Van Dyke Parks was born on January 3, 1943 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA. He is known for The Brave Little Toaster (1987), The Departed (2006) and Heathers (1988).His verbose, metaphoric, humorist style of writing and speaking 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.) Uncle of Rick Parks A former child star. Abandoned the sessions for the Beach Boys' "Smile" album (only recently completed, by Brian Wilson with the Wondermints) in 1967, when he was offered a solo recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. While he hated to give up on the album, he could see that Brian was losing control, and the band's objections toward his lyrical (and other) ideas weren't going away. A solo deal offered him the chance to stand on his own. Brother of songwriter C. Carson Parks. Father of director and producer Richard Parks. He arranged the song "The Bare Necessities" for Disney's "The Jungle Book" (1967). "I have no excuse, sir." (to Mike Love, during the "Smile" album sessions, when asked to explain obscure lyrics like "Columnated ruins domino") [on his role as "Tommy Manicotti" in "Honeymooners" sketches in two episodes of Jackie Gleason television shows] I only had a couple of lines, but I didn't blow them...not until he (Jackie Gleason) blew his at least, then we would just have a conversation. It was great. Gleason was a man of immense ability, but one of those abilities was not memorizing a script. He was a genius at improv, but that's also why he didn't have children or dogs on the show. I was lucky that I got to do two shows, meet him, and see 'The Greatest Orchestra.' (laughs) It was wonderful.