17 Facts About David Ackles

David Thomas Ackles was an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and child actor.

Alternately calling to mind Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin, Robbie Robertson, Tim Hardin, and Scott Walker, David Ackles forged an utterly unique sound out of stray parts that comprise a whole that is as uncompromising as it is unrivaled.

David Ackles's family moved to Southern California, and Los Angeles became his lifelong home.

David Ackles played the character "Peanuts" in the second film in the series and the uncredited role of Roger "Tuck" Worden in the last five.

David Ackles studied English literature at the University of Southern California, spending his junior year at the University of Edinburgh, where he studied "West Saxon, the origins of the English language".

David Ackles earned a master's degree in Film Studies at USC.

David Ackles began his recording career as a staff songwriter for Jac Holzman at Elektra Records.

David Ackles's songs reflected the views of their character-narrators, many of whom were societal outcasts.

David Ackles toured with his songs when he had to, but in spite of his stage experience he was not a showman.

Taupin and David Ackles became acquainted when David Ackles was selected to be the opening act for Elton John's 1970 American debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

David Ackles used musicians from the London Symphony and a Salvation Army band chorus.

Columbia did not renew his contract and David Ackles, hurt and frustrated, did not search for another record deal.

David Ackles worked on musical theater and screenplays from the home base he shared with his wife and son, a six-acre horse farm in Tujunga, near Los Angeles.

David Ackles sold some screenplays to television; one that was broadcast was Word of Honor starring Karl Malden and Ron Silver.

David Ackles was the executive director of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives and was a part of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles.

David Ackles died of lung cancer on March 2,1999, at the age of 62.

The 1994 Elektra reissues generated modest sales and a number of praise-filled articles, which raised hopes that David Ackles was on the verge of a new career as a rediscovered cult favorite.