Larry Manetti is a veteran actor who is best known for his role as Orville Wilbur Richard “Rick” Wright on the CBS television series Magnum, P.I., which starred Tom Selleck as the title character. He also appeared in several other shows, such as Black Sheep Squadron, Battlestar Galactica, JAG, and Hawaii Five-0. But recently, some fans have noticed that Manetti is using a wheelchair and wondered what happened to him. Is Larry Manetti in a wheelchair because of an illness or an injury? Here is what we know about the actor’s health condition and how it affects his career.
How Did Larry Manetti End Up in a Wheelchair?
According to MSN1, Manetti revealed in an interview that he had a stroke seven years ago, which made it difficult for him to walk. He said that he was in a coma for three days and had to undergo physical therapy for six months. He also said that he lost some of his memory and had to relearn how to speak.
Manetti said that he was lucky to survive the stroke and that he was grateful for his wife Nancy DeCarl, who supported him throughout his recovery. He said that she was his “angel” and that she saved his life.
How Does Larry Manetti’s Wheelchair Affect His Acting Career?
Manetti said that after his stroke, he did not get many acting offers because most producers did not want him in a wheelchair. He said that they hid his wheelchair in some of the projects he did, such as a movie and some episodes of the rebooted Magnum P.I., where he played a different character named Nicky Demarco.
However, Manetti said that he was happy to get a guest role on Blue Bloods, where he played a retired police sergeant named Sam Velucci, who also used a wheelchair. He said that the executive producer of the show, Kevin Wade, wanted him in the wheelchair and wrote a part for him. He said that he enjoyed working on the show and praised his co-star Vanessa Ray, who played Officer Eddie Janko.
Manetti also said that he did not have any scenes with his longtime friend Tom Selleck, who plays Commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, because Selleck thought it might confuse the audience because of their relationship on Magnum P.I. However, he said that they remained close friends and went out to dinner together every night while he was in New York.
What Is Larry Manetti Doing Now?
Manetti said that he is still active and busy despite his wheelchair. He said that he hosts a weekly radio program with his wife Nancy on CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks2, where they talk about entertainment, politics, sports, and lifestyle. He also said that he is working on a new book, which will be a sequel to his memoir Aloha Magnum, which chronicled his time on Magnum P.I. and his anecdotes about celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Manetti said that he is optimistic about his future and that he does not let his wheelchair stop him from living his life. He said that he is thankful for his fans who support him and send him messages of encouragement. He also said that he hopes to do more acting roles and share his stories with the world.
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