Michael Parks

Early Life

Michael Parks was born on April 24, 1940, in Corona, California, to Harry Arthur Parks and Beatrice Adora Dunwoody. His early years were marked by a series of odd jobs, including picking fruit, digging ditches, driving trucks, and even fighting forest fires, as he drifted through his teenage years.

Career

Parks began his acting career in 1961 with a role on the ABC sitcom "The Real McCoys". He gained further recognition in the 1966 film "The Bible: In the Beginning..." and starred in the series "Then Came Bronson" from 1969 to 1970, where he rode a red Harley-Davidson Sportster and sang the theme song "Long Lonesome Highway". This song became a hit, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 41 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Parks recorded five albums under MGM Records, including "Closing The Gap" and "Blue". However, after disputes with producers, he faced challenges in Hollywood, leading to a period of limited major productions.

Personal Life

Throughout his life, Parks was married five times. His first marriage at age 16 to Louise Johnson lasted until 1958 and produced a daughter. His second marriage to actress Jan Moriarty ended tragically with her suicide. He had a son, actor James Parks, from his third marriage to Carolyn Kay Carson. His fourth marriage to Alston Fenci ended in divorce, while his final marriage to Oriana lasted until his death in 2017. Parks's personal and professional life was marked by both triumphs and struggles, reflecting the complexities of his character and career.