Larry Simms
Larry Lee Simms was an American aerospace engineer and former child actor who appeared in 36 films between 1937 and 1951.
Early life
Larry Simms was born October 1, 1934. He worked as a child model from the age of two and was discovered by a Hollywood talent scout when he appeared in a 1937 Saturday Evening Post advertisement.
Career
His first film was The Last Gangster, where he played Edward G. Robinson's young son. Simms became known for his appearances as Alexander "Baby Dumpling" Bumstead in the popular Blondie film series starring Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. Between 1938 and the end of the series in 1950, Simms appeared as Alexander in 28 films earning at one point $750 a week. In 1946, Simms joined the cast of the Blondie radio program, portraying Alexander there as he had in movies.
Simms occasionally acted outside of the Blondie series, most notably in two Frank Capra films. He played one of the sons of Governor Hopper in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Pete Bailey, the oldest child of James Stewart's George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. He retired from show business to join the Navy, then studied aeronautical engineering at California Polytech. He later worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California and around the world as an engineer until his retirement from aeronautical engineering.
Death
Simms and his wife resided in Thailand prior to his death in 2009.
Filmography
The Last Gangster - Joe Krozac Jr. as a Baby Blondie - Baby DumplingBlondie Meets the Boss - Baby DumplingBlondie Takes a Vacation - Baby Dumpling BumsteadMr. Smith Goes to Washington - Hopper Boy #4Blondie Brings Up Baby - Alexander 'Baby Dumpling' BumsteadBlondie on a Budget - Baby Dumpling BumsteadBlondie Has Servant Trouble - Baby DumplingBlondie Plays Cupid - Baby DumplingBlondie Goes Latin - Baby Dumpling BumsteadBlondie in Society - Baby DumplingBlondie Goes to College - Alexander 'Baby Dumpling' BumsteadBlondie's Blessed Event - Baby Dumpling BumsteadThe Gay Sisters - AustinBlondie for Victory - Baby DumplingIt's a Great Life - Alexander Bumstead / Baby DumplingFootlight Glamour - Alexander BumsteadLeave It to Blondie - Alexander BumsteadLife with Blondie - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Lucky Day - Alexander BumsteadBlondie Knows Best - Alexander BumsteadIt's a Wonderful Life - Pete BaileyBlondie's Big Moment - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Holiday - Alexander BumsteadGolden Earrings - Horace - Pageboy Song of Love - Prince Albert Blondie in the Dough - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Anniversary - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Reward - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Secret - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Big Deal - Alexander BumsteadMadame Bovary - JustinBlondie Hits the Jackpot - Alexander BumsteadBlondie's Hero - Alexander BumsteadBeware of Blondie - Alexander BumsteadHer First Romance - Military Boy Screen Snapshots Series 33, Hollywood Grows Up - Himself