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

  • Titre: Larry Parks
  • Popularité: 2.754
  • Connu pour: Acting
  • Anniversaire: 1914-12-13
  • Lieu de naissance: Olathe, Kansas, USA
  • Page d'accueil:
  • Aussi connu sous le nom: Samuel Klusman Lawrence Parks, Samuel Klausman Lawrence Parks
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Larry Parks Films

  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Blondie Goes to College

    Blondie Goes to College

    6.4 1942 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Le Château des loufoques

    Le Château des loufoques

    6.3 1942 HD

    Une jeune femme rachète une vieille auberge, malgré l'opposition de son ex-mari, pour en faire un hôtel. Elle en conserve les...

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  • 1946
    imgFilms

    L'histoire Jolson

    L'histoire Jolson

    6.7 1946 HD

    L'histoire Jolson est une biographie musicale 1946 qui prétend raconter l'histoire de la vie du chanteur Al Jolson. La vedette Larry Parks...

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  • 1962
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    Freud, passions secrètes

    Freud, passions secrètes

    6.5 1962 HD

    En 1885, Sigmund Freud, jeune et fringant neurologue de l'hôpital général de Vienne, se permet de contredire le professeur...

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  • 1952
    imgFilms

    Love Is Better Than Ever

    Love Is Better Than Ever

    6.1 1952 HD

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  • 1949
    imgFilms

    Je chante pour vous

    Je chante pour vous

    6 1949 HD

    Al Jolson est un chanteur dont la santé chancelle. Il doit accepter l'abandon des planches, après une téméraire tentative...

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  • 1947
    imgFilms

    L'Étoile des étoiles

    L'Étoile des étoiles

    6 1947 HD

    Alors que Danny Miller prépare un spectacle musical autour de la mythologie grecque, la muse de la danse Terpsichore reçoit...

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Alias Boston Blackie

    Alias Boston Blackie

    5.5 1942 HD

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  • 1945
    imgFilms

    Counter-Attack

    Counter-Attack

    6 1945 HD

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  • 1946
    imgFilms

    Les indomptés

    Les indomptés

    5.8 1946 HD

    Une femme préfère épouser un bandit plutôt qu'un brave homme.

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  • 1944
    imgFilms

    The Black Parachute

    The Black Parachute

    5.5 1944 HD

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  • 1950
    imgFilms

    Emergency Wedding

    Emergency Wedding

    5.5 1950 HD

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  • 1943
    imgFilms

    Reveille with Beverly

    Reveille with Beverly

    7 1943 HD

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  • 1948
    imgFilms

    The Gallant Blade

    The Gallant Blade

    6 1948 HD

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  • 1948
    imgFilms

    Le Manoir de la Haine

    Le Manoir de la Haine

    1 1948 HD

    A la fin du XVIIe siècle, en Écosse, Alexander et Barbara s'aiment, mais leurs familles se haïssent...

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  • 1941
    imgFilms

    Mystery Ship

    Mystery Ship

    1 1941 HD

    Deux agents du FBI, Allan Harper et Tommy Baker ont en charge un groupe de subversifs, d'espions et de saboteurs que le gouvernement américain...

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  • 1943
    imgFilms

    Destroyer

    Destroyer

    6.6 1943 HD

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  • 1943
    imgFilms

    Power of the Press

    Power of the Press

    6.2 1943 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Atlantic Convoy

    Atlantic Convoy

    5.3 1942 HD

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  • 1944
    imgFilms

    The Racket Man

    The Racket Man

    6 1944 HD

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  • 1944
    imgFilms

    She's a Sweetheart

    She's a Sweetheart

    1 1944 HD

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  • 1944
    imgFilms

    Sergeant Mike

    Sergeant Mike

    5 1944 HD

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  • 1943
    imgFilms

    Is Everybody Happy?

    Is Everybody Happy?

    1 1943 HD

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  • 1943
    imgFilms

    The Deerslayer

    The Deerslayer

    7 1943 HD

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  • 1955
    imgFilms

    Tiger by the Tail

    Tiger by the Tail

    5.6 1955 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Canal Zone

    Canal Zone

    5.5 1942 HD

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  • 1944
    imgFilms

    Stars on Parade

    Stars on Parade

    1 1944 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Ô toi ma charmante

    Ô toi ma charmante

    7.1 1942 HD

    En Argentine, à Buenos Aires, un danseur originaire de New York se voit offrir l'opportunité de se produire à un mariage. Une...

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  • 1941
    imgFilms

    Honolulu Lu

    Honolulu Lu

    4.2 1941 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Hello, Annapolis

    Hello, Annapolis

    10 1942 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    North of the Rockies

    North of the Rockies

    1 1942 HD

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  • 1941
    imgFilms

    Three Girls About Town

    Three Girls About Town

    5.3 1941 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    Submarine Raider

    Submarine Raider

    5 1942 HD

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  • 1941
    imgFilms

    Harvard Here I Come

    Harvard Here I Come

    5 1941 HD

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  • 1944
    imgFilms

    Hey, Rookie

    Hey, Rookie

    1 1944 HD

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  • 1941
    imgFilms

    Harmon of Michigan

    Harmon of Michigan

    1 1941 HD

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  • 1999
    imgFilms

    The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues

    The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues

    5.5 1999 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    They All Kissed the Bride

    They All Kissed the Bride

    5.8 1942 HD

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  • 1942
    imgFilms

    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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