Larry Reed, an American shadow puppeteer, died on January 30, 2026, in San Francisco, California, at the age of 81.
Born Charles Lawson Reed III in Los Angeles on June 21, 1944, he was one of the first Western artists to train in traditional Balinese shadow theatre. He studied French theatre at Yale University in 1965, later worked as a theatre director for Costa Rica University and the National Theatres, and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute.
In the 1970s, Reed traveled to Bali to study shadow puppetry and later joined the American Association for Eastern Arts, now the Center for World Music. He was recognized as a dalang, or shadow master, by his teacher.
Charles Lawson Reed III (June 21, 1944 – January 30, 2026) was an American shadow puppeteer and one of the first Western artists to train in traditional Balinese shadow theatre. He was recognized as a dalang (shadow master) by his teacher.