On this day, August 8, 1947, Larry Wilcox was born.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Larry Wilcox



Wilcox at the Wizard World Comic Con in 2016

Born: Larry Dee Wilcox; August 8, 1947 (age 76); San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma mater: California State University, Northridge
Website: larrywilcox.net

Larry Dee Wilcox (born August 8, 1947) is an American actor best known for his role as California Highway Patrol officer (later captain) Jonathan "Jon" Baker in the television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983 on NBC. A Vietnam veteran, Wilcox races cars and is also a private pilot.

Early life

Wilcox was born on August 8, 1947 in San Diego, the son of Marion G. and John C. Wilcox. He and his three siblings were raised in Rawlins, Wyoming, by their single mother. He graduated from Rawlins High School, went to the University of Wyoming, then transferred to Los Angeles Pierce College. He eventually went to Cal State Northridge. He worked at different jobs including acting and rodeo cowboy.

Military service

Wilcox enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1967 and served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. While in Vietnam he studied French and took general classes at College of the Desert during his final year in the Marines at Twentynine Palms, California. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1973.

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Personal life

Wilcox married his first wife, Judy Vagner, on March 29, 1969, while serving his last months of duty after returning from the Vietnam War. They had two children together, Derek and Heidi. His second marriage was to Dutch native, Hannie Strasser, a one-time CHiPs assistant sound technician. The wedding took place on April 11, 1980. Their daughter, Wendy, was born in 1982 and they divorced after her birth. On March 22, 1986, Wilcox married Marlene Harmon, a member of the 1980 Olympic pentathlon team. They have two sons, Chad and Ryan.

[Aristus]

1. I think I cemented my status as a boringly normal person by liking Jon better than Ponch.

They made a good team, though.