Francis Fitzgerald "Larry" Vincent (June 14, 1924—March 8, 1975) was an American television

horror host A horror host is a person who acts as the host or presenter of a program where horror films and low-budget B movies are shown on television or the Internet. Usually the host assumes a horror-themed persona, often a campy or humorous one. Generall ...

, famed for his character Seymour, who presented—and heckled—low-budget horror and science fiction movies on ''

Fright Night ''Fright Night'' is a 1985 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Tom Holland (in his directorial debut) and produced by Herb Jaffe. It stars Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Roddy McDowall, Amanda Bearse, Jonathan Star ...

'' on

KHJ-TV KCAL-TV (channel 9) is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is owned by the CBS News and Stations group alongside CBS West Coast flagship KCBS-TV (channel 2). Both stations share studios at the C ...

and ''Seymour's Monster Rally'' on KTLA, both local stations in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

between 1969 and 1974. He was noted for his style of criticizing the movies he presented in an offbeat and funny manner, usually appearing in a small window which would pop up in the corner, tossing a quip, then vanishing again. Sometimes he would, using blue-screen, appear in the middle of the movie, apparently interacting with the characters in the movie.

Early career

Born in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

as Francis Fitzgerald Vincent, Vincent was to star in several episodes of ''

The New Three Stooges ''The New 3 Stooges'' is an American animated television series that ran during the 1965–66 television season starring the Three Stooges. The show follows the trio's antics both in live-action and animated segments. The cast consisted of Moe H ...

'' in 1965. He also had small roles on ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, an ...

'', '' Mission: Impossible'', ''

The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American sitcom about a community of nuns which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for ABC based on the 1965 book '' The Fifteenth Pelican,'' written by Tere ...

'', and '' I Dream of Jeannie''. But before moving to

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, he was "Captain Starr" on WFBM in Indianapolis in the 1960s, as one of a trio of hosts, along with Harlow Hickenlooper and Curley Myers for children's programing, which showed the old ''

Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical farce and slapstick. Six Stooges appeare ...

'' shorts, as well as skits for an in-studio audience of children which usually ended up with pie-in-the face comedy and songs from the hosts. In 1968, he became staff director for

Horror host

From 1969 to 1974 Vincent was the host for the horror shows ''Fright Night'' on KHJ-TV and ''Seymour's Monster Rally'' on KTLA.

Later years

In addition to his television duties, Larry Vincent served as

Knott's Berry Farm Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park located in Buena Park, California, owned and operated by Cedar Fair. In 2015, it was the twelfth-most-visited theme park in North America and averages approximately 4 million visitors per year. It features 40 ...

's inaugural "Ghost Host," in 1973 at Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt. Shortly after his shows ended, Vincent quickly succumbed to stomach cancer and died on March 9, 1975. He left behind four daughters, Diane, Valerie, Beth, Kathryn, and one son, Daniel.

Filmography

*''

'' (1965) - Captain Starr *'' I Dream of Jeannie'' (1967) - Technician *''

'' (1967) - Ben *'' Mission: Impossible'' (1969) - Prisoner Stoltz *'' The Witchmaker'' (1969) - Amos Coffin *''

'' (1968–1969) - Farley / Jacoby *''

'' (1969–1973) *'' Mannix'' (1970) - Wino *''

The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant ''The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant'' is a 1971 science fiction/horror film directed by Anthony Lanza. It is sometimes confused with the 1972 blaxploitation film ''The Thing with Two Heads''. Plot Dr. Roger Girard (Bruce Dern) is a wealthy sc ...

'' (1971) - Andrew *'' Seymour's Monster Rally'' (1973–1974) *'' Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls'' (1973) - The Strangler (as Larry 'Seymour' Vincent) *'' Fright Night with Seymour'' (1974) *''

The Apple Dumpling Gang ''The Apple Dumpling Gang'' is a 1971 novel by Jack Bickham, about a group of orphaned children during the California gold rush. They encounter a gambler who reluctantly helps them, as well as a pair of hapless robbers who are after the gold ...

'' (1975) - Townsman (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vincent, Larry Horror hosts 1924 births 1975 deaths Deaths from stomach cancer Inkpot Award winners