Michael Parks

Michael Parks (born Harry Samuel Parks; April 24, 1940 – May 9, 2017) was an American singer and actor who made numerous film and television appearances, starring in the 1969–1970 series Then Came Bronson. He was widely known for his work in his later years with filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and Kevin Smith.

Early life Parks was born in Corona, California to Harry Arthur Parks and Beatrice Adora Dunwoody. He drifted from job to job during his teen years, including picking fruit, digging ditches, driving trucks, and fighting forest fires. He gained recognition in the role of Adam in John Huston's The Bible: In the Beginning... (1966).

Parks was the star of the series Then Came Bronson from 1969 to 1970, in which he rode an iconic red Harley-Davidson Sportster, as he drifted from town to town. He sang "Wayfarin' Stranger", a duet with pilot episode co-star Bonnie Bedelia, and later the theme song for the show, "Long Lonesome Highway", which became a number-20 Billboard Hot 100 and number-41 Hot Country Songs hit. "Long Lonesome Highway" also peaked at number 84 in Australia.

Parks recorded five albums under MGM Records (the label of the studio that produced the series) that charted including Closing The Gap (1969), Long Lonesome Highway (1970), and Blue. Parks admitted he could be "difficult on the set" and also said he objected to producers wanting to make the series more violent. After the cancellation of Bronson, Parks did not work in a major Hollywood production for several years, but he had regular small roles in independent or Canadian features throughout the 1970s, such as Between Friends (1973), although director Donald Shebib had trouble dealing with Parks, describing him as a "terrific actor in a lot of ways, but weird". Later in the same interview, Shebib accused Parks of having been openly and aggressively antisemitic, and suggested that this probably hurt his career in Hollywood.

He played in 12 episodes of ABC's The Colbys, a spin-off from Dynasty, first as Hoyt Parker, and then Phillip Colby during the second season (1986–1987). He appeared as Irish mob boss Tommy O'Shea in Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994), French-Canadian drug runner Jean Renault in the ABC television series Twin Peaks, Dr. Banyard in Deceiver (1997), Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in From Dusk till Dawn (1996), and Ambrose Bierce in From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (2000).

Parks played two roles in the Kill Bill film series, reprising the role of Earl McGraw in the first film (2003) and playing pimp Esteban Vihaio in the second film (2004). He again reprised the role of Earl McGraw in both segments of the film Grindhouse (2007), making his fourth appearance as the Texas Ranger. His son, James Parks, played the son of Earl McGraw in Kill Bill, From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money, Death Proof, and Planet Terror. Parks played a villain in Kevin Smith's horror films Red State (2011) and Tusk (2014). His second marriage in 1964 to actress Jan Moriarty lasted only a few months, ending with her apparent suicide from an overdose. His third marriage in 1968 to Carolyn Kay Carson produced a son, actor James Parks.

Upon hearing the news, director Kevin Smith posted on his Instagram account, "Michael was, and will likely forever remain, the best actor I've ever known. I wrote both Red State and Tusk for Parks, I loved his acting so much." He also included, "He was, hands-down, the most incredible thespian I ever had the pleasure to watch perform. And Parks brought out the absolute best in me every time he got near my set." In a Twitter post, director Robert Rodriguez referred to Michael Parks as "a true legend".

Documentary Kevin Smith produced a documentary on the life and times of Michael Parks, directed by Michael's former assistant, Josh Roush. Titled Long Lonesome Highway, it covers his beginnings as an itinerant teenager hopping boxcars through being blacklisted in Hollywood, to his career resurgence at the hands of filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino. It features interviews with James Parks, Kurt Russell, Haley Joel Osment, Robert Rodriguez, Leonard Maltin, Mickey Rourke, Justin Long, Wyatt Russell, Mark Frost, and others.

Filmography Film

Year Title Role Notes 1965 Wild Seed Fargo Bus Riley's Back in Town Bus Riley 1966 The Bible: In the Beginning... Adam The Idol Marco 1967 The Happening 'Sureshot' Stranger on the Run Vincent McKay 1973 Between Friends Tony 1976 The Last Hard Men Sheriff Noel Nye The Savage Bees Dr. Jeff DuRand 1977 Murder at the World Series Larry Marshall Escape from Bogen County Jack Kern Sidewinder 1 J.W. Wyatt The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover Robert F. Kennedy 1978 Love and the Midnight Auto Supply 'Duke' Rainbow Roger Edens 1979 The Evictors Ben Watkins Breakthrough Sergeant Anderson 1980 North Sea Hijack Harold Shulman 1981 Hard Country Royce 1982 Savannah Smiles Lieutenant Savage 1986 The Return of Josey Wales Josey Wales Also director Spiker Coach Doames 1988 Arizona Heat Larry Kapinski Nightmare Beach 'Doc' Willet 1989 Caged Fury Mr. Collins Also associate producer Prime Suspect Bill Nevins 1991 The Hitman Detective Ronny 'Del' Delany 1992 Storyville Detective Michael Trevllian 1993 Over the Line Pearlmutter 1994 Death Wish V: The Face of Death Tommy O'Shea Stranger by Night Detective Larson Direct-to-video 1995 Sorceress Stan Direct-to-video 1996 From Dusk till Dawn Texas Ranger Earl McGraw 1997 Niagara, Niagara Walter Deceiver Dr. Banyard Julian Po Vern 1998 Wicked Detective Boland 1999 From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter Ambrose Bierce Direct-to-video 2000 Bullfighter Cordobes 2001 Big Bad Love Mr. Aaron 2002 13 Moons Bartender 2003 Kill Bill: Volume 1 Texas Ranger Earl McGraw The Librarians William Clark 2004 Kill Bill: Volume 2 Esteban Vihaio 2005 Miracle at Sage Creek Justice Stanley 2006 The Listening James Wagley 2007 Grindhouse Texas Ranger Earl McGraw Segments: Planet Terror / Death Proof El Muerto Sheriff Stone The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Henry Craig 2008 Noble Things Pete Collins Maidenhead Dad Three Priests Jacob2010 Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball Fritz Tremor Direct-to-DVD Street Poet Benny 2011 Red State Pastor Abin Cooper 2012 Argo Jack Kirby Django Unchained LeQuint Dickey Mining Company Employee 2013 We Are What We Are 'Doc' Barrow 2014 Tusk Howard Howe 2016 Blood Father Tom 'Preacher' Parker Greater Leo 2020 The Queen of Hollywood Blvd. Chet Fuller Posthumous release

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1960–1961 Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Juanito / Younger Prisoner Episode: "Ransom", "The Scar" 1961 The Law and Mr. Jones Mike Enslow Episode: "One by One" The Asphalt Jungle Ty Episode: "The Sniper" Straightaway Donald Stafford Episode: "Pledge a Nightmare" The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor Johnny Blaine / Eddy Washburn / Jimmy Episodes: "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt", "Personal Enemy", "The Frightened Ones" 1962 Gunsmoke Park Episode: "The Boys" Target: The Corruptors! 'Rocky' Kustak Episode: "Nobody Gets Hurt" Stoney Burke 'Tack' Reynolds Episode: "The Mob Riders" The Real McCoys Tom Episode: "George's Nephew" Bus Stop Unknown Episode: "The Opposite Virtues" Sam Benedict Larry Wilcox Episode: "Too Many Strangers" The Gallant Men Billy Ray Medford Episode: "A Place to Die" 1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Dr. Daniel Dana Season 1 Episode 22: "Diagnosis: Danger" The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Skip Baxter Season 2 Episode 8: "The Cadaver" The Greatest Show on Earth Cristos Episode: "The Hanging Man" Perry Mason Cal Leonard Episode: "The Case of Constant Doyle" Arrest and Trial Gregory Wade Episode: "We May Be Better Strangers" 77 Sunset Strip Eddie Marco Episode: "Crash Out!" 1963–1964 Channing Dante Donati 2 episodes Wagon Train Hamish Browne / Michael Malone Episodes: "The Heather and Hamish Story", "The Michael Malone Story" 1964 Route 66 'Tank' Episode: "Cries of Persons Close to One" 1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Lieutenant Colonel Burt Engle Episode: "A Time for Killing" 1969–1970 Then Came Bronson Jim Bronson Lead role, 26 episodes; a feature-length pilot was released theatrically in some European countries 1970 The Johnny Cash Show Himself Singing 1973 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Ollie Gregson Episode: "Sometimes Tough Is Good" Medical Center Dr. Chris Wells Episode: "Fatal Memory" 1974 Ironside Professor Riley MacDane Episode: "A Death in Academe" 1975 The Rookies Crilen Episode: "One-Way Street to Nowhere" 1976 Ellery Queen Terry Purvis Episode: "The Adventure of the Wary Witness" 1978 Hunters Of The Reef Jim Spanner Television film 1979 Fantasy Island Convict pen pal to paraplegic Toni Tennille Espisode: "The Comic"; "Golden Hour" 1981 Dial M for Murder Max Television film 1986 The Equalizer Logan Episode: "Nocturne" 1987 The Colbys Phillip Colby 12 episodes 1988 The Equalizer Jonathan Grey Episode: "Target of Choice" 1989 Murder, She Wrote Ben Aaron Episode: "Prediction: Murder" War of the Worlds 'Cash' McCullough Episode: "My Soul to Keep" Billy the Kid Rynerson Television film 1990 The China Lake Murders Officer Jack Donnelly Television film 1990–1991 Twin Peaks Jean Renault 5 episodes 1991 Shades of L.A. Reverend James Scarborough 2 episodes 1993 SeaQuest 2032 George Le Chein Episode: "To Be or Not To Be" 1993 The Untouchables Dean 'Dion' O'BanionPilot episode, billed as guest star 1996 Hart to Hart Evan Powell Episode: "Secrets of the Hart" 1996–1999 Walker, Texas Ranger Major Caleb Hooks 2 episodes

Discography

Albums 1969 – Closing The Gap (MGM) 1970 – Long Lonesome Highway (MGM) (#27 CAN) 1970 – Blue (MGM) 1970 – Lost & Found (Verve) 1971 – Best Of Michael Parks (MGM) 1981 – You Don't Know Me (First American) 1998 – Coolin' Soup (Listen) 2011 – The Red State Sessions (SModcast)

Singles 1969 – Tie Me To Your Apron Strings Again / Won't You Ride in My Little Red Wagon (MGM K14092) #117 Billboard's Bubbling Under chart 1970 – Long Lonesome Highway / Mountain High (MGM K14104) #20 Billboard's Hot 100 chart, #41 Billboard's Country Singles; #11 Canada Top 100, #17 Canada AC 1970 – Sally (Was A Gentle Woman) / Spend A Little, Save A Little (Give A Little Away) (MGM K14154) 1970 – Big "T" Water / Won't You Ride in My Little Red Wagon (MGM K14363) 1970 – I Was Born In Kentucky / Turn Around Little Mama (Verve VK10653)