Biography
In a long career that encompassed more than 110 roles, actor David White was best known for his work as Larry Tate, the hovering boss of the browbeaten Darrin Stephens on TV's "Bewitched." After serving in the Marines in World War II, White pursued his passion for acting with a career in theater. He made his Broadway debut in 1949's "Leaf and Bough," and broke into television two years later on an episode of "Lights Out," a long-running horror series. White worked steadily on television through the '50s. In 1957, he earned a small role in the Tony Curtis noir "Sweet Smell of Success," and three years hence he earned a role in Billy Wilder's classic noir-comedy "The Apartment." His notoriety rose, and he made appearances on such popular shows as "My Three Sons," "Perry Mason," and "The Fugitive." Then in 1964, he was cast in "Bewitched" as the oft befuddled Larry Tate. White would play Tate for more than 160 episodes over eight years. After the series came to a close in 1972, White continued to make guest appearances on TV on shows like "Mary Tyler Moore," "Kojak," "Rhoda," "Phyllis," and "Cagney & Lacey." He made his final appearance on television on "Dynasty" in 1986. White died of a heart attack on November 27, 1990. He was interred with his son, Jonathan White, who was a victim of the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.
