Larry Tamblyn, Music Icon and Brother of Actor Russ Tamblyn, Dies at 82: 'He Lived an Incredible Life'

Larry Tamblyn, a musician and founding band member of The Standells, has died. He was 82.

His nephew, Dennis Tamblyn, announced that he died on Friday, March 21, in a post on Facebook.

“My uncle Larry Tamblyn passed away today.  I have very fond memories of him and his family over the years,” Dennis wrote. “He lived an incredible life. He was in a band called The Standells, whose hit song 'Dirty Water' is still played to this day whenever the Red Sox or the Bruins win a home game. They also played on an episode of The Munsters,” he continued.

“A few years ago, The Standells played at Hotel Congress here in Tucson, Ariz., and Larry stayed with me," Dennis added. “It was so great to hang out with him and catch up. He was still making music well into his later years. You will be missed, Uncle Larry."

No cause of death has been shared at this time.

Larry, who was born in Los Angeles, comes from a famous family as the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and the uncle of actress Amber Tamblyn. He worked as a solo musician in the 1950s before forming the rock band Larry Tamblyn and The Standells in 1962, with Tony Valentino, Jody Rich and Benny King. 

The band recorded their first 45 “You’ll Be Mine Someday/Girl In My Heart” in 1963, per Tech Web Sound, before signing with Liberty Label a year later and changing their name to The Standells.  

After a few band member departures, Dick Dodd joined as lead vocalist in 1964. The group released several popular songs, including “Try It,” “Can’t Help But Love You” and their biggest hit, “Dirty Water,” which reached number 11 on the Billboard charts.

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Larry reformed the band in 2009, and the group went on their first national tour since the 1960s in 2014, per the U.K. newspaper Metro. The band released their final album Bump in 2013.

In December 2023, Larry was inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame by his brother Russ, 90. The late singer shared a video on his Facebook page of himself performing onstage during his induction ceremony.

A neighbor of Larry’s wrote on X after the news of his death, “My friend and neighbor, Larry Tamblyn, passed away this morning … It was totally surreal that a member of the 60s garage punk band my 80s garage band used to cover, moved just around the corner from me in rural GA.”