Larry Blyden, actor, director, and producer, was born Ivan Lawrence Blieden on June 23, 1923 in Houston, Texas. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Blyden graduated from the University of Houston in 1948. He then studied acting with Stella Adler, Herbert Berghof, and Lee Strasberg; singing with Ethel Meyers; and dancing with Matt Mattox and Frank Wagner.
He made his professional debut in 1946 with the Interstate Players in Austin, Texas, as the bank examiner in Kind Lady. On Broadway, he appeared in such productions as Mr. Roberts; Wish You Were Here; Oh, Men! Oh, Women!; The Italian Straw Hat; Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?; Flower Drum Song; Foxy; The Apple Tree; You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running; and The Mother Lover. In addition, he directed the comedy Harold and The Mother Lover, and received a Tony award as an actor and co-producer of a revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Blyden made his film debut in 1957 in Bachelor Party. He also performed in Kiss Them for Me and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
He enjoyed an active television career appearing as Joe in Joe and Mabel; as Harry in Harry's Girls; and as the host of such game shows as Personality, Movie Game, and What's My Line?. In addition, he performed on Studio One and The Kraft Theatre, and was noted for his role in What Makes Sammy Run? on the Sunday Showcase.
In 1955, Blyden married Carol Haney, a dancer and choreographer. They were divorced in 1962 after having one son and one daughter.
Larry Blyden died on June 6, 1975 after a car accident in Agadir, Morocco. He had been vacationing before beginning work on an ABC television show to be called “The Show-Off.”
