Larry Cohen
Biography
Lawrence George Cohen was an American screenwriter, producer, and director of film and television. Born on July 15, 1941, in Kingston, New York, he became known as a B-movie auteur of horror and science fiction films during the 1970s and 1980s. His directorial work often featured police procedural and satirical elements. Among his notable films from this period are Its Alive, released in 1974, God Told Me To in 1976, It Lives Again in 1978, The Stuff in 1985, and A Return to Salems Lot in 1987. Following his work in those decades, he concentrated mainly on screenwriting for films such as Phone Booth in 2002, Cellular in 2004, and Captivity in 2007. Larry Cohen died on March 23, 2019, at the age of seventy-seven.
Career overview
Lawrence George Cohen, who was also known as Laurence Ro, was born on July 15, 1941, in Kingston, New York, USA, and passed away on March 23, 2019, at the age of 77. He was an American screenwriter, producer, and director of film and television. He is best known as a B-movie auteur of horror and science fiction films during the 1970s and 1980s. His work frequently incorporated police procedural and satirical elements in features such as It's Alive from 1974, God Told Me To from 1976, It Lives Again from 1978, The Stuff from 1985, and A Return to Salem's Lot from 1987.
Following his work as a director of horror and science fiction films during the 1970s and 1980s, Cohen concentrated mainly on screenwriting. His later screenwriting credits included Phone Booth released in 2002, Cellular released in 2004, and Captivity released in 2007. Throughout his career, Cohen accumulated 105 known credits.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
153 titles- Masters of the Grind (2023) as Self
- In Search of Darkness: Part II (2020) as Self
- Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business (2020) as Self
- In Search of Darkness (2019) as Self
- King Cohen: The Wild World of Filmmaker Larry Cohen (2018) as Self
- The Fear Is Real (2018) as Self
- Bette Davis: Larger Than Life (2017) as Self
- 42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street (2015) as Self
- House of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before! (2013) as Self
- American Grindhouse (2011) as Himself
- Scripting a New Slasher Super-Villain: Larry Cohen on Matt Cordell (2011)
- Messages Deleted (2010) Writer
- Tales from the Script (2009) as Self
- Nightmares in Red, White and Blue (2009) as Self
- It's Alive (2009) Screenplay
- It's Alive (2009) Characters
- The Gambler, The Girl and The Gunslinger (2009) Writer
- Connected (2008) Original Story
- Captivity (2007) Writer
- The Maltese Falcon: One Magnificent Bird (2006) as Self
- Pick Me Up (2006) Director
- Welcome to the Big House (2006) as Self
- Molls and Dolls: The Women of Gangster Films (2006) as Self
- Morality and the Code: A How-to Manual for Hollywood (2006) as Self
- Hitchcocked! (2006) as Self
- Prohibition Opens the Floodgates (2006) as Self
- Shooting the Police: Cops on Film (2006) as Self
- Masters of Horror (2005) Director
- Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005) as Self
- Cellular (2004) Story
- 100 Scariest Movie Moments (2004) as Self
- Celling Out (2004) as Self
- Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (2004) as Self
- Dialing Up "Cellular" (2004) as Self
- Phone Booth (2003) Screenplay
- Making of Phone Booth (2003) as Self
- BaadAsssss Cinema (2002) as Self
- Misbegotten (1998) Screenplay
- The Defenders: Choice of Evils (1998) Story
- The Defenders: Choice of Evils (1998) Teleplay
- Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Heatwave (1997) Teleplay
- Hollywood Rated 'R' (1997) as Self
- The Ex (1996) Screenplay
- Uncle Sam (1996) Writer
- Original Gangstas (1996) Director
- Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice (1996) Teleplay
- Invasion of Privacy (1996) Writer
- The Invaders (1995) Creator
- The Tourist (1995) Original Story
- The Invaders (1995) Characters
- The Expert (1995) Writer
- As Good As Dead (1995) Writer
- As Good As Dead (1995) Director
- As Good As Dead (1995) Producer
- NYPD Blue (1993) Writer
- Body Snatchers (1993) Screenstory
- Guilty as Sin (1993) Writer
- Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1992) Writer
- Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence (1992) Co-Producer
- Maniac Cop 2 (1990) Writer
- Maniac Cop 2 (1990) Producer
- The Ambulance (1990) Writer
- The Ambulance (1990) Director
- Wicked Stepmother (1989) Director
- Wicked Stepmother (1989) Writer
- Wicked Stepmother (1989) Executive Producer
- Maniac Cop (1988) Producer
- Maniac Cop (1988) Writer
- Desperado: Avalanche at Devil's Ridge (1988) Writer
- Desperado: Avalanche at Devil's Ridge (1988) Writer
- A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) Director
- A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) Executive Producer
- A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) Screenplay
- A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) Story
- Best Seller (1987) Writer
- It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) Director
- It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) Screenplay
- It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) Characters
- It's Alive III: Island of the Alive (1987) Executive Producer
- Deadly Illusion (1987) Writer
- Deadly Illusion (1987) Director
- Spies Like Us (1985) as Ace Tomato Agent
- The Stuff (1985) Director
- The Stuff (1985) Writer
- The Stuff (1985) Executive Producer
- Special Effects (1984) as Journalist (uncredited)
- Special Effects (1984) Director
- Special Effects (1984) Writer
- Scandalous (1984) Story
- Perfect Strangers (1984) Writer
- Perfect Strangers (1984) Director
- Women of San Quentin (1983) Story
- Q (1982) Writer
- Q (1982) Director
- Q (1982) Producer
- I, the Jury (1982) Screenplay
- Full Moon High (1981) Director
- Full Moon High (1981) Screenplay
- Full Moon High (1981) Producer
- See China and Die (1981) Writer
- See China and Die (1981) Director
- The American Success Company (1980) Screenplay
- Sparrow (1978) Creator
- It Lives Again (1978) Producer
- It Lives Again (1978) Director
- It Lives Again (1978) Writer
- It Lives Again (1978) Characters
- The Case of the Baltimore Girls (1978) Writer
- The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977) Director
- The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977) Writer
- The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977) Producer
- Calling Doctor Storm, M.D. (1977) Writer
- God Told Me To (1976) Director
- God Told Me To (1976) Screenplay
- God Told Me To (1976) Producer
- Man on the Outside (1975) Writer
- Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) Production Executive
- It's Alive (1974) Writer
- It's Alive (1974) Producer
- It's Alive (1974) Director
- Shootout in a One-Dog Town (1974) Story
- Black Caesar (1973) Producer
- Black Caesar (1973) Writer
- Black Caesar (1973) Director
- Hell Up In Harlem (1973) Director
- Hell Up In Harlem (1973) Screenplay
- Hell Up In Harlem (1973) Producer
- Cool Million (1972) Writer
- Cool Million (1972) Story
- Cool Million (1972) Creator
- Bone (1972) Director
- Bone (1972) Writer
- Bone (1972) Producer
- In Broad Daylight (1971) Writer
- The Manipulator (1971) Set Designer
- El Condor (1970) Screenplay
- Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969) Story
- Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969) Screenplay
- Scream Baby Scream (1969) Screenplay
- Scream Baby Scream (1969) Story
- The Legend of Custer (1968) Idea
- The Invaders (1967) Creator
- Coronet Blue (1967) Creator
- Return of the Seven (1966) Screenplay
- I Deal in Danger (1966) Writer
- Branded (1965) Creator
- The Fugitive (1963) Story
- The Fugitive (1963) Writer
- Espionage (1963) Writer
- The Defenders (1961) Writer
- Maniac Cop Original Film Writer
- Delusion Producer
- Delusion Writer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Larry Cohen best known for?
Larry Cohen is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including 099 Central (2002), Messages Deleted (2010), Utaban (1996), Captivity (2007).
When and where was Larry Cohen born?
Larry Cohen was born on July 15, 1941 in Kingston, New York, USA. They passed away on March 23, 2019.
How many credits does Larry Cohen have?
Larry Cohen has accumulated over 153 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1961 to 2023.
What is Larry Cohen's background in cinema and television?
Lawrence George Cohen was an American screenwriter, producer, and director of film and television. Born on July 15, 1941, in Kingston, New York, he became known as a B-movie auteur of horror and science fiction films during the 1970s and 1980s. His directorial work often featured police procedural and satirical element...
Larry Cohen by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Spies Like Us (1985) as Ace Tomato Agent — aged about 43
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