Lawrence Kenneth Pennell (February 21, 1928 – August 28, 2013) was an American television and film actor, often remembered for his role as Dash Riprock in the television series The Beverly Hillbillies.
Early life and education
Pennell was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania to entrepreneur Harold Pennell and homemaker Ruth Pennell.[ His parents moved to Niagara Falls, New York during the Great Depression in search of better opportunities. After a short time in New York, the family moved to California. They lived in a studio apartment overlooking Angels Flight in Downtown Los Angeles.][
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Pennell played baseball throughout his youth. He attended Hollywood High School,[ Pennell attended the university on a full baseball scholarship and became one of the school's all-time letter winners.]
Baseball career
Just shy of graduating from USC, Pennell left the university to play professionally for the Boston Braves organization. During his time with the organization, his teammates often referred to him as "Bud", a nickname that stuck with him throughout his life. He was with the organization for a total of seven seasons between 1948 and 1954, playing first base and outfield for the Evansville Braves, Boston's minor league affiliate.
In his first year in professional ball, he broke the Appalachian League record for runs batted in with 147 and hit .338 for the season while hitting 18 home runs.[ He was portrayed in Hall of Famer, Eddie Mathews' autobiography, as a "fun-loving teammate."][ Regarding his retirement from baseball, sportswriter Furman Bisher was quoted as saying "his future seemed unlimited...I shall always be frustrated by a desire to know how great a star he might have become."]
Acting career
In the baseball off-seasons, Pennell returned home to Hollywood.[ Shortly after his contract was purchased by the Brooklyn organization, he decided not to report to spring training and instead began his career in films. After being seen by a talent scout, Pennell got a screen test at Paramount Pictures where he went under contract.][
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It was in 1955 when Pennell's acting career was launched. He appeared in his first role as Oliver Brown in the movie Seven Angry Men, a film about abolitionist John Brown, starring Raymond Massey.[ That role led him to a lead in Hell's Horizon, which was followed by The Far Horizons, starred Charlton Heston and Donna Reed. His next film role was as George Crandall opposite James Stewart in The FBI Story.]
Other roles followed, including the leading role as Johnny Jargin in the car racing adventure movie The Devil's Hairpin. Early in his acting career, Pennell went to Europe to appear in films, including Old Surehand, a German production based upon a Karl May's novel.[ He returned to the United States and made guest appearances in several western television series such as Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater, Death Valley Days, Have Gun – Will Travel, Wagon Train, Bat Masterson, The Big Valley, The Virginian, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rango, Custer, Branded, The Rough Riders, Cimarron City and Tombstone Territory.]
In 1961, he landed the leading role on the television series Ripcord as the handsome skydiver Theodore (Ted) McKeever.[ More television guest appearances followed on The Outer Limits, Thriller, The Millionaire, The West Point Story, Wire Service, The Case of the Dangerous Robin, Steve Canyon, Sea Hunt, The Aquanauts, The Everglades, Adventures in Paradise, Dragnet, and Suspense Theater.
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As Dash Riprock on The Beverly Hillbillies, he appeared in ten episodes as a film star courting Elly May Clampett (Donna Douglas).
Pennell travelled to Europe in 1965 where he starred Our Man in Jamaica and Old Surehand.
Throughout his career, Pennell appeared in a variety of genres in television series and movies. He was cast in a lead role as Keith Holden in 1972 in the CBS series Lassie. He made guest-starring appearances in various shows, including Mannix, Longstreet, Hunter, Banacek, , The Streets of San Francisco, McMillan and Wife, Magnum, P.I., The Rookies, Little House on the Prairie, , O'Hara, U.S. Treasury, Run, Joe, Run, Apple's Way, Silk Stalkings, Diagnosis Murder, Quantum Leap and Firefly and soap operas such as General Hospital and The Young and the Restless.[
Pennell's film credits include roles in films such as The Great White Hope (1970), starring James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in which Pennell played former heavyweight champion Frank Brady. Pennell also appeared in the big budget World War II film Midway (1976), as Captain Cyril Simard, alongside Charlton Heston and Henry Fonda.][ He had roles in other major films such as The Revengers, Journey Through Rosebud and Matilda. Pennell bore a striking resemblance to Clark Gable and played the actor in three roles. One of his notable roles as Gable was in the television film (1980). It was said of his work in that role "Pennell's performance is a little gem."][ In 1992, Pennell and Tom Selleck rejoined for a third time to appear in Mr. Baseball.][
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Pennell experimented with his acting with drama teachers such as Milton Katselis and Daniel Mann. Pennell's stage work encompassed over 50 plays, including The Poker Game, Desperate Hours, Pieces of Time and Dead Autumn's Soul. He wrote and starred in The Signing and Close-Up and won best actor at The Method Fest 2002 for his work in the short film Five Minutes. Throughout his career, Pennell accumulated over 400 credits in roles across stage, film and television as well as commercials and print advertisements.
Filmography
Selected film credits
Selected television credits
Selected theater credits
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Dream a Little Dream – Lead – Company of Angels, Los Angeles
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Sing the Song Lady – Lead – Network Studio, North Hollywood
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Monroe – Lead – Crystal Sands, Hilton Head, South Carolina
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The Signing (written by Larry Pennell) – Lead – Stella Adler Theater, Beverly Hills Playhouse
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Close-Up (written by Larry Pennell) – Lead – Stella Adler Theater, Beverly Hills Playhouse
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Pieces of time – Lead – Pan Andreas Theater, Hollywood
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Desperate Hours – Lead – New Dramatist's, Inc., New York City
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Dead Autumn's Soul – Lead – New York City
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The Poker Game – Lead – (Pre-Broadway) New York City
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Mary, Mary – Lead – Tiffany's Attic Theater, Kansas City
Personal life
Pennell met his wife Patricia Throop, a fashion model, actress, former Miss Oregon and finalist in the 1954 Miss America Pageant. He was shooting a film when they met.[ Throughout his life he enjoyed sports of all kinds such as baseball, football, tennis, boxing, running and horseback riding. Also he was an avid historian and a patriot with ancestral links in the American Revolution and the Mayflower Compact.][ Pennell died in Santa Monica, California on August 28, 2013, at age 85.][
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External links
