Laurence Luckinbill

LAURENCE LUCKINBILL awoke in 1934, as he had planned, on planet earth, in a place called Arkansas, the town of Fort Smith, near the legendary Ozark Mountains. It was a dark and stormy night. What to do? His parents decreed: Catholic School. He was fine there as self-appointed class clown and self-styled slacker. Then the University of Arkansas, where he failed pre-med spectacularly. The U.S. Army and Catholic University of America followed as the night the day. Obviously, there was nothing to...See more

LAURENCE LUCKINBILL awoke in 1934, as he had planned, on planet earth, in a place called Arkansas, the town of Fort Smith, near the legendary Ozark Mountains. It was a dark and stormy night. What to do? His parents decreed: Catholic School. He was fine there as self-appointed class clown and self-styled slacker. Then the University of Arkansas, where he failed pre-med spectacularly. The U.S. Army and Catholic University of America followed as the night the day. Obviously, there was nothing to do but become an actor. Five beans in his jeans, he hit New York to seek his fortune. At the foot of a skyscraping beanstalk, like Jack, he climbed. What giants did he find? Tee-Vee, The-ater, Picture Shows. From soap opera to Boys In The Band to Star Trek V. Climbed higher. Built and performed four solo plays of Great Americans: Lyndon Johnson, Clarence Darrow, Teddy Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway. A sixty-three year climb for a harvest of beautiful beans: New York Critics Circle Award, Tony Nomination, Emmy Award, ABA Silver Gavel Award, Dramatists Guild Nomination, Children's Book Award, Arkansas Entertainers Hall Of Fame. Meanwhile, back on earth, love and marriage with Lucie Arnaz. She, 28. He, 45. They worked it out. Happily. Raised five children. Now three grandchildren. Learn more at www.laurenceluckinbill.com. Vita Bona Est. Don't let anybody tell you different. See less