Larry Parks(1914-1975)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
When amiable Columbia Pictures actor Larry Parks was entrusted the role
of entertainer Al Jolson in the biopic
The Jolson Story (1946), his
career finally hit the big time. Within a few years, however, his
bright new world crumbled courtesy of the House Un-American Activities
Committee after the actor admitted under pressure that he was once
affiliated with the Communist Party. Although he unwillingly testified
in 1951, he was still (unofficially) blacklisted. Never-say-die Larry
managed to continue his career in years to come - both here and abroad,
on stage and in nightclubs - alongside steadfast wife
Betty Garrett. His film career, however,
literally came to a standstill and would never be the same again.
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.
He found some TV parts after the controversy died down, and Betty and
Larry were a delightful replacement for
Judy Holliday and
Sydney Chaplin on Broadway in "Bells Are
Ringing". During the many meager times, he concentrated on becoming a
successful businessman, including building apartment complexes. He made
only two more films, last playing a doctor in the
Montgomery Clift starrer
Freud (1962). By the time he died of a
heart attack on April 13, 1975, at age 60, Larry had long faded from
view. Betty, however, managed to revitalize her career on TV sitcoms
with regular roles on
All in the Family (1971),
Laverne & Shirley (1976),
and roles on numerous other TV series before passing on February 12,
2011.
of entertainer Al Jolson in the biopic
The Jolson Story (1946), his
career finally hit the big time. Within a few years, however, his
bright new world crumbled courtesy of the House Un-American Activities
Committee after the actor admitted under pressure that he was once
affiliated with the Communist Party. Although he unwillingly testified
in 1951, he was still (unofficially) blacklisted. Never-say-die Larry
managed to continue his career in years to come - both here and abroad,
on stage and in nightclubs - alongside steadfast wife
Betty Garrett. His film career, however,
literally came to a standstill and would never be the same again.
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.
He found some TV parts after the controversy died down, and Betty and
Larry were a delightful replacement for
Judy Holliday and
Sydney Chaplin on Broadway in "Bells Are
Ringing". During the many meager times, he concentrated on becoming a
successful businessman, including building apartment complexes. He made
only two more films, last playing a doctor in the
Montgomery Clift starrer
Freud (1962). By the time he died of a
heart attack on April 13, 1975, at age 60, Larry had long faded from
view. Betty, however, managed to revitalize her career on TV sitcoms
with regular roles on
All in the Family (1971),
Laverne & Shirley (1976),
and roles on numerous other TV series before passing on February 12,
2011.