Parker Jacobs

Parker LeGrand Jacobs (born July 17, 1975) is an American artist, musician, author and actor. He is known for his work as an art director on the children's television series Yo Gabba Gabba!, for which he has been nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, as well as for his involvement with the Californian bands GOGO13, The Aquabats and The Sandfleas.

Biography Early life Parker LeGrand Jacobs was born in Ogden, Utah in 1975, the third child born into a LDS family. His middle name is in honor of his great-grandfather, prominent Latter-day Saint leader LeGrand Richards. Following his family's relocation to California in 1976, Jacobs – like his older siblings Christian and Rachel and younger brother Tyler – worked as a child actor, appearing in numerous commercials and television shows in his preadolescence. His most notable acting work included a starring role on the sitcom The Cavanaughs, in which he appeared in every episode during the series' run from 1986 to 1989, and as the recurring character "Purdle the Turtle" on The Wonder Years. Jacobs retired from show business in 1991, and shortly thereafter moved from California to St. George, Utah with family members.

While living in St. George, Jacobs formed the ska band GOGO13 with his brother Tyler in 1993, where he assumed the role of co-lead singer and songwriter. Though GOGO13 became a notable local success, the original incarnation of the band lasted just under a year until Jacobs left Utah in 1994 to serve his mission for the LDS Church, spending two years in West Virginia. Most visibly, however, Jacobs played the role of "The Professor" in The Aquabats' music videos and stage shows, taking part in the band's onstage skits and occasionally supplying backing vocals. In addition to designing the company's products, Jacobs was notable for writing and illustrating the company's very first children's book, Only in Dreams: A Bedtime Story, featuring the Paul Frank mascot Julius the Monkey. In 2005, he briefly worked with Josh Agel, the artist better known as Shag, to help develop a clothing line which never came to fruition. His various titles on Yo Gabba Gabba! have included character design, animation direction, set design, color styling, writing, composing, voiceovers, art direction and costume design, the latter two of which earned him three nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award. In the September 22, 2008 episode "Birthdays", Jacobs made an on-camera appearance in the "Cool Tricks" segment, showcasing his affinity for baking birthday cakes.

Jacobs served as a "creative consultant" for both seasons of The Aquabats' live-action television series The Aquabats! Super Show!, contributing ideas and bits of writing to each episode between his work as art director on Yo Gabba Gabba!. Mealticket – Misconceptions (1996) The Insyderz – Skalleluia! (1998) The Insyderz – Skalleluia Too! (1999) Digital Unicorn – Theirs Travel Began and Loaded the Dream (2001) The Insyderz – The Greatest and Rarest (2001) Lederhosen Lucil – Tales from the Pantry (2003) The Vandals – Internet Dating Superstuds (2003) Josh Wink – When a Banana Was Just a Banana (2009) + Remixed and Repeeled (2010) Yo Gabba Gabba! – Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 3 (2011) Yo Gabba Gabba! – Music Is...Awesome!, Vol. 4 (2012) Lone Raspberry – Children Of The Horn (2012) Yo Gabba Gabba! – A Very Awesome Yo Gabba Gabba Christmas, (2024)

Filmography

Acting Year Title Role Notes 1982 Scamps Jinx Unsold TV pilot1983 Trapper John, M.D. 1st Boy Episode: "Eternally Yours" Charles in Charge Max Shrimner Episode: "Friends & Lovers" E/R Alan Turner Episode: "Both Sides Now"1985 The Jeffersons Johnny Episode: "Sayonara: Part 2" Simon & Simon Little Boy Episode: "The Third Eye"1986 A Fighting Choice Harvey Taylor Made for TV movie My Town Tug Wheeler Made for TV movie Amazing Stories John Willson Episode: "Welcome to My Nightmare" 1986–1989 The Cavanaughs John Cavanaugh Series regular 1987 Valerie's Family: The Hogans Nick Avery Episode: "Liars and Other Strangers"1988 My Sister Sam Episode: "Grand Prize" The Wrong Guys Kid Glen Feature film 1989–1991 The Wonder Years Purdle the Turtle Recurring character 1998 The Aquabats! The Professor TV pilot 1999 The Aquabats! In Color! Professor Monty Corndog TV pilot 2003 Serious Awesomeness! The Professor2008 Yo Gabba Gabba! Himself Episode: "Birthday" – segment: "Cool Tricks" The Up Beat: A Documentary on Utah Ska Himself Documentary film

Production Year Title Role 1999 The Aquabats! In Color! Graphics 2007–present Yo Gabba Gabba! Art director, character design, animation, composing 2012–2014 The Aquabats! Super Show! Creative consultant