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Jack Larson
(February 8, 1933 - living) U.S.A.

Jack Larson

Writer, actor, poet and librettist

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Born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Pasadena, Jack Larson was 15 years old when he made his first film appearance. His ingenuous, golly-gee screen image served him well when in 1951 he was cast as Jimmy Olsen on the TV series Superman. He attended Pasadena Junior College (by coincidence, exactly like his Superman co-star, George Reeves).

He remained with the series until 1957, by which time, surprisingly, he had become so thoroughly identified with the role that he had considerable difficulty landing other film assignments. Larson retired from acting a few years after the end of the series and concentrated on writing plays and musical librettos.

His plays have been highly acclaimed and he has had works performed in theatres and opera houses around the world. One of his more prestigious assignments was a collaboration with noted composer Virgil Thompson.

Jack LarsonThe longtime companion of filmmaker James Bridges (their relationship lasted over thirty years until Bridges' death), Jack Larson served as the coproducer of such Bridges films as The Paper Chase (1973), Urban Cowboy (1980) and Bright Lights, Big City (1988). Jack remains close friends with Noel Neill and they often make appearances at Superman conventions.

An erudite and charming man who seems to have been close friends with many of the more prominent figures of the arts in the latter half of the twentieth century, including John Houseman, Leslie Caron, Libby Holman, Montgomery Clift, George Reeves, Salka Viertel, Christopher Isherwood, and James Dean. His home was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Larson participates in UCLA scholarship program established in the name of the late James Bridges for young directors.

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