Michael Parks

Michael Parks is known as an actor's actor by his peers with a breadth of astonishing range that has allowed him to portray stunning contrasts--sometimes in the same film, like in Tusk (2014), starring in dual roles as an erudite serial killer opposite Justin Long, and as a feeble rube opposite Johnny Depp.

After playing Earl McGraw in the "Kill Bill" film series he reprised the role in both segments of the film Grindhouse (2007).

Played the lead, an aging, misguided NSA listener in indie thriller In ascolto (2006). [2006]

In Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004). Parks portrayed spot-on contrasting roles as Texas Ranger Earl McGraw and the heavily accented Esteban Vihaio opposite Uma Thurman. Writers/directors, including Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino, wrote roles specifically for Parks, claiming all they need to do is "turn on the camera" to elicit a masterful performance. Parks has played in more than 100 films and TV shows over a 50-year career.

Banyard in Liar (1997), Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and Ambrose Bierce in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Hangman's Daughter (1999).

He played the character of Earl McGraw in three separate films involving Quentin Tarantino: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) and Grindhouse (2007) (both Death Proof (2007) and Planet Terror (2007)).

He played the antagonist Irish mob boss Tommy O'Shea in Death Wish V: The Face of Death (1994) (1994), French-Canadian drug runner Jean Renault in the ABC television series Twin Peaks (1990), Dr.

He also starred in The China Lake Murders (1990) and Stranger by Night (1994), playing a police officer in both.

He played Philip Colby during the second season (1986-87) of ABC's Dynasty (1981) spin-off series The Colbys (1985).

Lived on a yacht in the Monterey, California, harbor in the early 1980s.

Attempted to qualify for the 1972 Olympics as a miler, running a time of 4:06.

From 1969-70 he starred in the series Then Came Bronson (1969), in which he was the only recurring character. He sang the theme song for the show, "Long Lonesome Highway", which became a #20 Billboard Hot 100 and #41 Hot Country Songs hit.

Albums he recorded under MGM Records (the label of the studio which produced the series) include "Closing The Gap" (1969)," Long Lonesome Highway" (1970) and "Blue". He also had various records of songs included on these albums.

Michael Parks was one of five siblings whose father was a baseball player. Michael's brother, Jimmy, drowned in 1968. Michael drifted from job to job in his early teens. His son, James (named for his late uncle), also became an actor.

He played Adam in John Huston's 1966 movie The Bible: In the Beginning. . .

(1966).

Marlon Brando was going to star in Wild Seed (1965), produced by Brando's father, but it was later decided that Brando was too old for the part and Parks was cast instead.

Parks' second wife, a small-part actress named Jan Moriarty, took a fatal overdose of pills in 1964, less than two months after their marriage. He was briefly married at sixteen with Louise Johnson with which he had a daughter. In 1997 he married Oriana Parks with a ceremony without any attendants.

Mark Reynolds" in The Eleventh Hour: Pressure Breakdown (1963).

His other early roles includes appearances in two NBC series: Sam Benedict: Too Many Strangers (1962) as "Larry Wilcox" and as "Dr.

He started as a contract player in 1961 with the portrayal of the nephew of the character George MacMichael on the ABC sitcom The Real McCoys - The Lost Episode (1957).