Big Daddy and Sons' Larry Parker Has Died

Larry Parker of Big Daddy and Sons Food on the Venice Boardwalk died unexpectedly Thursday, according to a post on the Larry's Diner Facebook page. He was 62 and is survived by his wife Debbie and sons Casey and Jamie.

Parker perhaps became best known for Larry Parker's 24 Hour Beverly Hills Diner, which he ran from 1982-1997. The diner became famous for the Haagen-Dazs milkshake John Travolta ordered in the movie "Pulp Fiction" as well as for having Drew Barrymore's favorite vegetarian dishes, according to bigdadyandsons.com. Reportedly, the place was particularly popular with Shaq, who came by every night for a milkshake and to see the beautiful dancing waitresses, Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy.

The 24-hour joint became the "in" spot for many celebrities, including Mickey Rourke, Timothy Hutton, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Lopez, the Wayans family, Chris Rock, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Dr. Dre, Coolio, Jamie Foxx, Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, Natalie Cole, Mike Tyson, Snoop Dog, LL Cool J, Eazy-E, Busta Rhymes (before he was famous) and Tone Loc, according to an article in BOLD magazine.

At Big Daddy's, Parker became famous for many things, including taming Venice Beach surfboards to turn them into hip tables. The restaurant is also known for its menu of pizza, including fried pizza, hot dogs served with barbecue sauce and grilled onions, garlic basil fries, friend pickles, grilled salmon, Polish kielbasa, andouille sausage, burritos, tacos, tamales, hamburgers, funnel cakes, fried Oreos and Apple Pie Fries with fresh whip cream.

Big Daddy and Sons is located at 1425 Ocean Front Walk.

Wrote one person on the Larry's Diner Facebook page: "Rip Larry Parker you opened your doors to the world and treated us all like kings and queens. You crossed all economic and cultural bounaries and made us all feel the same and special. You changed the face of the restraunt business and took hosting to another level. We miss you brother."

Details of his death and memorial service were not available as of publication.