Larry Parks

Larry Parks was an American stage and movie actor. His career arced from bit player and supporting roles to top billing before his career was virtually ended when he admitted to having once been a member of a Communist party cell, which led to his blacklisting by all Hollywood studios. His best known role was Al Jolson, whom he portrayed in two films, The Jolson Story , and Jolson Sings Again .

Parks was born Samuel Klausman Lawrence Parks in Olathe, Kansas, the son of Nellie and Frank H. Parks. He was raised in Joliet, Illinois, and graduated from Joliet Township High School in 1932. He attended the University of Illinois as a premed student, and played in stock companies for a few years before signing a movie contract with Columbia Pictures in 1941.

Source: Wikipedia