Biography
Born in L.A. and raised in Pasadena, Jack Larson was 15 years old when he made his first film appearance. Larson's ingenuous, "golly gee" screen image served him well when in 1951 he was cast as cub reporter Jimmy Olsen on the TV series
Superman. He remained with the program until 1957, by which time he had become so thoroughly identified with the role that he had considerable difficulty landing other film assignments. Eventually Larson gave up acting to concentrate on writing plays and musical librettos; one of his more prestigious assignments was a collaboration with noted composer Virgil Thompson. The longtime companion of filmmaker
James Bridges, Jack Larson served as the co-producer of such Bridges films as
The Paper Chase (1973),
Urban Cowboy (1980), and Bright Lights, Big City (1988). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide