Emory Parnell

Infobox Actor
name = Emory Parnell


imagesize = 175px
caption = in the TV series "The Life of Riley"
birthname =
birthdate = 29 December 1892
birthplace = St. Paul, Minnesota U.S.
deathdate = 22 June fy|1979 (aged 86)
deathplace = Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California U.S.
othername =
occupation = actor
yearsactive = fy|1938–fy|1973
spouse = Effie Laird
domesticpartner =
website =

Emory Parnell (b. 29 December 1892, St. Paul, Minnesota – d. 22 June fy|1979, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California) was an American vaudevillian and actor who appeared in over 250 films in his 36 year career. Nicknamed "The Big Swede", Parnell (who was sometimes credited as "Emery" or "Parnel") was married to Effie Laird, and they had two children together, one of whom, James Parnell, also became an actor. [IMDB [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0663183/bio Biography] ] [imdb name|0663189|James Parnell]

Parnell trained as a musician at Morningside College in Iowa and spent his early years as a performer as a concert violinist. He performed on the Chautauqua and Lyceum circuits until 1930, when he went to Detroit where he narrated and acted in commercial and industrial films. Seeking better opportunities in Hollywood, Parnell and his wife moved to California, where, helped by his red-faced Irish look of frustration, he immediately began to appear in films in a variety of role, such as policemen, doormen, landlords, and small town businessmen.Erickson, Hal [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=2:55185~T1 Biography (Allmovie)] ]

Although his appearances were often in "B" films, such as the Ma and Pa Kettle series, he also made credible showings in "A" films as well. One notable part was as a Paramount studio executive who sang about avoiding libel suits to open fy|1941's "Louisiana Purchase". Parnell was also part of writer-director Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors in the 1940s, appearing in five of Sturges' films, [Parnell appeared in "The Great McGinty", "Sullivan's Travels", "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek", "The Great Moment" and "The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend".] including "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek", where he played the crooked banker, "Mr. Tuerck", the chief antagonist of William Demarest's "Constable Kockenlocker".

In May of 1949, Parnell appeared on Broadway for the first and only time, in the play "Mr. Adam", which ran for only five performances. [ibdb title|1837|Mr. Adam] In the 1950s; Parnell began to appear on television, in both dramatic shows and situation comedies, playing much the same kinds of parts he played in movies. Most of his TV appearances were one-offs or for two episodes, although he did play William Bendix' factory foreman on "The Life of Riley", and the character "Bill Anders" on five episodes of "Maverick".

Parnell's last acting appearance on television was in ytv|1971 as a prospector on "Gunsmoke", and he made his final movie, "Girls on the Road", in which he played a bartender, in fy|1973. His final public appearance came in ytv|1974, when he and his wife were interviewed by TV talk-show host Tom Snyder along with other residents of the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital. Parnell died of a heart attack at age 86.

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External links

*imdb name|0663183
*amg name|2:55185
*tcmdb name|147942
*ibdb name|476078
*findagrave|6963335

Persondata
NAME= Parnell, Emory
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 29 December 1892
PLACE OF BIRTH= St. Paul, Minnesota U.S.
DATE OF DEATH= 22 June fy|1979
PLACE OF DEATH= Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California U.S.