Robert Karvelas
Encyclopedia
Robert Karvelas was an American actor who was notable for his role as the Chief's dense assistant, Larrabee, on the 1960s sitcom Get Smart
. He was Don Adams
' cousin.
Karvelas was born in New York City
with a twin
brother and grew up in Charleroi, Pennsylvania
. His mother was of Irish
descent and his father was of Greek descent. His mother and Adams' mother were sisters. Karvelas was a Golden Gloves
boxing
champion while serving in the United States Marines
during World War II
and later worked as a stockbroker.
Wanting his cousin to remain close to him, Adams gave Karvelas several uncredited bit parts on Get Smart. One such part was an assistant to the Chief which grew into the character of Larrabee. Larrabee had the distinction of being just as bumbling as Maxwell Smart, if not more so. In one episode, Smart tells the Chief, "People ask if Larrabee and I are related."
After the cancellation of Get Smart, Karvelas again joined his cousin Adams on the sitcom, The Partners, which also starred Dick Van Patten
. The show was cancelled after one season.
Karvelas continued to appear in small bit parts on television before dropping out of acting in 1976. He reprised the character of Larrabee in The Nude Bomb
and Get Smart, Again!
.
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
. He was Don Adams
Don Adams
Don Adams was an American actor, comedian and director. In his five decades on television, he was best known as Maxwell Smart in the television situation comedy Get Smart , which he also sometimes directed and wrote. Adams won three consecutive Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Smart...
' cousin.
Karvelas was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with a twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
brother and grew up in Charleroi, Pennsylvania
Charleroi, Pennsylvania
Charleroi is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River, 25 miles south of Pittsburgh. Charleroi was settled in 1890 and incorporated in 1891. The population in 1900 stood at 5,930; in 1910, 9,615; in 1920, 11,516, and in 1940, 10,784...
. His mother was of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent and his father was of Greek descent. His mother and Adams' mother were sisters. Karvelas was a Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion while serving in the United States Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and later worked as a stockbroker.
Wanting his cousin to remain close to him, Adams gave Karvelas several uncredited bit parts on Get Smart. One such part was an assistant to the Chief which grew into the character of Larrabee. Larrabee had the distinction of being just as bumbling as Maxwell Smart, if not more so. In one episode, Smart tells the Chief, "People ask if Larrabee and I are related."
After the cancellation of Get Smart, Karvelas again joined his cousin Adams on the sitcom, The Partners, which also starred Dick Van Patten
Dick Van Patten
Richard Vincent "Dick" Van Patten is an American actor, best known for his role as patriarch Tom Bradford on the television sitcom Eight is Enough. He began work as a child actor and was successful on the [New York] stage, appearing in more than a dozen plays as a teenager...
. The show was cancelled after one season.
Karvelas continued to appear in small bit parts on television before dropping out of acting in 1976. He reprised the character of Larrabee in The Nude Bomb
The Nude Bomb
The Nude Bomb is a 1980 comedy film based on the television series Get Smart. It starred Don Adams as Maxwell Smart, Agent 86, and was directed by Clive Donner...
and Get Smart, Again!
Get Smart, Again!
Get Smart, Again! is a made-for-TV movie based on the 1965-1970 NBC/CBS television series, Get Smart!, which originally aired February 26, 1989 on ABC . It has subsequently been released twice on DVD by different publishers...
.