Larry Cohen

Larry Cohen
Cohen in October 2010
Born
Lawrence George Cohen

(1936-07-15)July 15, 1936[a]
New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 2019(2019-03-23) (aged 82)
Alma materCity College of New York
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • film director
  • producer
Spouses
Janelle Webb
(div. 1980)
Cynthia Costas
(m. 1994)
Children2
RelativesRonni Chasen (sister)

Lawrence George Cohen (July 15, 1936[a] – March 23, 2019) was an American filmmaker. He originally emerged as the writer of blaxploitation films such as Black Caesar and Hell Up in Harlem (both 1973), before becoming known as an author of horror and science fiction films — often containing police procedural and satirical elements — during the 1970s and 1980s. His directorial works include It's Alive (1974) and its sequels, God Told Me To (1976), The Stuff (1985) and A Return to Salem's Lot (1987).

Early in his career, Cohen was a prolific television writer, creating series such as Branded, Blue Light, Coronet Blue, and The Invaders. Later on he concentrated mainly on screenwriting, including Maniac Cop and its two sequels; Phone Booth (2002); Cellular; (2004) and Captivity (2007). In 2006, he returned to the directing chair for Mick Garris's anthology series Masters of Horror, directing the episode "Pick Me Up".

In 2017, Cohen was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fantasia International Film Festival.


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  1. ^ Singer 1989, p. 75.
  2. ^ Fischer 1991, p. 189.
  3. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (March 27, 2019). "Larry Cohen, Director of Garish Horror Classics, Dies at 82". The New York Times. p. B14. Retrieved March 27, 2019.