Genial, dark-haired, often bespectacled Ivan Lawrence Blieden in 1955. They remained a popular Gotham couple until their split seven years later. Haney, who was pure electric in the Broadway and film versions of "The Pajama Game", was a severe diabetic and died suddenly at age 39 in 1964, two years after their divorce. This left Blyden a single parent with two children to raise. He never remarried. Blyden himself died fairly young, killed in a car accident while traveling in Morocco. He was only 49. Highly personable and modestly unassuming, Larry Blyden may not have hit the heights, but he was a recognizable name and a durable talent - one of Broadway's brighter lights for over two decades.
A rabid collector of antiquities, who would often travel to the furtherest corners of the world in pursuit of a find, Blyden was investigating just such a dig in Morocco when he was killed at the age of 49. According to former co-star Dina Merrill he was carjacked by bandits who killed him and took the car and his valuables. Because there was no identification on the body, his family did not learn of the tragedy for several days afterward.
Had two children: Joshua Blyden (born in 1957, and named after Joshua Logan ) and Ellen (born 1960).
Won a Tony Award as best supporting or featured actor (musical) for the 1972 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He was also nominated as best actor (musical) in 1959 for Flower Drum Song, and as best supporting or featured actor (drama) in 1975 for Absurd Person Singular.
A close friend since boyhood of actor Rip Torn. Friends back in Texas referred to the two boys as Torn and Bleedin (Blieden).
He was awarded the 1972 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," on Broadway in New York City.
Father: Adolph Blieden; Mother: Marian Davidson.
