Background
Luckinbill, Laurence George was born on November 21, 1934 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States. Son of Laurence Benedict and Agnes (Nulph) Luckinbill.
Luckinbill, Laurence George was born on November 21, 1934 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States. Son of Laurence Benedict and Agnes (Nulph) Luckinbill.
He attended Fort Smith Junior College from 1951-1952, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas in 1956, received a Master of Fine Arts degree from The Catholic University of America in 1958, attended New York University in 1980, and studied acting at HB Studio in New York City.
He has worked in television, film, and theatre, doing triple duty in the latter by writing, directing, and starring in stage productions. He is probably best known for penning and starring in one-man shows based upon the lives of United States President Theodore Roosevelt, author Ernest Hemingway, and famous American defense attorney Clarence Darrow, starring in a one-man show based upon the life of United States President Lyndon Baines Johnson, and for his portrayal of Mr. Spock"s half-brother, Sybok, in the film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
On television, he started out with roles on the now-defunct American soap operas Where The Heart Is and The Secret Storm.
He starred as espionage agent Glenn Garth Gregory in the 1972-1973 American Broadcasting Company dramatic television series, The Delphi Bureau. He has performed in numerous episodes of television series, including Law & Order, Barnaby Jones, Columbo (episode "Make Maine a Perfect Murder"), and Murder, She Wrote.
His 1961 Broadway debut was in A Manitoba for All Seasons. He starred in Pavel Kohout"s 1976 Broadway play Poor Murderer at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and in Thomas Babe"s A Prayer for My Daughter (1978) at the Public Theater.
His theater career has included writing and directing.
Luckinbill has written and performed in several one-man shows, including, Hemingway, Teddy, and An Evening with Clarence Darrow. He has also starred in numerous productions of Lyndon, which he did not write. One production was at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum in Austin, Texas, where Lady Bird Johnson was among attendees.
He appeared in the film The Boys in the Band, reprising the part of Hank, which he originated on stage.
He portrayed Spock"s half-brother Sybok in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). Sean Connery was originally contacted to star in the role, but was busy with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
William Shatner discovered Luckinbill by chance. Channel surfing late one night, he saw him perform as Lyndon Baines Johnson.
When Shatner called to offer him the role, Luckinbill accepted immediately Other film appearances include Such Good Friends (1971), The Promise (1979), and Cocktail (1988).
He also narrated the documentary Moonwalk One.
Served to 1st lieutenant, Chemical Corps United States Army, 1956. Member Actors Equity Association (council 1968-1969), Screen Actors Guild (director 1971-1972), American Federation of television and Radio Artists, American Civil Liberties Union, Underwater Society of America Clubs: Players (New York City).
Son of Laurence Benedict and Agnes (Nulph) L. M. Robin Strasser, November 19, 1966 (divorced). Children: Laurence Nicholas, Benjamin Joseph.
M. Lucie Arnaz, 1980.