Larry Dobkin
Larry Dobkin (16 September1919–28 October2002; age 83) was an Emmy-nominated actor, television director, and occasional writer and producer who directed theStar Trek: The Original Seriesfirst season episode "Charlie X", where he was credited asLawrence Dobkin.
Twenty-five years later, he guest-starred asKell in theStar Trek: The Next Generationfourth season episode "The Mind's Eye". Dobkin filmed his scenes for "The Mind's Eye" between Wednesday20 March1991 and Thursday28 March1991 onParamount Stage 8,9, and16.
He is the only person to have both directed an episode ofThe Original Series and to later appear on aStar Trek spin-off. In addition, Dobkin,Richard Compton,Andrew Robinson,Rainn Wilson,Lea Thompson andLeslie Hope are the only six non-regular performers to have both appeared in and directedStar Trek.
Biography[]
Hailing from New York, New York, Dobkin voiced characters on numerous network radio plays from the 1940s through the 1960s. Perhaps most notable of these wasThe Saint, for which he played the title character's sidekick, cab driver Louie. He made his feature film debut in the 1949 dramaNot Wanted, starringLeo Penn, who directed theOriginal Series episode "The Enemy Within". He amassed over 150 film and television appearances.
Some of Dobkin's early film credits includeTwelve O'Clock High (1949, co-starringKenneth Tobey),D.O.A., and an uncredited role inThe Day the Earth Stood Still, directed byRobert Wise (who later directedStar Trek: The Motion Picture). He made uncredited appearances in many other films throughout the 1950s, includingAngels in the Outfield (1951),Red Skies of Montana (1952, starringJeffrey Hunter),Them! (1954, featuring an uncreditedLeonard Nimoy),Sweet Smell of Success (1957, withJohn Fiedler), andNorth by Northwest (1959, co-starringStanley Adams,Bill Catching,Robert Ellenstein, andKen Lynch). However, Dobkin did have a credited supporting role in films likeAbove and Beyond (1952),Illegal (1955, starringDeForest Kelley),The Defiant Ones (1958, co-starringTheodore Bikel andWhit Bissell), andThe Ten Commandments (1956).
Dobkin's later film work include major roles inGeronimo (1962, withJohn Anderson) andThe Cabinet of Caligari (1962) and a supporting role inPatton (1970, co-starringMichael Strong). He later played Patton himself inWar and Remembrance (1988, co-starringIan Abercrombie,Steven Berkoff,Richard Lineback,Byron Morrow,Glenn Morshower,George Murdock,Charles Napier,John Rhys-Davies, andWilliam Schallert). His last film wasBeastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991, co-starringJames Avery).
It was during the mid-1950s that Dobkin began shifting his attention more towards television. Throughout the 1950s and '60s he made multiple appearances on programs such asI Love Lucy,Space Patrol,Studio 57,Gunsmoke,Have Gun – Will Travel, andThe Untouchables. In addition, he was the narrator on the ABC crime dramaNaked City during the show's entire run (1958-1963). In 1968, he received an Emmy Award nomination for his performance in theCBS Playhouse production ofDo Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, which co-starredOriginal Series guest actorWarren Stevens.
Dobkin's later television acting credits include an episode ofMission: Impossible (with Leonard Nimoy,Robert DoQui,Rex Holman, andJason Wingreen), the pilot forThe Streets of San Francisco, and episodes of such shows asHawaii Five-O,Knight Rider,MacGyver (starringRichard Dean Anderson),Night Court,Profiler,The Practice, andNYPD Blue. He also had recurring roles onL.A. Law (starringCorbin Bernsen andLarry Drake) andMelrose Place, playing a judge on both.
Dobkin began directing television programs in 1958. BesidesStar Trek, the numerous shows he worked on as a director includeThe Rifleman,77 Sunset Strip,The Munsters,The Andy Griffith Show,Emergency!,Barnaby Jones,Cannon,The Waltons,Dallas,Charlie's Angels, andFantasy Island (starringRicardo Montalban).
Dobkin retired from directing in 1985, but continued acting until hisdeath from heart failure in 2002.