Here's Why Sgt. Carter (Larry Hovis) Was the Invisible Man on Hogan's Heroes!

[@JohnnyPerth]

I never thought of Larry as invisible, he was a good fit for the show. I like the way he would get excited over explosions etc. and his Hitler bit was hilarious

[@Bryan-ws3yt]

You nailed it, Ottawa Lad. My sentiments exactly. Thanks.

[@julieviola6787]

I agree with you 💯%! 🤣🤣👍👍

[@kurtsnyder4752]

See my comment elsewhere.

[@SchererProductionServices]

Larry was one of my favorites...especially when he impersonated Hitler.

[@foilist1]

Yes! Especially when Larry impersonated Hitler. Very funny !!

[@matthewezell1911]

I liked when Burkhalter wanted to speak with, "the fuhrer," and heard him talking about how everything that was going wrong was all the fault of the generals.

[@billkeithchannel]

Having an actor that did not resemble Adolph would have eliminated many wonderful script maguffins.

[@csnow414]

I think he was one of the best actors on the show. One of my favorite moments, from an acting standpoint, was in "43rd, A Moving Story." Kinchloe tells him "The bank is going to foreclose on Mary Noble." The look on his face, followed by, "I can't take much more of this" was priceless. Such wonderful acting in what could have been a throw-away moment.

[@catherineeaves2990]

Colonel Hogan couldn't tell Carter because he knew it would make him sad. Kinch had guts and compassion when he broke the news. Love Carter!

[@JohnBugay]

I can’t cite the episode, but my favorite scene with Carter was when he showed up in Klink’s bedroom dressed as a superior officer at 1:00 am and woke Kline up. “Herr General, we weren’t expecting you till morning” Klink said. Carter tore into him, “One o’clock in the morning is morning Klink, two o’clock in the morning is morning, and three o’clock in the morning is morning Klink!”

[@justincase6588]

It is the episode where Lady Chtitterly(?) was visiting her husband played by that great character actor whose name eludes me. Colonel Crittenden & even better, Dr Bombay on Bewitched.

[@ECO473]

@@justincase6588 Bernard Fox.

[@carolynpurser7469]

I think he was selling himself short. I can't think of anyone else who could have portrayed Carter as well as he did.

[@johnsadar1743]

Carolyn Purser I like where Larry played the German general watching major hochstetters men dig Hogan’s barracks floor and Klink and sgt Schultz notice him before hockstter and the look on Larry’s face is unforgettable 😂

[@lawrenceboarerpitchford5732]

Larry Hovis was fantastic and an asset to the cast. One of my favorite shows when I was a kid.

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

Yes the 60s sitcoms Batman Gilligans island Greenacres Beverly hillbillies I dream of Jeannie…

[@moonchildluvsbobcrane]

He was a nice guy. Wrote him a letter when he was a professor at a college. I was thrilled when he called to tell me my letter touched him. He was a great actor and had an important role in the show as the bomb expert.

[@brendakempf2869]

No one, absolutely no one could do impersonations like Larry Hovis. I think he should have gotten much more credit for his talent.

[@powerboatguy2308]

His Hitler impersonation was still my favorite moment.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Another favorite of mine! HH & Get Smart used to run at night on a local TV station in Houston, TX. when I was a teenager. They ran back to back. It was a great childhood memory for me. To this day I STILL love these shows + the acting. Larry was very versatile in his roles. Often times people can be either humble or megalomaniacs. I find myself humble (when praise is heaped on me and sometimes almost feel unworthy of the attention) I've found there are people that will "cheer lead" for you, and you SHOULD graciously accept it and pass it forward. We are all in this "together".

[@OIFEagle]

He was kind of the Peter Tork of the group. He supported the rest of the cast to the point where, had he not been there, it would have left a noticeable void.

[@intrepidelica7059]

That's what I just said!

[@Breeze0911]

Excellent comparison, Peter Tork. Loved them both.

[@MikeB071]

The show just wouldn't have been the same without Carter, and the same could be said of all the cast. They all made it work together!

[@cherylsHTX]

Larry Hovis appeared in and wrote for Laugh-in. And as a Houstonian, I am proud to say he attended the University of Houston! And I think he also taught acting at one of our Universities. I think in San Marcos. He was awesome!

[@coolbear6441]

He taught a theatrical drama class at SWT now Texas State but before I could get into it he had passed away from cancer:(

[@philomenaclarke449]

Larry Hovis’ performance in my opinion was underrated quite easily the best actor in the group with varied parts he played to perfection. He was also a talented singer. Having said the above I think the whole cast did a fabulous job this type of comedy is so lacking on television today. Even 50 years on they still make you laugh I watch this program when I’m feeling low and within minutes reduced to giggles. Almost all are in their heavenly abode RIP guys and thanks to each and everyone of you 🙏💗

[@timdh-2818]

Hogan's Heroes is a classic. Thanks for the great commentary.

[@kendallrivers1119]

This was such a perfect cast that its hard I guess for everyone to get special mention but Carter like everyone else had a specific role to play and did what he did perfectly. I remember reading his last interview and he was a very humble and chill dude.

[@mrpeel3239]

Each actor was so perfectly cast!

[@gabevee3]

I think Larry Hovis was great. I also cant imagine anyone else in that role. Carter as with all the others was very important to the crew and was a good balance. My favorite moment was in one episode when he and Lebeau were trying to break a prisoner out of a jail and Lebeau asked the guard which cell he was in, the guard says "nine" and Carter says "oh so you wont talk eh" as if he said "nein". Lebeau says "no you dummy he means cell nine!"

[@MajorWolfgangHochstetter]

I own the whole series on DVD. It is my all-time favorite series (nothing comes close). I have watched each episode (from VHS television copies and dvd's and syndicated repeats) well more than 100 times! Larry Hovis was by far the funniest of the group of heroes. I wish the series would have been allowed to have a 90 minute finale culminating with the end of the war with an epilogue. There are so many favorite Carter moments it is hard to pick a single one. But the 'Operation Dragonfly' scene with Hogan and Klink in Klink's office is an absolute gem!

[@Kae6502]

"The prisoners are building a Gonkulator!"

[@ricknineg]

One of my favorites! Burkhalter's reactions lol!

[@ashleyg8633]

It’s just a rabbit trap!!!! 🐰 hippity hoppity!!!!

[@olerocker3470]

Loved the way Banner pronounced each syllable so forcefully. Gonk u la tor

[@kevinpost2037]

He was perfect for the roles he portrayed. Show would not have been the same.

[@billkeithchannel]

@@ricknineg One of my newspaper customers is named "Lutz" and I often think of this episode because of that. It was one of my a favorites as a teen/young adult.

[@thomaskipfer1008]

My most favorite of shows... you always knew it would bring you good feelings and laughs. I can't think of the show without him. Tom Kipfer

[@WaltANelsonPHD]

Werner Klemperer is the best actor on the show. The show's success depended on his ability to turn his character from demanding to sniveling in the wink of an eye. However, Larry Hovis did a wonderful job with his various imitations of German officers and also of Hitler. The best line delivered to Hovis was from Hogan: "Don't worry, Carter. Somewhere there's a wife, even for you!" Great video post. Thank you!

[@sandrablanchette2239]

I like the way his character was able to slip into serious, (German official) and back to goofy. Showed Carter was multifaceted.

[@bobstafford2068]

I'm a huge Hogan's Heros fan. I watched it as a kid and had one of the Hogan's Heros comic books. My favorite episodes are when Larry Hovis (aka Sgt. Carter) impersonated Adolf Hitler. Carter was one of my absolute favorites. He could go from playing the fool to the street smart genius.

[@janetfannin3895]

Larry was an important character to the show if you ask me! He also seemed to be a very peaceful and nice guy!

[@arkansasmountainman]

Larry wss so versatile! He played so many different people and was very convincing as a German, especially when he imitated Hitler! To me he was one of the most important ones on the show. I was so sad when Hogan's Heros was cancelled. I never missed an episode, introduced my stepsons to them and still watch 2 episodes almost every night. Thank goodness for reruns and syndication! I'm so glad you dig up these "back stage" facts for us! Thanks so much for doing it! Remember, be hopeful!

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Larry Hovis was almost all the Mission: Impossible characters rolled into one character who played characters!!! A Genius Nerd!!! Maybe he wasn't remembered because the comic and lunch box folks were dumbstruck because he was so many different characters and they couldn't figure out it was just Larry Hovis!!!

[@jennifermoody487]

I've always loved ALL of the four guys. Really missed "Kinch" in season 6. BUT, my favorite Larry Hovis episode is undoubtedly the one where he becomes a German enlisted man all the while still being himself (looking for some dynamite, I think). He was super in that episode, just as he was in every other. Loved his strong affection for ANY explosive he'd concocted! Larry Hovis was fantastic in Hogan's Heroes.

[@davidgeorge000]

Larry in the end what matters is your fans. Your fans know you're the man. You made us laugh then and you're still making us laugh. Truly a comic and acting genius! No one cares you weren't on the stupid lunch box. What matters is your character lives forever! As they say, now that's entertainment.

[@mmcleod06]

He was invisible in the same way that a great spy is invisible, able to blend into the background but often emerging to save the day or to provide that crucial bit of info or insight that saves the day.

[@jons.6216]

His character was a great example of one that - although socially coming across as a big dope, he was actually very talented at masterminding most of their secret gadgets and devices! I seem to recall his lack of presence in given episodes being accredited as ".. Carter's already down in the tunnel working on...!" etc!

[@donnicholas7552]

He was an integral part of the show. I think, he was underrated as an actor.

[@paulstan9828]

He was my favorite every episode. The others were really good of course but he was very unique and always funny. You couldn’t help but like his character. Unbelievable that he was left off the merchandising from the show.

[@charleshodgdon6168]

I also liked LeBeau. Well, I liked him in the earlier episodes. They say that he wanted his character to be more serious. When you see that in the show, it ruins my liking of the character. Carter was always good to amazing.

[@paulstan9828]

@@charleshodgdon6168 I noticed that too. As the series went on he became very serious and meaner towards the Germans even Schultz.

[@sfcmp7005]

@@charleshodgdon6168 I am sure Robert Clary losing his family at the hands of the Nazi's played a role in his attitude towards Nazi's while filming the show. He was able to separate the fact that the show was about a POW camp, and not a concentration camp (CC), but subconsciously I would guess his time in an actual CC affected his attitude towards Nazi's, even just characters in the show. I know he has mentioned in some interviews that the only reason he could play the role was because the show was about a POW camp. He said he could have never made light of a CC. I know in some interviews he tears up when talking about his mother when they were in a CC.

[@randytim512]

He was very good actor and a modest guy. Rare since many actors in Hollywood have inflated ego's.

[@brianrebmann5398]

Very good video with a very interesting topic. I can't imagine anyone else but Larry Hovis playing Sgt Carter. He was a big part of the show and he definitely sold himself short.

[@earlegavin5931]

They were both on laugh in Richard and Larry. Larry sold him self short for sure.

[@earlegavin5931]

@chris younts saw an interview where Richard Dawson said Larry recommend him for laugh in.

[@osopolar2022]

I always loved how Carter's eyes would get so big when he talked about blowing something up.

[@sailingtime3054]

Larry was the last-minute addition from Gomer Pyle when the "Russian" actor quit. Larry's impersonation of German solders was unbelievably fantastic. They were easily Emmy award material. No one else could have ever done what Larry did.

[@daleburrell6273]

...you mean "Leonoid Kinski"?

[@20alphabet]

Larry Hovis was great on the Liars Club also. It was hard to tell when he wasn't telling the truth.

[@mikecowen6507]

Agreed! Few people realize Hovis was also the creator and producer of the Liars Club. I enjoyed both shows, and don't think anyone could have replaced him.

[@ColonialTwinFollies]

One of my favorite game shows. I think Larry Hovis would have also made a great game show host.

[@afterburner2869]

20alphabet On occasion, when I find an unusual object, I will play Liars Club with my daughter.I will come up with three lies about the object and the truth and she will try and decide. She thinks it fun!!

[@20alphabet]

@@afterburner2869 What a great idea! 👍😃

[@suspiciousminds1750]

Interesting factoid (maybe I heard it here?): Larry was married and his character single. However, because he was a dedicated husband, he refused to take off the ring while filming and often wore gloves to hide it or hid the ring hand out of view.

[@billkeithchannel]

Rick9G did a video about this.

[@suspiciousminds1750]

@@billkeithchannel Then that's where i heard it.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Larry Hovis was a good actor, a good comedian & great impressionist! Congrats again Rick, 59,000 subs, 60,000 is just around the corner & 100,000 is on the horizon! ☺

[@theflorgeormix]

It is perfect casting. Perfect writing. All around. Will always be revisited.

[@vbuffy5952]

He was AWESOME, especially the fire Marshall, the General with the smirky laugh...

[@halburd1]

was one og my favorite shows i liked ALL of them loved the theme song the hidden tunnel stump ALL of it.

[@Frooderick]

I had the pleasure of being one of his acting students back in the ‘90’s. Awesome guy.

[@patricklondon6006]

Larry was always my favorite. Nobody else could have played all those characters he played.

[@julieviola6787]

I love this show and Larry Hovis is one of my favorites, he is very funny 😄 and I love it when he does a German accent and dressing up like a German officer yelling at Col Klink!! 🤣

[@calebduprest6438]

Best Larry Hovis moments is when he is acting as Hitler.

[@michellegilligan5680]

Yes

[@julieviola6787]

I agree 👍

[@davidgeorge000]

One o'clock in the morning is morning klink and two o'clock in the morning is morning and three o'clock in the morning is morning klink!!!!!!😂😅😊😂 55 or so years later not only do I still remember that but it still cracks me up. To me, that says something about his skill. It says genius!

[@monstrok]

Larry's goofy, quirky and in modern times "nerdy" portrayal of Sgt Carter was a great foil to the more serious characters. He was able to go in and out of the German character impersonations so easily. My favorite episode with that demonstrates this ability is when he was found by a German squad while wearing a German soldier's uniform and then found himself in two armies! Don't forget his skills as a singer! The group harmonies were amazing on the few episodes that featured the singing performances of the heroes.

[@roberthale2268]

Larry was a major talent. A great singer and actor. Yes he was selling himself short.

[@malloryanderson9098]

Carter's always been my favorite :)

[@claytoncoward1377]

Larry was one of my favorite actors. Especially great work in the first year episode granted permission to escape.

[@tomgaston9890]

Larry Hovis was one of the key players in Hogan's Heroes. He played such good character. He always makes me laugh. I watched the show when it was in prime time and I still watch it on Me tv ever night. It's one of my all time favorite show from the 60's along with Combat and Mccales Navy. Good channel 😁👍

[@ricknineg]

Much appreciated Tom! Carter was always my fave. Thanks for the channel compliment

[@WhaleGold]

This show was first on the air when I was in High School and I really liked Larry Hovis. Neighbor lady next door said she was related to him and described him as the one who played the quiet part. That fits in with your video. Years passed and when she died her obit said she was born in Wapato, WA. More years passed and the internet came along and I checked Larry Hovis out at imdb and found out he was born at Wapato, WA. It is really a small town of about 5,000 only about 1 1/2 hours away from me.

[@charlesc.parker1164]

I thought he was outstanding. Never missed it growing up. I'm 67 and still watch it on utube. Thanks.

[@mudhead31]

He was as important as any of them and appreciated by the fans. Not invisible.

[@billkeithchannel]

I read somewhere that the reason Larry Hovis was left off of the lunchbox was because the _powers that should not be_ did not want children to see him as a "hero". These misguided people thought of him as the "screw-up" or the goofy "sad sack".

[@cryptojack69]

I went to college with his son and daughter. He went out drinking with his son and I one evening. Such an amazingly funny human being. He was real and humble. A highlight of my college experience.

[@carolthacker4126]

I absolutely loved Sergeant Carter. Larry Hovis did an amazing job playing the part. My favorite episodes are when he played a general, Hitler and when he was in the German army at the same time he was a German POW. I think his acting talent and comedic ability really shined during the episode where he was playing both a German soldier and the POW.

[@howlardude4586]

In retrospect, Carter was the backbone of the show.

[@douglasstrother6584]

Larry Hovis & Stan Laurel: I thought that as a kid when "Hogan's Heros" first aired. Spot on!

[@matshaw5291]

I think my favourite moment of Carter is in Season 1 Episode 32 Request Permission to Escape when he , thinking of something he and Fraulin Helga can do together, says “ You want to help me empty out the waste baskets”? And then her reaction, SO FUNNY

[@ashleyg8633]

His Impressions of various Germans were some of the funniest scenes of the show by far!!! Long Live “Little Deer Who Runs Swift and Sure Through Forest” 🙋‍♀️💕🌺

[@jerryberryhill3619]

Favorites ranked by number 1.John Banner 2. Richard Dawson 3. Larry Hovis 4. Werner Klemperer 5. Ivan Dixon 6. The Guy who played Major Hocstetter

[@John-ih2bx]

Larry Hovis was one of the major characters of the show, with all of his hysterical impersonations and pyrotechnical/explosive experience, his constant jokes/looks on the show.

[@BaruchHashem]

Larry Hovis was a genus and I loved his character!

[@conniehawkins9459]

He was amazing, so adaptable and funny.

[@tippycanoe99]

He was versatile with Carter (from kltuz to bomb maker) and the impersonations of whomever in the show. Let's not forget... originally, Larry Hovis was part of the ensemble cast in the pilot episode and in the second episode as a main cast member. Not bad for a six year run.

[@kenpdx7471]

One O'Clock in the morning ist morning und two O'Clock in the morning ist morning und three O'Clock ..... that was one of my fav scenes ... haha.

[@charleshodgdon6168]

If you find out why Carter was demoted to sergeant, you should do a video on it. In the pilot, he was a lieutenant and was supposed to be sent out. They kept the character and changed his rank.

[@anionhero]

I loved the character of Carter. His impersonation of Hitler was hilarious. And when he impersonated a German officer to stop the Gestapo from tearing up the barracks so they wouldn't discover the tunnels underneath.

[@groverfan1389]

Agree with you Rick. Carter was the most lovable, versatile character on the show!

[@Jared_Wignall]

Interesting how he thought he was invisible since his character wasn’t usually part of some of the promotional products. He played a big part on the show, but it’s interesting how he viewed himself on it, at least for a time since it seems like his tunes changed.

[@macgyversmacbook1861]

Larry, John, Werner and Robert Clary are the three Heroes I wish I could’ve met, I’m part of a Hogan’s Heroes group on Facebook and remember seeing a video of Rob saying hi to all the fans a few years back. I honestly relate to Carter a lot, I’m in my 20s and still need help tying my shoes but I can recite anything and everything I’ve read about history or animals kinda like Carter tripping over his own two feet but doing an excellent Shicklegruber impression or building explosives

[@cyberformersinc7425]

Hi! I love your videos and I'm a new sub, and I LOVE that you've been covering Hogans Heroes. It's not been as popular as it should, and it's one of my favorites! Carter was in my opinion, a very necessary character in the show, and they could have at least given a little something.

[@briandrake390]

Love the spotlight episodes that really gave Schultz and the other heroes a chance to shine. The episodes where Carter was in some disguise were the best, like the times he played Hitler.

[@earlw9172]

Best show on TV still watch it on Sundance TV .

[@ernielabarr646]

Yogis was a great impersonator on the show and had an awesome flight jacket!

[@stevecrump6470]

I think he sold himself very short. He is fantastic in the part and regardless of what he said each cast member was crucial to the ensemble! They were all wonderful in their parts!

[@5argetech56]

Before Family Feud, Dawson was a hit on "Match Game"

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

5argeTech /\ Match game was adult orientated and ahead of its time...

[@lazyhomebody1356]

@@OVERHERE-OVERHERE Couldn't have been all that mature, since I love it! ;)

[@mr.c1563]

Dawson really didn't get along with Bret and most of the panel was upset that he was always chosen for most of the super matches. Dawson left the show shortly after they brought in the wheel to select a star. Plenty of sour grapes between the cast....

[@tinomacchia5410]

I had a HH lunchbox back in the day... I wish it hadn't been thrown away...

[@billr4886]

Larry Hovis was my second favorite (John Banner had to play a mostly friendly Nazi -- think about how hard that must have been), but my favorite Sgt. Carter moment was an episode where the Heroes stole a bomber and Carter had to figure out how to work the German bomb site. He called up to Hogan in the pilot's seat and said "I FOUND THE BUTTON" (to drop the bombs). Hogan yells back "NOT YET!"

[@cccccc5398]

WoW, Lerry was the BESt, I pointed him out to to son. I liked the one were he trying to find the perfect mix for an explosive device and he keeps blowing himself up.... When you mentioned invisible, my first thought was of how many different Characters he played, so...invisible, because today he is playing ???

[@rustimatz1148]

Loved all the Cast .

[@Mouserjan0222]

I read an article where "Kinch" left the show because he said he never did anythign but say "Uhh London is on the phone" that he felt he was a nothing character. Also as to the question: LEADINGHAM

[@FIREBRAND38]

If that article does exist, I don't know why Ivan Dixon would say that, because his character did a hell of a lot more on the show than he claimed. How about Season 3 "Is General Hammerschlag Burning?" or Season 5's "The Softer They Fall"? He was the central character in both those episodes.

[@Mouserjan0222]

@@FIREBRAND38 It was awhile ago If I can find it, I'll post it

[@cherylshank-johnson7693]

Nothing invisible about Larry Hovis,, Love his character.. He could protray anyone and do it well.. We love him.

[@jpolar394]

If my memory serves me correctly, Larry's family owned or operated a restaurant in Texas. I've visited there a few times when I had family living there. There was photos on the wall of him and I asked about it. It was a very nice and memorable experience. I beleave either his brother or sister operated it. I think the restaurant was called The Green Mesquete and it was near Austin. Wow, trying to think about things. Lol.

[@JamesKing-mi1jb]

Hogan's Heroes is one of my favorite shows of all time. Everyone I see the first episode, where it looks like they're just gonna use him as a one time character, I can't help but think about how good it is that they didn't. He adds so much to the show, it's crazy.

[@bobbylee2853]

Everyone was in Shultz’s shadow, a very big shadow.

[@kendallrivers1119]

Or Klink who won two Emmys for his amazing portrayal.

[@pamount]

I couldn’t imagine Hogan’s Heroes without Larry Hovis.

[@kmbbmj5857]

He and Kinchloe were my favorites of the prisoners. They were the indispensable talents on the "team" for gadgets to do the mission. The others would have been expendable so to speak. But yes, I do think they were both somewhat invisible to the writers and producers who seemed to play everything on the center four of Hogan, Newkirk, Kink, and Schultz.

[@RocketTCoyote]

I seem to remember him in a Stroh's Beer commercial in the 1970s. Crawling through the desert, offered water, but holding out for a Stroh's.

[@philmartinez1872]

He was funny as hell on the show.

[@progqueen5952]

I really like your videos and you are a very thoughtful person, I can tell. Greetings from Illinois!

[@rusty2075]

he was one of my favorite !!!

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

One of hogans heroes finest Sceens “Auf weidersen folks”

[@beej86]

Love your stalag. Especially the barbed wire. Always makes me feel sentimental.

[@pattondiorama7136]

I think Larry Hovis was more "visible" than Ivan Dixon. I loved his appearances on Match Game. He had a very high brow sense of humor.

[@ronfazer2423]

I would think the same; Dixon was less visible but it was cool how Hogan always relied on Dixon to do a reliable job. Dixon was the Go-To- Guy even thou Carter out ranked him.

[@robertzugates1404]

Larry was the pivotal character that got things done. He solved the problems !

[@twoton_nw]

He's one of my favorite characters