Paul Sparks

==Early life and career==
Sparks was born in [[Lawton, Oklahoma]],<ref name="allmovie">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/paul-sparks-vn15482443 |title=Paul Sparks |author=<!-- Not stated -->  |website=[[Allmovie]] |access-date=2023-11-07 |quote=Born - Oct 16, 1971 in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States.}}</ref> and grew up in nearby [[Marlow, Oklahoma|Marlow]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayer |first=Melissa |date=September 27, 2013 |title=From Marlow to New York City, Paul Sparks Has Followed Path to Acting Success |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/television/2013/09/27/from-marlow-to-new-york-city-paul-sparks-has-followed-path-to-acting-success/60879534007/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=[[The Oklahoman]]}}</ref> He attended Marlow High School, where his father coached football,<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/theater/20sparks.html?_r=0|title=Embracing a Tragic Masculinity|first=David|last=Rooney|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 15, 2010|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> graduating in 1990. While attending school in Marlow, Paul was a part of the Marlow Outlaw Speech Team (M.O.S.T.) where he was coached by Paula and Gary McConnell.<ref name="Family">{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/boardwalk-to-success-oklahoma-native-paul-sparks-turns-advice-acting-experiences-into-successful-career/article/3887357|title="Boardwalk to Success": Oklahoma native Paul Sparks turns advice, acting experiences into successful career|website=[[The Oklahoman]]|first=Melissa|last=Hayer|access-date=December 7, 2014}}{{dead link|date=November 2022}}</ref> Sparks earned a scholarship to [[Oklahoma State University]] to study chemistry, but later transferred to [[New York University|New York University's]] [[Tisch School of the Arts]].<ref name="Family"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/boardwalk-empire/cast-and-crew/mickey-doyle/bio/paul-sparks.html|title=Boardwalk Empire Cast & Crew: Paul Sparks|website=[[HBO]].com}}</ref> He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] degree in drama in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/news/2011/01/tisch-alumni-rack-up-accolades|title=Tisch Alumni Rack Up Accolades|website=[[New York University]]. [[Tisch School of the Arts]]|first=Mariangela|last=Lardaro|date=January 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502060127/https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/news/2011/01/tisch-alumni-rack-up-accolades|archive-date=May 2, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2010, Sparks began portraying the regular role of Mickey Doyle on [[HBO]]'s drama series ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'', which was created by [[Terence Winter]] and executive produced by [[Martin Scorsese]] and [[Mark Wahlberg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126203-Hedda-Gablers-Sparks-Signed-for-HBO-Pilot-Boardwalk-Empire|title=Hedda Gabler's Sparks Signed for HBO Pilot "Boardwalk Empire"|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|website=[[Playbill]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102150247/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126203-Hedda-Gablers-Sparks-Signed-for-HBO-Pilot-Boardwalk-Empire|archive-date=November 2, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The series ended in 2014, after completing five seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.hbo.com/events/boardwalk-empire/live-q-paul-sparks/|title=Q&A with Paul Sparks|website=[[HBO]].com|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027235740/http://connect.hbo.com/events/boardwalk-empire/live-q-paul-sparks/|archive-date=October 27, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>