Larry Drake Dead: ‘L.A. Law’ Star Dies at 66 Years Old

Larry Drake died Thursday, March 17. He was 66 years old and had reportedly been having health problems.

Drake was known for playing the mentally challenged office worker Benny on NBC’s L.A. Law. Drake was Emmy nominated for the role three times, winning the first two times out. He reprised the role for L.A. Law: The Movie in 2002.

According to TMZ, Drake was found by a friend in his Los Angeles, California home. The friend called for paramedics around 1:30 pm PDT, but it was too late, the Darkman actor was already dead.

The outlet reports that Drake had been suffering from some weight-related health problems, but nothing that should have killed him so suddenly.

Whitney Smith, a worker at Drake's management office, shared that the actor had been battling weight issues and opened up about how tough it was to be overweight in Hollywood.

"(Larry) was aware that overweight people are under-represented in Hollywood," says Smith. "He would say that people in casting calls acted as if they might catch the fat from him."

Born Feb. 21, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Drake appeared in several other movies and television shows. He was also a series regular on the 1998 sci-fi TV show Prey and appeared in several films, including Darkman (1990) and its sequel; as a murderous doctor in Dr. Giggles (1992); Bean (1997); and American Pie 2 (2001).

The actor also lent his voice to animated TV parts, including Johnny Bravo from 1999 to 2004. He also made guest appearances on Six Feet Under, Crossing Jordan and 7th Heaven, with his last credited TV appearance on Boston Legal in 2008.

Drake had dropped out of the acting business, according to TMZ, but he still coached new actors.