Last Updated on: 10th May 2025, 02:14 pm
Larry McCormick (1933–2004) was a pioneering African American television journalist and actor, famous for his long time at KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. He was among the first Black newscasters in the city and made significant contributions to both broadcast journalism and the Los Angeles community.
Born Lawrence William McCormick on February 3, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri, McCormick began his broadcasting career in the late 1950s as a disc jockey after graduating from the University of Kansas City. He moved to Los Angeles in 1958, where he worked at radio stations such as KGFJ, KDAY, KFWB, KLAC, and KMPC, serving as a music host, community affairs director, and talk show host. In 1969, he transitioned to television, becoming one of the first African American news anchors in Los Angeles at KCOP-TV. The following year, he joined KABC-TV as a weatherman before moving to KTLA in 1971 .(Black Voice News)
At KTLA, McCormick served in various roles, including anchor, weatherman, sportscaster, and public affairs program host. He co-anchored the “News @ Ten: Weekend Edition” and provided health and fitness reports for the station’s weeknight newscasts. He also co-hosted “Making It: Minority Success Stories,” a public affairs series that profiled successful minority businesspeople, for which he shared an Emmy Award in 2003 .(The Free Library)
McCormick was deeply committed to community service. He organized or emceed more than 2,100 programs to benefit the community and was involved in various charitable activities. In recognition of his contributions, KTLA named one of its soundstages the “Larry McCormick Stage” in 2001, and he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 .(reelradio.com, Los Angeles Press Club)
Larry McCormick passed away on August 27, 2004, at the age of 71 due to a cancer-related illness at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DOB February 3, 1933 Kansas City, Missouri
KTLA