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Harry Parke

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Comedian

The Resume

    (May 6, 1904-November 24, 1958)
    Born in Boston, Massachusetts
    Birth name was Harry Einstein
    Went by the name Parkyakarkus, an alter ego he used for routines
    Appeared in eleven films using this name from 1936-45
    Frequent contributor on Eddie Cantor's radio show
    Died of a heart attack immediately after roasting Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at a Friar's Club roast in L.A. at age 54
    Father of Albert Brooks and Bob Einstein (aka 'Super' Dave Osborne)

Why he might be annoying:

    His comedic shtick was to speak in a phony Greek accent, mangling the English language.
    Hence the stage name Parkyakarkus (park your carcass).
    His film roles were an exercise in dreck-ology.
    After his final roast he sat down next to Milton Berle, had his picture taken (see pic), then slumped into Berle's lap.
    When Berle screamed, 'Is there a doctor in the house?,' the audience as first laughed, believing it was all part of the routine.
    Five doctors at the Beverly Hilton worked frantically to save his life, including open chest heart massage, but to no avail.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He is the father of not one but two successful comedians.
    He invested wisely in real estate so he didn't need the income as a comedian.
    He had been in ill health the last few years of his life.
    After his roast, as he was going to sit with Milton Berle, roast MC Art Linkletter stated, 'How come anyone as funny as this isn't on the air?'
    When Linkletter asked crooner Tony Martin to sing a song to distract the audience, the singer's eerie song choice was 'There's No Tomorrow.'
    Arnaz somberly reflected, 'This was an evening that comes to you once in a lifetime. It means so much, then all at once it doesn't mean a damn thing.'
    Many in the audience agreed he excelled in his routine, and his son Albert Brooks stated, 'The interesting thing to me was that he finished. He could have died in the middle. He could have done it on the way over there. But he didn't. He finished. And he was as good as he'd ever been in his life.'
    He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 90.91% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 28 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 31 Votes: 54.84% Annoying