20 Facts About Michael Parks

Michael Parks was widely known for his work in his later years with filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, and Kevin Smith.

In 1961, Parks portrayed the nephew of the character George MacMichael on the ABC sitcom The Real McCoys.

Michael Parks appeared as Cal Leonard in the 1963 Perry Mason episode "The Case of Constant Doyle", in which Bette Davis played Constant Doyle.

Michael Parks gained recognition in the role of Adam in John Huston's The Bible: In the Beginning.

Michael 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.

Michael Parks 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 No 20 Billboard Hot 100 and No 41 Hot Country Songs hit.

Michael Parks recorded five albums under MGM Records that charted including Closing The Gap, Long Lonesome Highway, and Blue.

Michael Parks admitted he could be "difficult on the set" and said he objected to producers wanting to make the series more violent.

Later in the same interview, Shebib accuses Michael Parks of having been openly and aggressively anti-semitic.

Michael Parks played in twelve episodes of ABC's The Colbys, a spin-off from Dynasty, first as Hoyt Parker, and then Phillip Colby during the second season.

Michael Parks appeared as Irish mob boss Tommy O'Shea in Death Wish V: The Face of Death, French-Canadian drug runner Jean Renault in the ABC television series Twin Peaks, Dr Banyard in Deceiver, Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in From Dusk till Dawn, and Ambrose Bierce in From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter.

Michael Parks played two roles in the Kill Bill film series, reprising the role of Earl McGraw in the first film and playing pimp Esteban Vihaio in the second film.

Michael Parks again reprised the role of Earl McGraw in both segments of the film Grindhouse, making his fourth appearance as the Texas Ranger.

Michael Parks played a villain in Kevin Smith's horror films Red State and Tusk.

Smith later announced on his podcast that Michael Parks had recorded an album during Red State production, after Smith and producer Jon Gordon noticed his singing talent during filming.

Michael Parks was born in Corona, California to Harry Arthur Michael Parks and Beatrice Adora Dunwoody.

Michael Parks drifted from job to job during his teenage years, including picking fruit, digging ditches, driving trucks, and fighting forest fires.

Michael Parks died on May 9,2017, in his Los Angeles home at the age of 77 from undisclosed causes.

Michael Parks requested a full body burial at sea, which his wife attended alone following a public funeral held at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

Kevin Smith produced a documentary on the life and times of Michael Parks, directed by Michael's former assistant, Josh Roush.