Van Dyke Parks

Composer
Music Department
Actor

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)

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 (1988).

More at IMDbPro

IMDbProStarmeter See rank

View contact info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
- 5 nominations total

Photos5

Known for

The Brave Little Toaster

7.2

Movie

Music Department(music and lyrics by)

1987

The Departed

8.5

Movie

Soundtrack("Sail On, Sailor")

2006

Heathers

7.1

Movie

Soundtrack("Que Sera, Sera")

1988

The Jungle Book

7.6

Movie

Soundtrack("The Bare Necessities" (1967))

1967

Credits

Edit

IMDbPro

Composer

Music Man Murray
8.0
Short
- Composer
- 2011
Dark Matter
6.0
- Composer
- 2007
Broken Trail
7.7
TV Mini Series
- Composer
- 2006
Brian Wilson Presents Smile
8.3
- Composer
- 2005
The Company
6.2
- Composer
- 2003
Stuart Little
4.6
TV Series
- Composer
- 2003
Charms for the Easy Life
6.8
TV Movie
- Composer
- 2002
The Adventures of Ociee Nash
6.1
- Composer
- 2002
Whitewash: The Clarence Brandley Story
7.1
TV Movie
- Composer
- 2002
Harold and the Purple Crayon
7.8
TV Series
- Composer
- 2002
Monday Night Mayhem
6.6
TV Movie
- Composer (original music by)
- 2002
Call Me Claus
5.4
TV Movie
- Composer
- 2001
In the Time of the Butterflies
6.6
TV Movie
- Composer
- 2001
The Ponder Heart
6.7
TV Movie
- Composer
- 2001
Harlan County War
6.4
TV Movie
- Composer
- 2000

Music Department

Harold and the Purple Crayon
7.8
TV Series
- songs: produced and arranged by
- 2001–2002
My Dog Skip
7.0
- composer: additional music
- 2000
Barney's Great Adventure
3.3
- songs arranged by (uncredited)
- 1998
The Marshal
7.1
TV Series
- composer: theme music
- 1995
Wild Bill
5.8
- music arranger: songs
- 1995
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
7.5
TV Movie
- songwriter
- 1990
The Brave Little Toaster
7.2
- songs: music and lyrics by
- 1987
Tall Tales & Legends
7.1
TV Series
- composer: additional music
- 1985
Faerie Tale Theatre
8.3
TV Series
- musical director
- music consultant
- 1982–1984
Popeye
5.4
- arranger: songs
- conductor: songs
- 1980

Actor

He Said, She Said
5.7
- Priest
- 1991
Twin Peaks
8.7
TV Series
- Jack Racine
- 1990
The Two Jakes
6.1
- Francis Hannah
- 1990
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
7.5
TV Movie
- Minister of Merriment
- 1990
Vibes
5.7
- Dr. Weiner
- 1988
Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm
6.1
Music Video
- Piano
- 1988
Faerie Tale Theatre
8.3
TV Series
- The Musician
- 1982
Popeye
5.4
- Hoagy - The Piano Player
- 1980
Coming Attractions
4.6
- Indian #2
- 1978
Brenner
6.9
TV Series
- Jay Joplin
- 1959
A Gift for Heidi
4.6
- Peter
- 1958
The Kaiser Aluminum Hour
7.5
TV Series
- Boy
- Bobby
- 1956–1957
General Electric Theater
6.8
TV Series
- Horace
- 1956
Star Tonight
7.8
TV Series
- 1956
The Swan
6.4
- George
- 1956

Videos2

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")