I know that it is late,
late, late, but I want to mention Larry Storch’s passing.
It wasn’t just me who seemed to jump over this story; not that it makes what I am doing OK, but the local Newsday newspaper didn’t have his obituary in its pages until several days after his death last week, in this week's Tuesday edition, I believe.
Storch did so many things in show business—he was a movie actor, a Broadway actor, a voice and recording actor, and he appeared on seemingly dozens and dozens of TV shows of every ilk—but let’s be honest about it, he was defined and best remembered for his role on ABC’s mid-1960s satire on the old West, “F Troop.”
As Corporal Randolph Agarn, he was the partner of Sgt. Morgan O’Rourke—played by another great actor, Forrest Tucker—in all the plans and subplots involving “O’Rourke Enterprises,” which was a front for the dealings between the sergeant and the Hekawis, the ersatz American Indian tribe that was more Jewish than Indian in its makeup.
And they operated all behind and beyond and above the level of Col. Wilton Parmenter—again, played by another great actor, Ken Berry—who was named to lead this troop of misfits almost out of pity that his father was such a great leader of men, and his son was just a … failure.
Mix in all the others in the troop, and the hot to trot “Wrangler” Jane—Melody Paterson, who in real life, was just 15 years old, unbeknownst to anyone, when she played the role—and you had a two-season adventure that has lasted in reruns for the past half century.
Storch took to the role like butter to bread, with his over-the-top emotion on display in just about every episode.
Today, you absolutely could not get away with a show such as this, which lampooned everything from the military, American Indians, over-aggressive women, and other themes in a way which would get it attacked from all sides.
The show was clever, perhaps even too clever for its time, and it lasted just those two seasons, but Storch WAS the Agarn character, and unlike many actors who shun and browbeat the fact that they are best known for that one character, Storch embraced Agarn to his last days, wearing the hat that he wore during the “F Troop” days whenever he made public appearances … and he continued to make these appearances up until the end of his life.
Like Betty White, Storch just missed his 100th birthday at age 99 and a half, but his fame will live on in those reruns until the end of time.
I guess his Agarn character was my favorite one on “F Troop,” and I guess I gravitated to him to begin with because he and I shared the same first name—as well as background, as he was Jewish and the son of a New York City cab driver, just like I was.
But Storch was really an excellent character actor, and his appearances on everything from “Love, American Style” to “The Partridge Family” really do stick out in my mind.
He always looked a bit too old to be wearing those mod clothes and the longer hair that he did on these shows, but somehow, you got past all that with his acting and impeccable comedic timing.
Yes, he was that good at what he did.
But at least for me, it all reverted back to Agarn, where he chewed the scenery as well as Tucker, Berry and Patterson and the rest of the actors on the show did.
Storch’s signature line on the show was “Oh Sarge,” where he would break down, ready to cry, at some antics that had just happened or were soon to come.
And I would laugh, laugh and laugh some more at what I was watching—at nine years old, and later, in my 60s.
The show was true satire and slapstick rolled into one, and Storch was really one of the pistons of that engine.
“The end of the Civil War was near
When quite accidentally,
A hero who sneezed abruptly seized
Retreat and reversed it to victory.
His medal of honor pleased and thrilled
his proud little family group.
While pinning it on some blood was spilled
And so it was planned he'd command F Troop.
Where Indian fights are colorful sights
and nobody takes a lickin'
Where pale face and redskin
Both turn chicken.
When drilling and fighting get them down,
They know their morale can't droop.
As long as they all relax in town
Before they resume with a bang and a boom
F Troop.”
Larry Storch, R.I.P.
It wasn’t just me who seemed to jump over this story; not that it makes what I am doing OK, but the local Newsday newspaper didn’t have his obituary in its pages until several days after his death last week, in this week's Tuesday edition, I believe.
Storch did so many things in show business—he was a movie actor, a Broadway actor, a voice and recording actor, and he appeared on seemingly dozens and dozens of TV shows of every ilk—but let’s be honest about it, he was defined and best remembered for his role on ABC’s mid-1960s satire on the old West, “F Troop.”
As Corporal Randolph Agarn, he was the partner of Sgt. Morgan O’Rourke—played by another great actor, Forrest Tucker—in all the plans and subplots involving “O’Rourke Enterprises,” which was a front for the dealings between the sergeant and the Hekawis, the ersatz American Indian tribe that was more Jewish than Indian in its makeup.
And they operated all behind and beyond and above the level of Col. Wilton Parmenter—again, played by another great actor, Ken Berry—who was named to lead this troop of misfits almost out of pity that his father was such a great leader of men, and his son was just a … failure.
Mix in all the others in the troop, and the hot to trot “Wrangler” Jane—Melody Paterson, who in real life, was just 15 years old, unbeknownst to anyone, when she played the role—and you had a two-season adventure that has lasted in reruns for the past half century.
Storch took to the role like butter to bread, with his over-the-top emotion on display in just about every episode.
Today, you absolutely could not get away with a show such as this, which lampooned everything from the military, American Indians, over-aggressive women, and other themes in a way which would get it attacked from all sides.
The show was clever, perhaps even too clever for its time, and it lasted just those two seasons, but Storch WAS the Agarn character, and unlike many actors who shun and browbeat the fact that they are best known for that one character, Storch embraced Agarn to his last days, wearing the hat that he wore during the “F Troop” days whenever he made public appearances … and he continued to make these appearances up until the end of his life.
Like Betty White, Storch just missed his 100th birthday at age 99 and a half, but his fame will live on in those reruns until the end of time.
I guess his Agarn character was my favorite one on “F Troop,” and I guess I gravitated to him to begin with because he and I shared the same first name—as well as background, as he was Jewish and the son of a New York City cab driver, just like I was.
But Storch was really an excellent character actor, and his appearances on everything from “Love, American Style” to “The Partridge Family” really do stick out in my mind.
He always looked a bit too old to be wearing those mod clothes and the longer hair that he did on these shows, but somehow, you got past all that with his acting and impeccable comedic timing.
Yes, he was that good at what he did.
But at least for me, it all reverted back to Agarn, where he chewed the scenery as well as Tucker, Berry and Patterson and the rest of the actors on the show did.
Storch’s signature line on the show was “Oh Sarge,” where he would break down, ready to cry, at some antics that had just happened or were soon to come.
And I would laugh, laugh and laugh some more at what I was watching—at nine years old, and later, in my 60s.
The show was true satire and slapstick rolled into one, and Storch was really one of the pistons of that engine.
“The end of the Civil War was near
When quite accidentally,
A hero who sneezed abruptly seized
Retreat and reversed it to victory.
His medal of honor pleased and thrilled
his proud little family group.
While pinning it on some blood was spilled
And so it was planned he'd command F Troop.
Where Indian fights are colorful sights
and nobody takes a lickin'
Where pale face and redskin
Both turn chicken.
When drilling and fighting get them down,
They know their morale can't droop.
As long as they all relax in town
Before they resume with a bang and a boom
F Troop.”
Larry Storch, R.I.P.
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