Larry Parks, Acting - KorPlix:Korean Person Archives

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Larry Parks
Acting

Larry Parks
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1914-12-13,Olathe, Kansas, USA
Gender
Male
Biography
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

Filmography

Blondie Goes to College

6.4

Blondie Goes to College
1942-01-15

The Boogie Man Will Get You

6.3

The Boogie Man Will Get You
1942-10-22

The Jolson Story

6.7

The Jolson Story
1946-10-10

Freud: The Secret Passion

6.5

Freud: The Secret Passion
1962-12-12

Love Is Better Than Ever

6.1

Love Is Better Than Ever
1952-02-23

Jolson Sings Again

6

Jolson Sings Again
1949-08-17

6

Down to Earth
1947-08-21

Alias Boston Blackie

5.5

Alias Boston Blackie
1942-04-02

6

Counter-Attack
1945-04-26

5.8

Renegades
1946-06-13

The Black Parachute

5.5

The Black Parachute
1944-05-04

Emergency Wedding

5.5

Emergency Wedding
1950-11-15

Reveille with Beverly

7

Reveille with Beverly
1943-02-04

The Gallant Blade

6

The Gallant Blade
1948-10-12

0

The Swordsman
1948-01-02

0

Mystery Ship
1941-09-03

6.6

Destroyer
1943-08-19

Power of the Press

6.2

Power of the Press
1943-01-29

Atlantic Convoy

5.3

Atlantic Convoy
1942-07-02

6

The Racket Man
1944-01-18

She's a Sweetheart

0

She's a Sweetheart
1944-12-07

5

Sergeant Mike
1944-11-09

Is Everybody Happy?

0

Is Everybody Happy?
1943-10-28

7

The Deerslayer
1943-11-22

Tiger by the Tail

5.6

Tiger by the Tail
1955-09-19

5.5

Canal Zone
1942-03-19

Stars on Parade

0

Stars on Parade
1944-05-25

You Were Never Lovelier

7.1

You Were Never Lovelier
1942-11-19

4.2

Honolulu Lu
1941-12-11

Hello, Annapolis

10

Hello, Annapolis
1942-04-23

North of the Rockies

0

North of the Rockies
1942-04-02

Three Girls About Town

5.3

Three Girls About Town
1941-10-23

Submarine Raider

5.2

Submarine Raider
1942-06-04

Harvard Here I Come

5

Harvard Here I Come
1941-12-18

0

Hey, Rookie
1944-04-06

Harmon of Michigan

0

Harmon of Michigan
1941-09-11

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues

5.5

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues
1999-10-10

They All Kissed the Bride

5.8

They All Kissed the Bride
1942-06-11

6

A Man's World
1942-09-17

5.4

Dr. Kildare
1961-09-27

5.857

Suspicion
1957-09-30