Michael Parks

Actor Michael Parks was a relatively obscure but intriguing talent who might have been forgotten following prime time turns in "Then Came Bronson" (ABC, 1969-70) and "The Colbys" (ABC, 1985-87) had he not been "unearthed" by directors like David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith in the 1990s and 2000s. Straddling an awkward era between edgy method actors of the 1950s and anti-establishment icons of the 1960s, Parks had difficulty finding roles that showcased his unique, charismatic talent and, combined with his disinterest in Hollywood positioning, meant he was often relegated to B-movies. Beginning in the 1990s, he enjoyed a string of more artistic endeavors in projects like "Twin Peaks" (ABC, 1990-91), "Kill Bill" (2003), "Argo" (2012) and "Tusk" (2014). His death on May 9, 2017 at the age of 77 was mourned by fans of all phases of his long and varied career. .