Ron McLarty

• Name — Ron McLarty

• Birth Name — Ronald William McLarty

• Born — 1947 04 26

• Birthplace — East Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.

• Died — 2020 02 08

• Place of death — New York City, U.S.

• Education — Rhode Island College

• Occupation — Actor

Playwright

Narrator

Novelist

• Years Active — 1971–2014

• Children — 3

• Website — https://www.ron-mclarty.com/

Ronald William McLarty (April 26, 1947 – February 8, 2020) was an American actor, playwright, and novelist. He also worked as an audiobook narrator, in which role he recorded over 100 titles and received many Audie Awards.

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).

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's Moonchildren for the play's American premiere at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. in November 1971. McLarty continued with the production when it moved to Broadway 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 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 narration for a number of audiobooks, including Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the unabridged audiobook Decision Points by George W. Bush (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.

McLarty died on February 8, 2020, at 72 years old, having lived with dementia since 2014. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and seven grandchildren.

• Mislaid. Lulu Publishing Services, 2020, softcover , ebook

• The Dropper. New York: Random House, Books on Tape, 2009 (audiobook),

• The Dropper was scheduled to be released as a Trade Hardcover and Signed Limited Edition by Cemetery Dance Publications 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,

• Year — Title — Role — Notes

• 1979 — The Berenstain Bears' Christmas Tree — Papa Bear/Narrator — Voice, Television specials

• 1980 — The Berenstain Bears Meet Bigpaw

• 1981 — The Berenstain Bears' Easter Surprise

• 1982 — The Berenstain Bears' Comic Valentine

• 1983 — The Berenstain Bears Play Ball

• 1983 — Tiger Town — Buddy — TV movie

• 1985–1988 — Spenser: For Hire — Sgt. Frank Belson — 65 episodes

• 1987 — The Father Clements Story — O'Hare — TV movie

• 1990 — Cop Rock — Detective Lieutenant Ralph Ruskin — 12 episodes

• 1991 — A Little Piece of Heaven — Agent Mr. Jack Daniels — TV movie

• 1991–2008 — Law & Order — Scoler/Judge William Wright — 7 episodes

• 1996 — Champs — Coach Harris — 12 episodes

• 2000 — Sex and the City — Dr. Talley — Episode: "Hot Child in the City"

• 2000–2002 — Courage the Cowardly Dog — The General / Police / Additional voices — Voice, 39 episodes

• 2005 — Law & Order: Trial by Jury — Judge William Wright — Episode: "Truth or Consequences"

• 2005 — Trump Unauthorized — Fred Trump — TV movie

• 2005 — Into the Fire — Walter Hartwig Sr. — TV movie

• 2006 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Judge Joseph Malloy — Episode: "Infected"

• 2008 — The Return of Jezebel James — Ronald Tompkins — 7 episodes (3 aired episodes)

• 2013 — Person of Interest — Lou Mitchell — Episode: "All In"

• Year — Title — Role — Notes

• 2003 — Batman: Dark Tomorrow — Commissioner James Gordon

A partial list:

• Title — Author — Un-/Abridged — Read by — Published

• The Memory of Running — Ron McLarty — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2004-01-16

• Zero Day — David Baldacci — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty, Orlagh Cassidy* — 2011-04-11

• Brian's Hunt — Gary Paulsen — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2003-12-23

• The Gift — Danielle Steel — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2012-07-20

• Salem's Lot — Stephen King — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2008-02-05

• Blaze — Stephen King — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2008-01-22

• Valhalla Rising: A Dirk Pitt Adventure — Clive Cussler — ABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2001-08-13

• The Great Brain — John D. Fitzgerald — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2002-05-28

• Miracles and Massacres — Glenn Beck — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2013-11

• Decision Points — George W. Bush — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty — 2010-11-08

• The Longest Ride — Nicholas Sparks — UNABRIDGED — Ron McLarty, January LaVoy — 2013-09-17

• McLarty and Cassidy also narrated books 2 and 3 in the John Puller series, The Forgotten and The Escape.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes

• 1977 — The Sentinel — Real Estate Agent

• 1978 — Bloodbrothers — Mac

• 1982 — Vigilante — Doctor — Uncredited

• 1983 — Touched — George

• 1983 — Daniel — Prison Guard

• 1983 — Enormous Changes at the Last Minute — John Raferty

• 1984 — The Flamingo Kid — Pat McCarty

• 1986 — Heartburn — Detective O'Brien

• 1989 — The Feud — Dolf Beeler

• 1995 — Two Bits — Irish Man

• 1997 — The Postman — Old George

• 2010 — How Do You Know — George's Lawyer

• 2014 — St. Vincent — Principal O'Brien — (final film role)