet can I find a bio of David White? I didn't know he lost a son to terrorism!!

Don

marvin g
08-06-2003, 10:44 PM
He was one of those characters I had to grow to like. I thought he was spineless. But as I grew older he was spineless but humorous with it. Now Dr. Bellows from Jeannie was funny the The major and Jeannie made a fool out of him!:happyface

Janice
08-06-2003, 11:19 PM
Originally posted by donaldshelton
Where on the internet can I find a bio of David White? I didn't know he lost a son to terrorism!!
Don
From www.imdb.com

Biography for
David White (II)

Height
6' 1"

American stage actor who appeared frequently on television and occasionally but impressively in films. A Marine Corps veteran of the Second World War, he worked on Broadway and on tour in stage productions after the war. In the late 1950s, he became an increasingly familiar face on American television, following a strong performance in the film 'Sweet Smell of Success (1957)', in which he played the smarmy fellow who gets a dalliance with the unwilling 'Barbara Nichols' in exchange for a favor to Tony Curtis's Sidney Falco. Cads and pompous politicians became White's strong suit, but he achieved his greatest fame as the unctious Larry Tate on the hit TV series "Bewitched" (1964). He continued to work in the theatre, particularly as a member of acclaimed Theatre West company in Los Angeles and at the Mark Taper Forum there. In December, 1988, White's 33-year-old son Jonathan was killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK. White, who had been widowed soon after Jonathan's birth, was embittered and enraged by this new tragedy. He became reclusive for a time, but was returning to some social activity and theatre work when he died of a massive heart attack in 1990, just a few days prior to the second anniversary of his son's death. He was survived by his daughter.


Trivia
Had a son, Jonathan White who was killed in Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK.

catlover79
04-29-2007, 10:47 PM
Larry Tate could very easily have been a villain on Bewitched (always firing Darrin over a simple misunderstanding/error), but it is a testament to David White's acting that he made Larry so much fun! He was truly one of the most underrated character actors to come out of the 1960s. I was also sorry to learn what had happened to his son. May they both :rip:

BensonFan
04-30-2007, 07:32 PM
I thought Larry Tate was pretty funny. In fact, as far as supporting cast members go, I put him right up there with another Larry--Larry Dallas on Three's Company. :D

comedyfreak
05-01-2007, 04:28 AM
Larry Tate grew on me, I didn't like him at first. Samantha knew how to handle him, lol.

Chachi'88
02-20-2010, 04:33 AM
BIG LARRY TATE!

I was very surprised in the episode "Sisters at Heart", I never expected it to forgo a customer!

0k was a racist but I was sure that Larry to conclude a contract would be capable of anything! also to do business with racists!

is one of many reasons why "Sisters at Heart" is one of my favorite episodes!

snelson
02-20-2010, 12:18 PM
larry tate was greedy and stubborn but had a good heart. he was like a good nemoidian from star wars.

nemoidians are greedy aliens in star wars watch star wars 1 to 3. very rarely were there good nemoidians.

The Great One
02-20-2010, 02:46 PM
From www.imdb.com

Biography for
David White (II)

Height
6' 1"

American stage actor who appeared frequently on television and occasionally but impressively in films. A Marine Corps veteran of the Second World War, he worked on Broadway and on tour in stage productions after the war. In the late 1950s, he became an increasingly familiar face on American television, following a strong performance in the film 'Sweet Smell of Success (1957)', in which he played the smarmy fellow who gets a dalliance with the unwilling 'Barbara Nichols' in exchange for a favor to Tony Curtis's Sidney Falco. Cads and pompous politicians became White's strong suit, but he achieved his greatest fame as the unctious Larry Tate on the hit TV series "Bewitched" (1964). He continued to work in the theatre, particularly as a member of acclaimed Theatre West company in Los Angeles and at the Mark Taper Forum there. In December, 1988, White's 33-year-old son Jonathan was killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK. White, who had been widowed soon after Jonathan's birth, was embittered and enraged by this new tragedy. He became reclusive for a time, but was returning to some social activity and theatre work when he died of a massive heart attack in 1990, just a few days prior to the second anniversary of his son's death. He was survived by his daughter.


Trivia
Had a son, Jonathan White who was killed in Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, UK.


Great information about David White!

MickeyMac
02-20-2010, 03:22 PM
:cheers: To David White

catlover79
02-20-2010, 03:41 PM
Here's more info on David White and his son, Jonathan:

http://harpiesbizarre.com/DavidWhiteMemorial.htm

OH Nuts!
02-20-2010, 11:27 PM
Larry Tate was a fun character but there were so many great characters on that show.
I totally agree, David White was a great character actor and did a very nice job on the show...I can see easily see why he could be someone's fav

(on the other hand, Dick Sargent would be hard..imo he can't hold a candle to Dick York)

Madame X
02-21-2010, 12:33 AM
Larry Tate was kind of a shallow and transparent guy who used Darrin. He often took credit for Darrin's ideas; he invited himself and clients over for dinner and/or cocktails; he continually fired and re-hired Darrin and he dropped by at all hours, unexpectedly.

Didn't he climb through the living room window with a client when the Stephenses were hiding out and didn't answer the door? :lol:

That thin moustache and snow-white hair helped make Larry Tate a unique charater. David White was perfect for the part; he showed us Larry's sleazy side, but also presented him as a vulnerable human being who we could care about.

They replaced Darrin, Gladys and Louise, but they could never replace Larry!

catlover79
03-10-2010, 05:43 PM
On paper, Larry must have seemed like such a one-note, mean character. David White was perfect for the role...he managed to bring out Larry's vulnerable side, just like Stacy said. :nod: