Samuel Klausman Lawrence Parks (December 13, 1914 â€" April 13, 1975)
was an American stage and movie actor. His career arced from bit
player and supporting roles to top billing, before it was virtually
ended when he admitted to having once been a member of a Communist
Party cell, which led to his blacklisting by all Hollywood studios.
His best known role was Al Jolson, whom he portrayed in two films: The
Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson Sings Again (1949).Parks was born in
Olathe, Kansas, the son of Nellie (Klausman) and Frank H. Parks. He
was raised in Joliet, Illinois, and graduated from Joliet Township
High School in 1932.He attended the University of Illinois as a
pre-med student, and played in stock companies for a few years. He
went to Hollywood at the suggestion of John Garfield who said a part
in a Warner Bros film called Mama Ravioli was being held for him. The
movie was cancelled but Parks wound up signing a movie contract with
Columbia Pictures in 1941.
was an American stage and movie actor. His career arced from bit
player and supporting roles to top billing, before it was virtually
ended when he admitted to having once been a member of a Communist
Party cell, which led to his blacklisting by all Hollywood studios.
His best known role was Al Jolson, whom he portrayed in two films: The
Jolson Story (1946) and Jolson Sings Again (1949).Parks was born in
Olathe, Kansas, the son of Nellie (Klausman) and Frank H. Parks. He
was raised in Joliet, Illinois, and graduated from Joliet Township
High School in 1932.He attended the University of Illinois as a
pre-med student, and played in stock companies for a few years. He
went to Hollywood at the suggestion of John Garfield who said a part
in a Warner Bros film called Mama Ravioli was being held for him. The
movie was cancelled but Parks wound up signing a movie contract with
Columbia Pictures in 1941.
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