Larry Wilcox is an American actor who boasts a net worth of 2.5 million dollars. The veteran actor made most of his fortune through his acting career, which has spanned over four decades. Larry Wilcox is best known for playing the role of Jon Baker in NBC’s CHiPs. He played the role from 1977 to 1982.
Early Life and Education
Larry Wilcox is a California native. He was born in 1947 in San Diego to John Wilcox and Marion. His parents separated when he was young, and he, along with his three siblings, were raised by their mother. Upon coming of age, Larry enrolled in a local elementary school. After that he joined Rawlins High School and then later proceeded to the University of Wyoming.
Acting Career
Larry Wilcox ventured into the acting career soon after completing his high school education. However, he did not take it seriously until he was discharged from the military. His early roles came in the film Room 222, where he made a guest appearance. At first, Larry struggled but appeared in several shows and films, including The Last Hard Men, Hawaii Five-O, Police Story, and Fantasy Island. Despite appearing in all these shows, Larry Wilcox did not hit national success. However, his portrayal of Officer Jon Baker brought him immense success.
CHiPs
The role of Officer Jon Baker not only brought Larry Wilcox national fame but also financial success. He was well-paid for his role. At first, the pay was not so good but it kept growing as his influence on the show kept growing.
While appearing on the show, Larry did most of the stunts by himself and did not sustain any injuries like his co-star Erik Estrada. Larry Wilcox and Erik had an onscreen feud but they always found a way around it. For instance, in the 1978-1979 season, the two were feuding, but it later cooled down when Estrada suffered an injury. Larry came through for his friend despite their feud.
Larry and Estrada’s feud has lasted several years and they still do not see eye-to-eye up to date. Recently, Larry invited Estrada to the show’s 35th anniversary, but he did not pick up his calls or even attend the event which was held in Los Angeles.
Career Earnings
Larry Wilcox has appeared in several shows and films, and he has been earning varying amounts for his various roles. For instance, when Larry Wilcox started portraying Officer Jon Baker, his pay was low. However, by 1979, Larry Wilcox was earning up to 25, 000 dollars per episode. After that his pay continued growing until he left the show in 1982. The actor never returned for the show’s sixth season. It was during this period that Larry Wilcox made most of his fortune. Additionally, his strategic decisions played a crucial role in realizing financial success.
Net Worth
As aforementioned, Larry Wilcox has a net worth of 2.5 million dollars. The veteran actor has managed to grow his fortune through his acting career and other business ventures.
