Larger Than Life

By: Los Angeles Times
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  • Summary

  • In 1960s Los Angeles, after the catastrophic Watts riots, an outsized character emerged — one who found an unexpected way to unite people across race and class. Odds are you’ve never heard of him. From L.A. Times Studios, the team behind “Dirty John” and “Man in the Window,” comes “Larger Than Life,” a docu-series about Big Willie Robinson, a 6-foot-6, muscle-bound street racer who preached peace a quarter-mile at a time. Cops and criminals, movie stars and miscreants, even Crips and Bloods — out at the drag strip, Big Willie could get them all to see eye to eye, easing tensions and making L.A. a safer and more unified place. For a time, he was a celebrated figure in L.A. — but today his legend has faded. What caused him to fall into obscurity? Reported, written and hosted by Daniel Miller from the L.A. Times. Produced by L.A. Times Studios and Neon Hum Media.
    © 2019, Los Angeles Times
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History Social Sciences True Crime
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Episodes
  • Introducing Larger Than Life

    Introducing Larger Than Life
    Jul 1 2019

    This is the true story of a street racer who united Los Angeles — but left behind a tangle of questions. Reported, written and hosted by Daniel Miller from the Los Angeles Times. Premieres July 9.
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    3 mins
  • King of the Street | 1

    King of the Street | 1
    Jul 9 2019

    Episode 1: L.A. street racing legend Big Willie Robinson uses cars to heal a city torn apart by racial violence. His larger-than-life exploits touch Hollywood, the Southland’s most notorious gangs and even the Los Angeles Times.

    Learn more about the story, sign up for new episode alerts and go behind the scenes at latimes.com/LTL
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    29 mins
  • Becoming Big Willie | 2

    Becoming Big Willie | 2
    Jul 9 2019

    Episode 2: In the five years after the 1965 Watts riots, Big Willie Robinson meets the love of his life, gets the car of his dreams, forges ties with the LAPD and starts the Brotherhood of Street Racers.

    Learn more about the story, sign up for new episode alerts and go behind the scenes at latimes.com/LTL
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    31 mins

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