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person_profile-Larry Parks

Larry Parks Died at age: 60

Actor | Producer

Fullname:

Larry Parks

Date of Birth:

Dec 13, 1914

Country of birth:

USA

Died:

Apr 13, 1975

Biography of

Larry Parks

    Samuel Klausman Lawrence Parks was born in Olathe, Kansas, on December 13, 1914, of German and Irish descent. As a child growing up in Joliet, Illinois, he was plagued by a variety of illnesses, including rheumatic fever, but persevered with physical exercise and sheer strength of will. Majoring in science at the University of Illinois, his plans to become a doctor dissolved when, to the dismay of his parents, he found a passionate sideline in college dramatics. He began appearing in touring shows, then made the big move to New York, finding initial employment as an usher at Carnegie Hall and a tour guide at Radio City. Following a number of summer stock shows, he made an inauspicious 1937 Broadway debut with a minor role in the Group Theatre's presentation of "Golden Boy". Developing a close-knit relationship with the Group, he was just beginning to build up his resumé in such Broadway outings as "All the Living", "My Heart's in the Highlands" and "Pure in Heart" when he had to return to his Illinois home following the death of his father.

    He toiled for a time in Chicago as a Pullman inspector on the New York Central Railroad until the possibility of a film role had him re-setting his acting sights on Los Angeles. Although the film deal fell through, Larry stayed in L.A. and somehow made ends meet working construction. Columbia expressed interest in the fledgling actor and signed him up in 1941 after a favorable screen test. He stayed for nine years. His buildup was slow-moving, taking his first small step with a minor role in Mystery Ship (1941). Time, however, did not increase the tempo or quality of his movies. Either he was oddly cast, such as his role as an Indian opposite exotic Yvonne De Carlo in The Deerslayer (1943), or completely dismissed, as co-star of such obscurities as The Black Parachute (1944), Sergeant Mike (1944) or She's a Sweetheart (1944). His association with the Group Theatre back in New York led to a chance introduction to musical actress Betty Garrett and the couple married in 1944. Larry had settled by this time in Hollywood but Betty was a hot item on Broadway. MGM finally offered her a contract and she relocated to Los Angeles to join her husband. The couple eventually had two children, one of whom, Andrew Parks, became a fine actor in his own right. Their other son, Garrett Parks, served as composer for the film Diamond Men (2000). Larry scored an Oscar nomination playing Jolson (which was originally offered to both James Cagney and Danny Thomas), and hoped for equally challenging roles. His hopes were dashed as the studio instead continued casting him haphazardly in mild-mannered comedies and swashbuckling adventures. Other than the box-office sequel Jolson Sings Again (1949), most of Larry's films were hardly worthy of his obvious talent. To compensate somewhat, he managed to find a creative outlet in summer stock, and both he and Betty put together a successful vaudeville act with one tour ending up playing London's Palladium.

    Following the completion of Love Is Better Than Ever (1952) with Elizabeth Taylor, the political scandal erupted and erased all of his chances to do film. One of many casualties of Hollywood "blacklisting", he was forced to end his association with Columbia, and he and Betty, whose own career was damaged, traveled to Europe to find work

Photos of

Larry Parks

Photos ( 2 Photos

Filmography of

Larry Parks

Found 39 Movies in total

... 1993

Freud: The Secret Passion

Dr. Joseph Breuer ( Actor )

... 1962

Tiger by the Tail

John Desmond ( Actor )

... 1955

Love Is Better Than Ever

Jud Parker ( Actor )

... 1952

Emergency Wedding

Peter Judson Kirk Jr. ( Actor )

... 1950

Jolson Sings Again

Al Jolson / Himself ( Actor )

... 1949

The Gallant Blade

Lt. David Picard ( Actor )

... 1948

The Swordsman

Alexander MacArden ( Actor )

... 1948

Down to Earth

Danny Miller ( Actor )

... 1947

The Jolson Story

Al Jolson ( Actor )

... 1946

Renegades

Ben Dembrow / Ben Taylor ( Actor )

... 1946

Counter-Attack

Kirichenko ( Actor )

... 1945

She's a Sweetheart

Rocky Hill ( Actor )

... 1944

Sergeant Mike

Pvt. Tom Allen ( Actor )

... 1944

Stars on Parade

Danny Davis ( Actor )

... 1944

The Black Parachute

Michael Lindley ( Actor )

... 1944

Hey, Rookie

Jim Leighter ( Actor )

... 1944

The Racket Man

Larry Lake ( Actor )

... 1944

The Deerslayer

Jingo-Good ( Actor )

... 1943

Is Everybody Happy?

Jerry Stewart ( Actor )

... 1943

Destroyer

Ens. Johnson (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1943

Reveille with Beverly

Eddie Ross ( Actor )

... 1943

Power of the Press

Jerry Purvis (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1943

You Were Never Lovelier

Tony - Lita's Boyfriend (uncredited) ( Actor )

... 1942

The Boogie Man Will Get You

Bill Layden ( Actor )

... 1942

A Man's World

Chick O'Driscoll ( Actor )

... 1942

Atlantic Convoy

Gregory ( Actor )

... 1942

They All Kissed the Bride

Joe Krim ( Actor )

... 1942

Submarine Raider

Sparksie ( Actor )

... 1942

Hello, Annapolis

Paul Herbert ( Actor )

... 1942

Alias Boston Blackie

Joe Trilby ( Actor )

... 1942

North of the Rockies

Jim Bailey ( Actor )

... 1942

Canal Zone

Recruit Kincaid ( Actor )

... 1942

Blondie Goes to College

Rusty Bryant ( Actor )

... 1942

Harvard Here I Come

Eddie Spellman ( Actor )

... 1941

Honolulu Lu

Sailor ( Actor )

... 1941

Three Girls About Town

Reporter ( Actor )

... 1941

Harmon of Michigan

Harvey ( Actor )

... 1941

Mystery Ship

Tommy Baker ( Actor )

... 1941