His best-known television work was as a school principal in the 1989 Norwegian series "Borgen skole", and as Karls former boss, Gundersen, in the first season of Mot i brøstet in 1993.
He also played the role of "wise man" in Norway's mid-1990s version of Fort Boyard, Fangene på Fortet.
In 2004, Larssen caused a stir in Norwegian media after publicly criticizing the NRK produced comedy show Team Antonsen for their portrayal of rural Northern Norway, which he described as "mean and hateful".
[citation needed] He later withdrew his statements after several northern newspapers called it an "overreaction" and rebuffed his criticism, stating that Larssen was "outdated" in his opinions.
[citation needed] In 1962, he and his wife, writer and actress Sonja Lid, established the Peace Office (Fredskontoret) in Stavanger.