- His on-screen persona became so famous he was able to convince Lloyd's of London to issue an insurance policy for $10,000, in the Depression-era 1930s, against damage to his professional reputation should anyone ever obtain a photograph of him smiling.
- He became one of the founding members of Actors' Equity Association 1913.
- Started out singing in a saloon in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada, after failing to find gold when prospecting.
- He has appeared in four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: A Virtuous Vamp (1919), 42nd Street (1933), Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) and Imitation of Life (1934).
- In his 20's Ned Sparks performed in saloons in Yukon Territory, where he was known as "The Singer of Sweet Southern Songs" and often performed wearing a straw hat, short pants and in bare feet.
- Buried at Victor Valley Memorial Park Victorville, San Bernardino County, California, USA.
- Father: William Joseph Sparkman; Mother: Mary Anne Lawton.
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