When amiable Columbia Pictures actor Larry Parks was entrusted the role of entertainer 'Al Jolson' , and roles on numerous other TV series before passing on February 12, 2011.
His movie career ended in 1951 when he was the first actor to admit that he had belonged to a Communist cell from 1941 to 1945 and was subsequently blacklisted.
Sons with Betty Garrett : composer Garrett Parks and actor Andrew Parks.
After his film career was destroyed, he found intermittent work on stage in such plays as "The Teahouse of the August Moon," "Any Wednesday" and "The Tunnel of Love." He and his wife also worked up nightclub singing/comedy acts along with appearing in legit plays. Although Parks never quite shook off the blacklist incident, he won a role in John Huston s Freud .
The only actor and movie name among the original 19 people accused by the House Un-American Activities Committee of being Communists.
Godfather of Jeff Bridges.
A graduate of UNC- Chapel Hill and attended NC State University; studied electrical engineering and physics and completed degrees in Film and Dramatic Arts. Belongs to Mensa (high IQ society).
I remember the one time Jolson visited the set, I was doing a number.
