[2] Parker was born in Brooklyn[2] and was the son of Lewis Jacobs, who performed in vaudeville.

[3] Parker appeared on one episode of the television series Gidget in 1966 as Mr. Socrates, the crusty proprietor of The Shaggy Dog, a hamburger restaurant that was a hangout for teenagers.

[citation needed] Parker appeared in the television series F Troop in 1966, "The Ballot of Corporal Agarn" as George C Bragan.

Parker's Broadway credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1972), Mr.

(1945), Red, Hot and Blue (1936), Girl Crazy (1930), Heads Up (1929), Spring is Here (1929), and Rainbow (1928).