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IMDbPro

Van Dyke Parks

  • Composer
  • Music Department
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Van Dyke Parks
Walk a million miles in the boots of one of America's last great troubadours as follow his journey from the chilly suburbs of Buffalo, New York, to his formative experiences with punk band The Nerves and L.A. power pop legends The Plimsouls, to his decades-long, Grammy-nominated solo career.
Play trailer2:28
Peter Case: A Million Miles Away (2023)
2 Videos
6 Photos
Van Dyke Parks was born on 3 January 1943 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for The Brave Little Toaster (1987), The Departed (2006) and Heathers (1989).
BornJanuary 3, 1943
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 3, 1943
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 5 nominations total

    Photos5

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    Known for

    Jon Lovitz, Timothy E. Day, Deanna Oliver, Thurl Ravenscroft, and Timothy Stack in The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
    The Brave Little Toaster
    7.2
    • Music Department(music and lyrics by)
    • 1987
    Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Matt Damon in The Departed (2006)
    The Departed
    8.5
    • Soundtrack("Sail On, Sailor")
    • 2006
    Winona Ryder and Christian Slater in Heathers (1989)
    Heathers
    7.1
    • Soundtrack("Que Sera, Sera")
    • 1989
    The Jungle Book (1967)
    The Jungle Book
    7.6
    • Soundtrack("The Bare Necessities" (1967))
    • 1967

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Composer

    • Music Man Murray (2011)
      Music Man Murray
      8.0
      Short
      • Composer
      • 2011
    • Dark Matter (2007)
      Dark Matter
      6.0
      • Composer
      • 2007
    • Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church in Broken Trail (2006)
      Broken Trail
      7.7
      TV Mini Series
      • Composer
      • 2006
    • Brian Wilson Presents Smile (2005)
      Brian Wilson Presents Smile
      8.3
      • Composer
      • 2005
    • The Company (2003)
      The Company
      6.2
      • Composer
      • 2003
    • Stuart Little (2003)
      Stuart Little
      4.6
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 2003
    • Charms for the Easy Life (2002)
      Charms for the Easy Life
      6.8
      TV Movie
      • Composer
      • 2002
    • Skyler Day and Bill Butler in The Adventures of Ociee Nash (2002)
      The Adventures of Ociee Nash
      6.1
      • Composer
      • 2002
    • Gil Bellows and Courtney B. Vance in Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story (2002)
      Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story
      7.1
      TV Movie
      • Composer
      • 2002
    • Harold and the Purple Crayon (2001)
      Harold and the Purple Crayon
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 2002
    • John Turturro and Brad Beyer in Monday Night Mayhem (2002)
      Monday Night Mayhem
      6.6
      TV Movie
      • Composer (original music by)
      • 2002
    • Call Me Claus (2001)
      Call Me Claus
      5.4
      TV Movie
      • Composer
      • 2001
    • In the Time of the Butterflies (2001)
      In the Time of the Butterflies
      6.6
      TV Movie
      • Composer
      • 2001
    • The Ponder Heart (2001)
      The Ponder Heart
      6.7
      TV Movie
      • Composer
      • 2001
    • Holly Hunter and Stellan Skarsgård in Harlan County War (2000)
      Harlan County War
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • Composer
      • 2000

    Music Department

    • Harold and the Purple Crayon (2001)
      Harold and the Purple Crayon
      7.7
      TV Series
      • songs: produced and arranged by
      • 2001–2002
    • My Dog Skip (2000)
      My Dog Skip
      7.0
      • composer: additional music
      • 2000
    • David Joyner and Bob West in Barney's Great Adventure (1998)
      Barney's Great Adventure
      3.3
      • songs arranged by (uncredited)
      • 1998
    • Jeff Fahey in The Marshal (1995)
      The Marshal
      7.1
      TV Series
      • composer: theme music
      • 1995
    • Jeff Bridges in Wild Bill (1995)
      Wild Bill
      5.8
      • music arranger: songs
      • 1995
    • Shelley Duvall in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990)
      Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
      7.4
      TV Movie
      • songwriter
      • 1990
    • Jon Lovitz, Timothy E. Day, Deanna Oliver, Thurl Ravenscroft, and Timothy Stack in The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
      The Brave Little Toaster
      7.2
      • songs: music and lyrics by
      • 1987
    • Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny Glover, Steve Guttenberg, Shelley Duvall, Elliott Gould, Martin Short, and Michael York in Tall Tales & Legends (1985)
      Tall Tales & Legends
      7.1
      TV Series
      • composer: additional music
      • 1986
    • Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
      Faerie Tale Theatre
      8.3
      TV Series
      • musical director
      • music consultant
      • 1982–1984
    • Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, and Wesley Ivan Hurt in Popeye (1980)
      Popeye
      5.4
      • arranger: songs
      • conductor: songs
      • 1980

    Actor

    • Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth Perkins in He Said, She Said (1991)
      He Said, She Said
      5.7
      • Priest
      • 1991
    • Twin Peaks (1990)
      Twin Peaks
      8.7
      TV Series
      • Jack Racine
      • 1990
    • Jack Nicholson in The Two Jakes (1990)
      The Two Jakes
      6.1
      • Francis Hannah
      • 1990
    • Shelley Duvall in Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990)
      Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
      7.4
      TV Movie
      • Minister of Merriment
      • 1990
    • Jeff Goldblum and Cyndi Lauper in Vibes (1988)
      Vibes
      5.7
      • Dr. Weiner
      • 1988
    • Ry Cooder in Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm (1988)
      Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm
      6.1
      Music Video
      • Piano
      • 1988
    • Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)
      Faerie Tale Theatre
      8.3
      TV Series
      • The Musician
      • 1982
    • Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, and Wesley Ivan Hurt in Popeye (1980)
      Popeye
      5.4
      • Hoagy - The Piano Player
      • 1980
    • Coming Attractions (1978)
      Coming Attractions
      4.6
      • Indian #2
      • 1978
    • Brenner (1959)
      Brenner
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Jay Joplin
      • 1959
    • A Gift for Heidi (1958)
      A Gift for Heidi
      4.6
      • Peter
      • 1958
    • The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (1956)
      The Kaiser Aluminum Hour
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Boy
      • Bobby
      • 1956–1957
    • Ronald Reagan in General Electric Theater (1953)
      General Electric Theater
      6.7
      TV Series
      • Horace
      • 1956
    • Star Tonight (1955)
      Star Tonight
      7.9
      TV Series
      • 1956
    • The Swan (1956)
      The Swan
      6.4
      • George
      • 1956

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:28
    Official Trailer
    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:48
    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:48
    Trailer [OV]

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 5′ 6″ (1.68 m)
    • Born
      • January 3, 1943
      • Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
    • Spouse
      • Sally Parks
    • Relatives
      • Rick Parks(Niece or Nephew)
    • Other works
      Albums: Song Cycle Discover America Clang of the Yankee Reaper Jump! Tokyo Rose Orange Crate Art (w/ Brian Wilson)
    • Publicity listings
      • 2 Portrayals

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Spent the late 60s to early 70s as a songwriting partner to Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Their songs together included "Cabinessence" and "Surf's Up", and it was also Parks's idea to include an upfront cello on "Good Vibrations" (written by Wilson with cousin Mike Love.)
    • Quotes
      "I have no excuse, sir." (to Mike Love, during the "Smile" album sessions, when asked to explain obscure lyrics like "Columnated ruins domino")
    • Trademark
        His verbose, metaphoric, humorist style of writing and speaking

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