Larry Grey is the son of Lord Merton.
Background
Little is known of Larry's early life. But he knew the Crawley sisters since he was young, his father being godfather to the eldest, Mary. He also was once keen on the youngest Crawley sister, Sybil, though Sybil says she does not think she was as keen on him and she really doesn't remember. He also has a brother, Tim.
Lord Merton mentions to Isobel Crawley in 1922 that Larry works in banking.
Series 3
Larry and his family are invited for a dinner at Downton Abbey. Larry is very jealous over Sybil's marriage to Tom Branson, and is rude when talking to him. He says that he is surprised to be meeting Tom, as he thought that Sybil having married Tom, would never come back there. He drugs Tom's drink just before dinner which makes Tom appear intoxicated, voicing his views on Irish repression and making everyone, including Sybil, upset. Larry Grey alone is amused; when Mary notices this, he tells her that he is enjoying a "vivid display of Irish character".
Fortunately, Anthony Strallan saw what Larry had done. Larry at first denied knowing what Strallan meant when he accused him of causing Tom's behavior, but, after Strallan openly accused him of drugging Tom's drink and Edith said it was "a beastly thing to do", Grey as good as confessed by telling Edith that she "could always take a joke" (which probably means that he used to play nasty practical jokes on her when they were children). Mary called his words "a bully's defense" and revealed the truth to everyone at the table.
Larry felt no remorse for what he had done, and could not understand why everyone else was getting "hot under the collar" because Tom, in his opinion, was "only a grubbly little chauffeur chap" (not one of society's uppercrust like the rest of them). At this, his father, Matthew, and Lord Grantham stood in anger, his father shouting, "Be silent this instant sir!" Lord Merton then apologizes to Tom for Larry's actions and hopes that he will be recovered in time for the wedding. At this point Matthew in a show of support announces that he intends to make Tom his best man.
Tom is forgiven by the Crawleys, who know that it was not his fault. Cora announces to everyone that Tom was the victim of a cruel prank, therefore not responsible for his words, and she expects everyone to kindly forget. The Dowager says that to forgive was one thing, but forgetting was unlikely (whether she is referring to Tom or Larry is unknown, but given that she and Isobel forgive Tom the following day and assure him he was not to blame, it is likely she was referring to Larry).
Appearances
| Appearances and Mentions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 3 | Episode 1 Appears |
Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Christmas Special |
| Series 6 | Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 | Christmas Special |