Parker Stevenson

{{short description|American actor (born 1952)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{BLP sources|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Parker Stevenson

| image = File:Parker Stevenson Shaun Cassidy Hardy Boys 1977.jpg

| caption = Stevenson (left) with Shaun Cassidy as The Hardy Boys in 1977

| birth_name = Richard Stevenson Parker Jr.

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|6|4}}

| birth_place = {{nowrap|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}

| education = Brooks School

| known_for = {{hlist|The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries|Baywatch}}

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1972–present

| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Kirstie Alley|1983|1997|end=div}}|{{marriage|Lisa Schoen|2018}}}}

| children = 2

| alma_mater = Princeton University

| website =

}}

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.

Early life

Parker Stevenson 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. Meade 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.{{cite web| url=https://www.tvovermind.com/parker-stevenson/| title=10 Things You Didn't Know about Parker Stevenson| last=Mason| first=Aiden| date=December 29, 2019| website=TVOvermind| language=en-US| access-date=February 14, 2020}}

Career

Stevenson'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.

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. In 1983, he co-starred in the movie Stroker Ace as Stroker Ace (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.{{cite news| title=Kirstie Alley: I Had an Affair with Patrick Swayze| url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/kirstie-alley-affair-1055665/| first=Robyn| last=Ross| date=November 6, 2012| journal=TV Guide}} 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 Steve McMillan, a computer tycoon on Melrose Place during the second season.{{cite magazine| title=Parker Stevenson visits 'Melrose Place'| url=https://ew.com/article/1993/10/22/parker-stevenson-visits-melrose-place/| first=Alan| last=Carter| date=October 22, 1993| magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} He starred in the 1998 film Legion. In 2014, he had a guest role on the Western/mystery series Longmire.

Stevenson has been a photographer since he was young; his work can be found at his photography website.{{cite web |url=https://www.parkerstevensonshadowworks.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309050713/https://www.parkerstevensonshadowworks.com/ |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |title=Shadowworks |website=Parker Stevenson Shadowworks}}{{cite web |title=Parker Stevenson Talks About The Hardy Boys, Probe, and His Passion for Photography |url=http://www.classicfilmtvcafe.com/2014/07/parker-stevenson-talks-about-hardy-boys.html |website=Classic Film and TV Café |access-date=July 27, 2014 |date=July 24, 2014}}

From 2017 to 2020 he starred on Greenhouse Academy as Louis Osmond, Academy Director.{{cite news| title='Greenhouse Academy' Season 3: Brooke, Emma Actresses Recast and New Characters Added| url=https://www.ibtimes.com/greenhouse-academy-season-3-brooke-emma-actresses-recast-new-characters-added-2853517| first=Rachael| last=Ellenbogen| date=October 24, 2019| journal=International Business Times| access-date=January 20, 2021}}

Personal life

Stevenson was married to his first wife, actress Kirstie Alley, on December 22, 1983, and they divorced in 1997.{{cite news| title='Gal-imony': Celeb Women Who Pay in the Divorce| url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/CelebrityCafe/story?id=7356641&page=1| last=Fisher| first=Luchina| date=April 16, 2009| work=ABC News| access-date=January 20, 2021}} They adopted two children: a son in 1992 and a daughter in 1995.{{cite news| title=Kirstie Alley Kids: Actress Shares First Photo Of Grandson Waylon Tripp Parker| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/06/22/kirstie-alley-kids_n_10611690.html| last=Khoo| first=Isabelle| date=June 22, 2016| newspaper=HuffPost| access-date=January 20, 2021}}{{cite web| url=https://www.eonline.com/news/774755/kirstie-alley-is-a-grandma-son-william-stevenson-welcomes-first-child| title=Kirstie Alley Is a Grandma, Son William Stevenson Welcomes First Child| date=June 22, 2016| first=Francesca| last=Bacardi| website=E! Online| access-date=October 14, 2024}}

Stevenson married celebrity chef Lisa Schoen on September 29, 2018, at Demetria Vineyards in Los Olivos, California.{{cite journal| url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/inside-hardy-boys-star-parker-stevensons-wedding-exclusive/| title=Inside 'Hardy Boys' Star Parker Stevenson's Wedding To Lisa Schoen (EXCLUSIVE)| date=November 17, 2018| journal=Closer Weekly| access-date=January 20, 2021}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1972A Separate PeaceGene Forrester
1974Our TimeMichael BrooksAlternative title: Death of Her Innocence
1976LifeguardChris Randall
1983Stroker AceAubrey James
1985StitchesBobby Stevens
1995Not of This EarthOfficer Jack Sherbourne
2008LoadedBen Ryan
2014McTaggart's FortuneRichard Heywood
rowspan="2"| 2015Perfect DisguiseGeneral William Tecumseh Sherman
| His Secret FamilyDetective Daniel Sharpson
rowspan="2"| 2016The War RidersGeneral Sherman
| Hidden TruthSheriff Underwood
2018MistrustBrandon McKellan
2019American ConfederateGeneral Sherman
2021

|Last Call in the Dog House

|Simon

|

colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1974GunsmokeStevenEpisode: "To Ride a Yeller Horse"
1976The Streets of San FranciscoAndy HorvathEpisode: "The Drop"
1977–1979The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew MysteriesFrank HardyMain role (46 episodes)
1978

|Donny & Marie

|Himself

|Episode: "3.16"

1981This House PossessedGary StraihornTelevision film
rowspan="2" | 1983The Love BoatBill Watkins/Matt Stevens3 episodes
| Shooting StarsBill O'KeefeTelevision film pilot
1984HotelMichaelEpisode: "Confrontations"
1984–1985Falcon CrestJoel McCarthy11 episodes
rowspan="3"| 1985RockhopperNick LarabeeTelevision film
| Alfred Hitchcock PresentsLance RichardsEpisode: "Method Actor"
| Murder, She WroteMichael DigbyEpisode: "Sticks and Stones"
rowspan="2"| 1986North and South: Book IIBilly HazardMiniseries
| That Secret SundayScott DennisTelevision film
rowspan="3"| 1987MatlockDr. Philip EagenEpisode: "The Author"
| The HitchhikerBrettEpisode: "Best Shot"
| Shades of Love: The Rose CafeJoshTelevision film
rowspan="3"| 1988Mission: ImpossibleChamp FosterEpisode: "The Haunting"
| Alfred Hitchcock PresentsClark TaylorEpisode: "Prosecutor"
| ProbeAustin JamesMain role (8 episodes)
rowspan="3"| 1989The Cover Girl and the CopCable HaywardTelevision film, uncredited
| Baywatch: Panic at Malibu PierCraig PomeroyTelevision film pilot
| Caddie WoodlawnUncle Edmund GreyTelevision film
1989–1999BaywatchCraig PomeroyMain cast (28 episodes)
1990All the Rivers Run IICyrus P. JamesTelevision film
1991Flesh 'n' BloodJeffrey HazelwoodEpisode: "Tall, Dark and Wanted in Four States"
rowspan="3"| 1992BlossomJim/Scott AlexanderEpisode: "Hot for Teacher"
| Are You Lonesome Tonight?Mat HendersonTelevision film
| Shadow of a StrangerTed ClintonTelevision film
rowspan="2"| 1993Melrose PlaceSteve McMillan6 episodes
| Official DenialPaul CorlissTelevision film
1994Burke's LawTed CranshawEpisode: "Who Killed Good Time Charlie?"
1998LegionCaptain AldrichTelevision film
1999Avalon: Beyond the AbyssCommander John AldenTelevision film; also executive producer
2000Batman BeyondPaxton PowersVoice, episode: "King's Ransom"
2001TrappedOliver SloanTelevision film
rowspan="2"| 2002Judging AmyAndrew PickeralEpisode: "Who Shot Dick?"
| The DistrictMr. SkolsEpisode: "Convictions"
2003Terror PeakKevin FraserTelevision film
2005–2006

|Hunter Hunted

|Narrator

|9 episodes

2010Legend of the SeekerThe MargraveEpisode: "Princess"
2014LongmireWelles VanBlarcomEpisode: "Reports of My Death"
rowspan="2"| 2015Win, Lose or LoveMike CantonTelevision film
| A Christmas ReunionDon DupreeTelevision film
rowspan="2"| 2016The Perfect DaughterBruce CahillTelevision film
| BullGavin EvertonEpisode: "Just Tell the Truth"
2017My Christmas PrinceJim LoganTelevision film
2017–2020Greenhouse AcademyLouis OsmondMain cast (40 episodes)

References

{{Reflist}}