Richard Stevenson Parker Jr. (born June 4, 1952), known professionally as Parker Stevenson, is an American actor best known for playing Frank Hardy in the 1970s series The Hardy Boys and Craig Pomeroy on the 1990s series Baywatch.
Parker Stevenson | |
|---|---|
 Stevenson (left) with Shaun Cassidy as The Hardy Boys in 1977 | |
| Born | Richard Stevenson Parker Jr. June 4, 1952 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Education | Brooks School |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editStevenson was born on the Main Line of Philadelphia, on June 4, 1952, as Richard Stevenson Parker Jr., one of two sons of Richard Stevenson Parker Sr., an investment advisor, and Sarah Meade, an actress who worked on Broadway and in television commercials. His mother took him to a filming session when he was five years old, which resulted in him making two small television appearances. The elder Parker moved his family to Rye, New York and disapproved of the whole business. Richard Jr. appeared in a few plays at Brooks Preparatory School, but initially had no intention of becoming an actor and wanted to be an architect.[1]
Career
editStevenson's first notable screen appearance was a starring role in the 1972 movie A Separate Peace, credited as Parker Stevenson. After graduating from Brooks School and Princeton University, where he studied architecture, he moved to Hollywood and landed a role opposite Sam Elliott in the 1976 film Lifeguard.[2]
Stevenson became well known from starring with teen heartthrob Shaun Cassidy in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries series, produced by Glen A. Larson's production company through MCA-Universal Television (now NBCUniversal) under license from the Stratemeyer Publication Syndicate, from 1977 to 1979 on ABC.[2] In 1983, he co-starred in the movie Stroker Ace as Burt Reynolds's brash race-car driving nemesis, Aubrey James. The film was a critical and financial failure.
In 1986, Stevenson starred as Billy Hazard in the television miniseries North and South. He co-starred with then-wife Kirstie Alley, who portrayed his sister Virgilia Hazard.[3] He starred on the short-lived 1988 series Probe in the lead role of Austin James. He was part of the original cast of Baywatch in the 1989 season, returning for the syndicated 1997 and 1998 seasons. He had a recurring role as a computer tycoon on Melrose Place during the second season.[4] He starred in Legion. In 2014, he had a guest role on the Western/mystery series Longmire.[2]
Stevenson has been a photographer since he was young; his work can be found at his photography website.[5][2]
From 2017 to 2020 he starred on Greenhouse Academy as Louis Osmond, Academy Director.[6]
Personal life
editStevenson was married to his first wife, actress Kirstie Alley, on December 22, 1983, and they divorced in 1997.[7] They adopted two children: a son in 1992 and a daughter in 1995.[8][9]
Stevenson married celebrity chef Lisa Schoen on September 29, 2018, at Demetria Vineyards in Los Olivos, California.[10]
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1972 | A Separate Peace | Gene Forrester | |
| 1974 | Our Time | Michael Brooks | Alternative title: Death of Her Innocence |
| 1976 | Lifeguard | Chris Randall | |
| 1983 | Stroker Ace | Aubrey James | |
| 1985 | Stitches | Bobby Stevens | |
| 1995 | Not of This Earth | Officer Jack Sherbourne | |
| 2003 | Terror Peak | ||
| 2008 | Loaded | Ben Ryan | |
| 2014 | McTaggart's Fortune | Richard Heywood | |
| 2015 | Perfect Disguise | General William Tecumseh Sherman | |
| His Secret Family | Detective Daniel Sharpson | ||
| 2016 | The War Riders | General Sherman | |
| Hidden Truth | Sheriff Underwood | ||
| 2018 | Mistrust | Brandon McKellan | |
| 2019 | American Confederate | General Sherman | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Gunsmoke | Steven | Episode: "To Ride a Yeller Horse" |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Andy Horvath | Episode: "The Drop" |
| 1977–79 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Frank Hardy | Main role (46 episodes) |
| 1981 | This House Possessed | Gary Straihorn | Television film |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Bill Watkins | Episode: "The Dean and the Flunkee" (Parts 1 & 2) |
| Shooting Stars | Bill O'Keefe | Television film pilot | |
| The Love Boat | Matt Stevens | Episode: "Don't Take My Wife, Please" | |
| 1984 | Hotel | Michael | Episode: "Confrontations" |
| 1984–85 | Falcon Crest | Joel McCarthy | Recurring role (11 episodes) |
| 1985 | Rockhopper | Nick Larabee | Television film |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Lance Richards | Episode: "Method Actor" | |
| Murder, She Wrote | Michael Digby | Episode: "Sticks and Stones" | |
| 1986 | North and South: Book II | Billy Hazard | Miniseries |
| That Secret Sunday | Investigative Reporter Scott Dennis | Television film | |
| 1987 | Matlock | Dr. Philip Eagen | Episode: "The Author" |
| The Hitchhiker | Brett | Episode: "Best Shot" | |
| Shades of Love: The Rose Cafe | Josh | Television film | |
| 1988 | Mission: Impossible | Champ Foster | Episode: "The Haunting" |
| Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Clark Taylor | Episode: "Prosecutor" | |
| Probe | Austin James | Main role (8 episodes) | |
| 1989 | The Cover Girl and the Cop | Cable Hayward | Television film, uncredited |
| Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier | Craig Pomeroy | Television film pilot | |
| Caddie Woodlawn | Uncle Edmund Grey | Television film | |
| 1989–90, 1997–99 |
Baywatch | Craig Pomeroy | Main cast (season 1), recurring (seasons 8–9) |
| 1990 | All the Rivers Run II | Cyrus P. James | Television film |
| 1991 | Flesh 'n' Blood | Jeffrey Hazelwood | Episode: "Tall, Dark and Wanted in Four States" |
| 1992 | Blossom | Jim / Scott Alexander | Episode: "Hot for Teacher" |
| Are You Lonesome Tonight? | Mat Henderson | Television film | |
| Shadow of a Stranger | Ted Clinton | Television film | |
| 1993 | Melrose Place | Steve McMillan | Recurring role (6 episodes) |
| Official Denial | Paul Corliss | Television film | |
| 1994 | Burke's Law | Ted Cranshaw | Episode: "Who Killed Good Time Charlie?" |
| 1998 | Legion | Captain Aldrich | Television film |
| 1999 | Avalon: Beyond the Abyss | Commander John Alden | Television film; also executive producer |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Paxton Powers | Voice, episode: "King's Ransom" |
| 2001 | Trapped | Oliver Sloan | Television film |
| 2002 | Judging Amy | Mr. Andrew Pickeral | Episode: "Who Shot Dick?" |
| The District | Mr. Skols | Episode: "Convictions" | |
| 2003 | Terror Peak | Kevin Fraser | Television film |
| 2010 | Legend of the Seeker | The Margrave | Episode: "Princess" |
| 2014 | Longmire | Welles VanBlarcom | Episode: "Reports of My Death" |
| 2015 | Win, Lose or Love | Mike Canton | Television film |
| A Christmas Reunion | Don Dupree | Television film | |
| 2016 | The Perfect Daughter | Bruce Cahill | Television film |
| Bull | Gavin Everton | Episode: "Just Tell the Truth" | |
| 2017 | My Christmas Prince | Jim Logan | Television film |
| 2017–2020 | Greenhouse Academy | Louis Osmond | Main cast (40 episodes) |
References
edit- ^ Mason, Aiden (December 29, 2019). "10 Things You Didn't Know about Parker Stevenson". TVOvermind. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Parker Stevenson Talks About The Hardy Boys, Probe, and His Passion for Photography". Classic Film and TV Café. July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ^ Ross, Robyn (November 6, 2012). "Kirstie Alley: I Had an Affair with Patrick Swayze". TV Guide.
- ^ Carter, Alan (October 22, 1993). "Parker Stevenson visits 'Melrose Place'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "Shadowworks". Parker Stevenson Shadowworks. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022.
- ^ Ellenbogen, Rachael (October 24, 2019). "'Greenhouse Academy' Season 3: Brooke, Emma Actresses Recast and New Characters Added". International Business Times. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ Fisher, Luchina (April 16, 2009). "'Gal-imony': Celeb Women Who Pay in the Divorce". ABC News. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ Khoo, Isabelle (June 22, 2016). "Kirstie Alley Kids: Actress Shares First Photo Of Grandson Waylon Tripp Parker". HuffPost. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ Bacardi, Francesca (June 22, 2016). "Kirstie Alley Is a Grandma, Son William Stevenson Welcomes First Child". E! Online. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "Inside 'Hardy Boys' Star Parker Stevenson's Wedding To Lisa Schoen (EXCLUSIVE)". Closer Weekly. November 17, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2021.