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The character actor Michael Parks, whose career spanned film, television and music, died yesterday. Cause of death is not known at this time. He was 77.<\/p>\nThe character actor Michael Parks, whose career spanned film, television and music, died yesterday. Cause of death is not known at this time. He was 77.<\/p>\n
Parks got his start in television, playing bit parts in shows like The Untouchables<\/strong>, The Real McCoys<\/strong>, Gunsmoke <\/strong>, Route 66, 77 Sunset Strip<\/strong>, Perry Mason <\/strong>and Ben Casey<\/strong>. His career in film started shortly after with 1965’s Wild Seed <\/strong>and Bus Reilly’s Back In Town<\/strong>.<\/p>\n In 1969, Parks was cast in the lead of Then Came Bronson<\/strong>, a NBC\u00a0television about a disillusioned journalist travelling America via motorcycle in order to find himself. The show ran for 27 episodes from 1969 to 1970, and Parks sang the theme song, which became a hit on the Billboard charts, leading to a musical career for the actor. He would record five albums between 1969 and 1981.<\/p>\n By the late 1980’s Parks acting career had come to him appearing in B-movies like 1989’s Nightmare Beach <\/strong>and Caged Fury<\/strong> and in recurring roles on The Colbys <\/strong>and Twin Peaks<\/strong>. However, Parks had a number of fans in Hollywood who would help his film career\u00a0undergo a\u00a0resurgence.<\/p>\n Robert Rodriguez would cast him in the Quentin Tarantino scripted From Dusk till Dawn <\/strong>as Texas Ranger Earl McGraw. Parks would reprise the character four more times for Rodriguez and\/or Tarantino in Kill Bill: Vol\u00a01<\/strong>, Kill Bill: Vol 2<\/strong>, and in both installments of Grindhouse<\/strong>—Planet Terror <\/strong>and Death Proof<\/strong>. Tarantino would also cast him as a separate character in Kill Bill 2<\/strong> and as a mining company employee in Django Unchained<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A heartfelt farewell to the one and only Michael Parks. A very kind man and a true legend. pic.twitter.com\/OsKTfZFiS2<\/a><\/p>\n — Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez) May 10, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n