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Horror Legend Michael Parks Dead at 77

We’re incredibly sad to report today that actor/singer Michael Parks, who most recently owned the screen in Kevin Smith’s Red State and Tusk, has just passed away at the age of 77.

Younger audiences may remember Michael Parks from his work with Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith, but his acting career dates back all the way to 1960, beginning with two appearances on the TV series “Zane Grey Theater.” Parks popped up in countless TV shows throughout the ’60s, making his film debut as the title character in 1965’s Bus Riley’s Back in Town. On the small screen, he’s perhaps most known for playing the free spirited Jim Bronson in the TV series “Then Came Bronson,” which aired for just one season between 1969 and 1970.

Michael Parks as Earl McGraw in ‘From Dusk Till Dawn’

Into the ’70s and ’80s, Michael Parks starred in Between Friends, “Baretta,” “Fantasy Island,” Dial M for Murder and The Return of Josey Wales, and he later played Jean Renault in David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks.” But Parks was introduced to an entirely new generation when he played Texas Ranger Earl McGraw in From Dusk Till Dawn, a memorable role he reprised in both Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2, as well as in Grindhouse films Planet Terror and Death Proof – Quentin Tarantino has stated on the record that Parks was the greatest living actor of his time.

Parks’ more recent appearances were in the films The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Argo, We Are What We Are, and the aforementioned Red State and Tusk. Kevin Smith paid tribute to his friend on Facebook today, echoing Tarantino’s sentiments:

I hate to report that my cinematic muse Michael Parks has passed away. Michael was, and will likely forever remain, the best actor I’ve ever known. I wrote both Red State and Tusk FOR Parks, I loved his acting so much. He was, hands-down, the most incredible thespian I ever had the pleasure to watch perform. And Parks brought out the absolute best in me every time he got near my set. From the moment I saw him steal the opening scene of From Dusk Till Dawn at an advance screening at the Sunset 5 back in the mid-90’s, I said to Scott Mosier, “Could you imagine what it must be like to work with a Yoda of acting like that guy? I gotta write for him one day.” It took me 15 years but my dream came true on Red State – for which Parks won Best Actor at the Sitges Film Festival – and then again years later with Tusk.

Only Michael Parks could have delivered the line “Is man indeed a walrus at heart?” and make it scary as fuck. My favorite memory of Michael is watching him and Johnny Depp act with and at each other, like a couple of dueling wizards, in their shared scene in Tusk. Parks was in Heaven that day, sharing the screen with another brilliant actor and creating an unforgettable performance. He elevated any flick or TV show he was in and elevated every director he ever acted for. I was so fucking blessed to have worked with this bonafide genius. But really, I was just lucky to have known him at all.

My heart goes out to James (Michael’s son), Oriana (Michael’s wife), Quentin Tarantino (Michael’s biggest fan) and any movie or music lover who was ever dazzled by the talents of Michael Parks. Farewell, old friend. I’ll see you farther along…

All of us here on BD send our deepest condolences to Parks’ family and friends.

Michael Parks in Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’

Year Title Role Notes
1965 Wild Seed Fargo
Bus Riley’s Back in Town Bus Riley
1966 The Bible: In the Beginning Adam
The Idol Marco
1967 The Happening Sureshot
Stranger on the Run Vincent McKay
1973 Between Friends Tony
1976 The Last Hard Men Noel Nye
The Savage Bees Dr. Jeff DuRand
1977 Murder at the World Series Larry Marshall
Escape from Bogen County Jack Kern
Sidewinder 1 J.W. Wyatt
The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover Robert F. Kennedy
1978 Love and the Midnight Auto Supply Duke
Rainbow Roger Edens
1979 The Evictors Ben Watkins
Breakthrough Sgt. Anderson
North Sea Hijack Harold Shulman
1981 Hard Country Royce
1982 Savannah Smiles Lt. Savage
1986 The Return of Josey Wales Josey Wales Director
1988 Arizona Heat Larry Kapinski
1989 Nightmare Beach Doc Willet
Caged Fury Mr. Collins Associate producer
1990 The China Lake Murders Officer Donnelly
1991 The Hitman Det. Ronny “Del” Delany
1994 Death Wish V: The Face of Death Tommy O’Shea
1996 From Dusk till Dawn Earl McGraw
1997 Niagara, Niagara Walter
Deceiver Dr. Banyard
1998 Wicked Det. Boland
1999 Bullfighter Cordobes
2000 From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter Ambrose Bierce
2003 Kill Bill: Volume 1 Earl McGraw
2004 Kill Bill: Volume 2 Esteban Vihaio
2006 The Listening James Wagley
2007 Grindhouse Earl McGraw Segments: Planet Terror / Death Proof
El Muerto Sheriff Stone
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Henry Craig
2008 Noble Things Pete Collins
2010 Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball Fritz Tremor
2011 Red State Pastor Abin Cooper
2012 Argo Jack Kirby
Django Unchained LeQuint Dickey Mining Co. Employee
2013 We Are What We Are Doc Barrow
2014 Tusk Howard Howe
2016 Sex Me Up
Blood Father Preacher
Greater Leo
2017 Hostiles Filming

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Skip Baxter Episode: “The Cadaver”
1961 The Law and Mr. Jones Mike Enslow Episode: “One by One”
The Asphalt Jungle Ty Episode: “The Sniper”
Straightaway Episode: “Pledge a Nightmare”
1962 Gunsmoke Park Episode: “The Boys”
Target: The Corruptors Rocky Kustak Episode: “Nobody Gets Hurt”
Stoney Burke Tack Reynolds Episode: “The Mob Riders”
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Dr. Daniel Dana Episode: “Diagnosis: Danger”
The Greatest Show on Earth Cristos Episode: “The Hanging Man”
Perry Mason Cal Leonard Episode: “The Case of the Constant Doyle”
Arrest and Trial Gregory Wade Episode: “We May Be Better Strangers”
1963–1964 Channing Dante Donati 2 episodes
1964 Route 66 Tank Episode: “Cries of Persons Close to One”
1969–1970 Then Came Bronson Jim Bronson 26 episodes
1986–1988 The Equalizer 2 episodes
1990–1991 Twin Peaks Jean Renault 5 episodes
1996-1999 Walker Texas Ranger Major Caleb Hooks 2 episodes

Bloody Disgusting