Ronald William McLarty (April 26, 1947 – February 8, 2020) was an American actor, playwright, and novelist. He also worked as an

audiobook An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements. Spoken audio has been available in sc ...

narrator, in which role he recorded over 100 titles and received many

Audie Award The Audie Awards (, rhymes with "gaudy"; abbreviated from ''audiobook''), or simply the Audies, are awards for achievement in spoken word, particularly audiobook narration and audiodrama performance, published in the United States of America. They ...

s. McLarty appeared in numerous television series, films and stage productions. He also wrote dozens of plays and 10 novels, notably '' The Memory of Running'' (2004).

Career

McLarty began his career in theatre during the early 1970s with one of his earliest professional performances being the role of Lucky in

Michael Weller Michael Weller (born September 26, 1942) is a Brooklyn-based playwright and screen writer. His plays include '' Moonchildren'', ''Loose Ends'', ''Spoils of War'' and ''Fifty Words''. His screenplays include ''Ragtime'', for which he was nomina ...

's ''

Moonchildren ''Moonchildren'' (originally titled ''Cancer'') is a play by Brooklyn-based playwright Michael Weller. The play chronicles a year in the life of the "moonchildren" referred to in the title: eight college students living communally together in an ...

'' for the play's American premiere at the

Arena Stage Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest, Washington, D.C. Established in 1950, it was the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C. and its founders helped start the U.S. regional theater movement. It is ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

in November 1971. McLarty continued with the production when it moved to

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in 1972. McLarty also co-starred on '' Spenser: For Hire'', as Boston homicide detective Sgt. Frank Belson. Although he enjoyed a successful career as an actor, he had not had much luck finding a publisher for his novel '' The Memory of Running'', until

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

happened upon an audiobook version, narrated by McLarty, and praised it as "the best book you can't read". This led to the book's publication by Viking Press, and its rapid rise to bestseller status. McLarty was an accomplished narrator: besides ''Running'', he provided the narrative for a number of

s, including

Hunter S. Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author who founded the gonzo journalism movement. He rose to prominence with the publication of '' Hell's Angels'' (1967), a book for which he s ...

's ''

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas ''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream'' is a 1971 novel in the gonzo journalism style by Hunter S. Thompson. The book is a ''roman à clef'', rooted in autobiographical incidents. The story follo ...

'' and the unabridged audiobook ''

Decision Points ''Decision Points'' is a memoir by former U.S. President George W. Bush. It was released on November 9, 2010, and the release was accompanied by national television appearances and a national tour. The book surpassed sales of two million copies ...

'' by

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

(the abridged version is narrated by the former president himself). A graduate of Rhode Island College, class of 1969, McLarty was commencement speaker and received a Doctor of Humanities degree from RIC in 2007.

Death

McLarty died on February 8, 2020, having lived with dementia since 2014.

Novels

*''Mislaid''. Lulu Publishing Services, 2020, softcover , ebook *''The Dropper''. New York: Random House, Books on Tape, 2009 (

), **''The Dropper'' was scheduled to be released as a Trade Hardcover and Signed Limited Edition by

Cemetery Dance Publications Cemetery Dance Publications is an American specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense. Cemetery Dance was founded by Richard Chizmar, a horror author, while he was in college. It is associated with ''Cemetery Dance'' magazine, whic ...

in Spring 2012. *''Art in America''. New York: Viking Press, 2008, *''Traveler''. New York: Viking Press, 2007, *'' The Memory of Running''. New York: Viking Press, 2004,

Filmography

Film

Television

Videogames

Audiobooks

A partial list: *McLarty and Cassidy also narrated books 2 and 3 in the John Puller series, '' The Forgotten'' and ''

The Escape The Escape may refer to: Film and television * ''The Escape'' (1914 film), American silent film directed by D. W. Griffith * ''The Escape'' (1926 film), American silent film * ''The Escape'' (1928 film), American film * ''The Escape'' (1939 f ...

''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:McLarty, Ron 1947 births 2020 deaths 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights 20th-century American male writers 21st-century American dramatists and playwrights 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American novelists Actors from Providence, Rhode Island American male dramatists and playwrights American male film actors American male television actors American male video game actors American male voice actors American male novelists Audiobook narrators Deaths from dementia in New York (state) Male actors from Rhode Island Rhode Island College alumni Writers from Providence, Rhode Island