Larry Gates; Veteran Character Actor in Film, TV Roles

Larry Gates, 81, a character actor on stage, screen and television for half a century. Born in St. Paul, Minn., Gates studied chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota but was bitten by the acting bug while working in student productions. He won a position in the Barter Theater in Abingdon, Va., and then made his debut in New York in 1939 in the play “Speak of the Devil.” In Hollywood, Gates’ films included “Funny Lady,” “The Missiles of October,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Sand Pebbles,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” On television, he appeared in the respected early live shows “Studio One” and “Playhouse 90.” Gates earned an Emmy for his role as a lawyer in the soap opera “Guiding Light.” As a council member of Actors Equity, he spoke out against blacklisting and loyalty oaths during the McCarthy era. On Thursday in Sharon, Conn., of leukemia.