Larry Parks

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

  • Popularność : 1.967
  • Znany z : Acting
  • Urodziny : 1914-12-13
  • Miejsce urodzenia : Olathe, Kansas, USA
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Larry Parks Kino

  • 1942
    imgKino

    Blondie Goes to College

    Blondie Goes to College

    6.4 1942 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    The Boogie Man Will Get You

    The Boogie Man Will Get You

    6.3 1942 HD

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  • 1946
    imgKino

    The Jolson Story

    The Jolson Story

    6.7 1946 HD

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  • 1962
    imgKino

    Freud

    Freud

    6.5 1962 HD

    Wiedeń, rok 1885. Młody neurolog, doktor Zygmunt Freud, popada w konflikt ze swymi kolegami na tle oceny natury histerii. Wyjeżdża do Paryża, by...

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  • 1952
    imgKino

    Love Is Better Than Ever

    Love Is Better Than Ever

    6.1 1952 HD

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  • 1949
    imgKino

    Jolson Sings Again

    Jolson Sings Again

    6 1949 HD

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  • 1947
    imgKino

    Down to Earth

    Down to Earth

    6 1947 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    Alias Boston Blackie

    Alias Boston Blackie

    5.5 1942 HD

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  • 1945
    imgKino

    Counter-Attack

    Counter-Attack

    6 1945 HD

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  • 1946
    imgKino

    Renegades

    Renegades

    5.8 1946 HD

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  • 1944
    imgKino

    The Black Parachute

    The Black Parachute

    5.5 1944 HD

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  • 1950
    imgKino

    Emergency Wedding

    Emergency Wedding

    5.5 1950 HD

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  • 1943
    imgKino

    Reveille with Beverly

    Reveille with Beverly

    7 1943 HD

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  • 1948
    imgKino

    The Gallant Blade

    The Gallant Blade

    6 1948 HD

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  • 1948
    imgKino

    The Swordsman

    The Swordsman

    1 1948 HD

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  • 1941
    imgKino

    Mystery Ship

    Mystery Ship

    1 1941 HD

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  • 1943
    imgKino

    Destroyer

    Destroyer

    6.6 1943 HD

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  • 1943
    imgKino

    Power of the Press

    Power of the Press

    6.2 1943 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    Atlantic Convoy

    Atlantic Convoy

    5.3 1942 HD

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  • 1944
    imgKino

    The Racket Man

    The Racket Man

    6 1944 HD

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  • 1944
    imgKino

    She's a Sweetheart

    She's a Sweetheart

    1 1944 HD

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  • 1944
    imgKino

    Sergeant Mike

    Sergeant Mike

    5 1944 HD

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  • 1943
    imgKino

    Is Everybody Happy?

    Is Everybody Happy?

    1 1943 HD

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  • 1943
    imgKino

    The Deerslayer

    The Deerslayer

    7 1943 HD

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  • 1955
    imgKino

    Tiger by the Tail

    Tiger by the Tail

    5.6 1955 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    Canal Zone

    Canal Zone

    5.5 1942 HD

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  • 1944
    imgKino

    Stars on Parade

    Stars on Parade

    1 1944 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    You Were Never Lovelier

    You Were Never Lovelier

    7.1 1942 HD

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  • 1941
    imgKino

    Honolulu Lu

    Honolulu Lu

    4.2 1941 HD

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  • 1942
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    Hello, Annapolis

    Hello, Annapolis

    10 1942 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    North of the Rockies

    North of the Rockies

    1 1942 HD

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  • 1941
    imgKino

    Three Girls About Town

    Three Girls About Town

    5.3 1941 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    Submarine Raider

    Submarine Raider

    5 1942 HD

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  • 1941
    imgKino

    Harvard Here I Come

    Harvard Here I Come

    5 1941 HD

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  • 1944
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    Hey, Rookie

    Hey, Rookie

    1 1944 HD

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  • 1941
    imgKino

    Harmon of Michigan

    Harmon of Michigan

    1 1941 HD

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  • 1999
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    Przygody młodego Indiany Jonesa: Tajemnica bluesa

    Przygody młodego Indiany Jonesa: Tajemnica bluesa

    5.5 1999 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    They All Kissed the Bride

    They All Kissed the Bride

    5.8 1942 HD

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  • 1942
    imgKino

    A Man's World

    A Man's World

    6 1942 HD

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  • 1961
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    Dr. Kildare

    Dr. Kildare

    5.4 1961 HD

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  • 1957
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    Suspicion

    Suspicion

    5.9 1957 HD

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