# Rip Torn on "The Larry Sanders Show" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374 "2002-05-10T21:23:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Capt.Spaulding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5a626/32.png) [@Capt.Spaulding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Spaulding)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374/1 "2002-05-10T21:23:11Z")
This is actually a two-part question: 1. I’m a huge fan of “The Larry Sanders Show” and especially the gifted character actor, Rip Torn, in the role of Larry’s no-bullshit producer Artie. I’m wondering if they’ve ever mentioned Arthur’s last name and what it is? I’ve checked the IMDB and the character is only listed as “Arthur”. 2. While checking Torn’s bio on the IMDB they mention that he won a $475,000 defamation suit against actor Dennis Hopper for remarks Hopper made on the Tonight Show in '97. I know that Torn originally had the role of the dropout lawyer in _Easy Rider_, quit after production started and was subsequently replaced with Jack Nicholson. Hopper was co-writer/co-producer and co-star of _Easy Rider_, so I’m assuming whatever he said on the Tonight Show had something to do with this fact. Any Dopers know what he said to cause Torn to sue (and win)? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374/2 "2002-05-11T03:08:45Z")
Artie last name? Got me. The lawsuit alledged that Torn threatened Hooper with a knife. Torn claims that it was the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374/3 "2002-05-11T14:10:47Z")
They never said what Arthur’s last name was. I think they did it on purpose, because they occasionally mentioned the last names of some of the minor characters. Of course they only characters whose last names were used often enough to remember were Larry Sanders and Hank Kingsley. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374/4 "2002-05-11T23:38:54Z")
Ah the late great _Larry Sanders Show_. I heard that **Bravo** will soon be airing reruns of this classic… Also wanted to add that the show did a great job at spoofing real life characters. And while Larry & Hank were very loosely based parodies of Hollywood “types”…Rip Torn’s Arthur literally **was** Fred DeCorva…the hard-assed producer of Johnny Carson’s _Tonite Show_. A dead-on portrayal… ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2002, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374/5 "2002-05-12T06:49:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Of course they only characters whose last names were used often enough to remember were Larry Sanders and Hank Kingsley Actually, Hank’s real last name was Lepstein. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-torn-on-the-larry-sanders-show/108374/6 "2002-05-12T23:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Frink \* > Ah the late great _Larry Sanders Show_. I heard that **Bravo** will soon be airing reruns of this classic… But, but, but, then, what about all of the great Artie cursing? Egad, a basic cable Artie would be pathetic. Everybody else’s language could be bleeped without major harm, but Artie??? Rip Torn trivia: His son Tony Torn appeared in what Kevin Smith film?