Larry Breeding

Larry Breeding (September 28, 1946 – September 28, 1982) was an American actor born in Winchester, Illinois, who built a career spanning stage, television, and film before his death at age 36. He grew up on his family's farm, which he referred to as "Belly Acres," where his father worked as a farmer before transitioning to banking and his mother worked as a homemaker. Breeding later credited his rural Illinois upbringing with shaping both his work ethic and his sense of humor.

He pursued formal training at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, earning a degree in theatre. During the summers of 1968 and 1969, he gained practical experience as an apprentice at the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois, a regional venue he credited with teaching him more than his academic coursework. While establishing himself as an actor in New York, Breeding supported himself through a range of jobs, including walking dogs and selling neckties at Saks Fifth Avenue. He also appeared in more than 150 commercials for brands including Haggar slacks, Chevrolet, and Dr. Pepper, with his recurring appearances as the "Haggar slacks man" making him a recognizable presence to television audiences before he had secured major acting roles.

Breeding's stage work included appearances in Chicago and on Broadway, where he appeared in Jumpers in 1974. His first film credit came the following year in The Happy Hooker (1975), in which he played one of the "Johns" opposite Lynn Redgrave. He later performed in summer theatre productions, including Deathtrap at the Little Theatre on the Square, where Penny Marshall attended a performance earlier in 1982.

His television career gained momentum in 1978 when NBC president Fred Silverman cast him in the sitcom Who's Watching the Kids?, a Garry Marshall production set among struggling performers in Las Vegas. Breeding played Larry Parnell alongside Jim Belushi, Caren Kaye, and Marcia Lewis. The series ran from 1978 to 1979. Breeding described the experience with characteristic candor, calling it "shotgun television."

In 1979, Breeding took on what became his most prominent television role, playing Michael Lerner, a waiter and medical student, in the CBS comedy The Last Resort, produced by Gary David Goldberg and MTM Enterprises. The ensemble cast included Stephanie Faracy, Robert Costanzo, and John Fujitake, and critics described the series as "bright, fast, and refreshing," singling out Breeding's performance as "boyish but clever." Having appeared in three failed pilots before landing the role, Breeding described himself as a "flop-up," an actor who "moves up regardless of how bad his last show was." The Last Resort ran from 1979 to 1980.

In 1982, Breeding joined the cast of Laverne & Shirley for several episodes, playing Mike Bailly, Laverne's boyfriend. He married actress Anne Bloom in May 1979, and the couple lived in the Hollywood Hills. Critics frequently compared his comedic style to that of Tony Randall, noting his combination of warmth, intelligence, and dry wit. He credited his stage background with preparing him for the demands of live television performance, observing that the discipline of continuing through a scene regardless of circumstances made television work feel comparatively manageable.

Breeding died on September 28, 1982, his 36th birthday, when his 1974 Jensen struck a center divider at Franklin Avenue and Vine Street in Hollywood, California. The accident was reported by the Los Angeles Times.