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.
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 supporting 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. 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. He starred in the 1998 horror 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.
From 2017 to 2020, he starred on Greenhouse Academy as Louis Osmond, Academy Director.
Personal life Stevenson married his first wife, actress Kirstie Alley, on December 22, 1983, and they divorced in 1997. They adopted two children: a son in 1992 and a daughter in 1995.
Stevenson married celebrity chef Lisa Schoen on September 29, 2018, at Demetria Vineyards in Los Olivos, California.
Filmography 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 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 2021Last Call in the Dog HouseSimon 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" 1977–1979 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Frank Hardy Main role (46 episodes)1978Donny & MarieHimselfEpisode: "3.16" 1981 This House Possessed Gary Straihorn Television film 1983 The Love Boat Bill Watkins/Matt Stevens 3 episodes Shooting Stars Bill O'Keefe Television film pilot 1984 Hotel Michael Episode: "Confrontations" 1984–1985 Falcon Crest Joel McCarthy 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 Billy Hazard Miniseries That Secret Sunday 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 1989–1999 Baywatch Craig Pomeroy Main cast (28 episodes) 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 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 Andrew Pickeral Episode: "Who Shot Dick?" The District Mr. Skols Episode: "Convictions" 2003 Terror Peak Kevin Fraser Television film2005–2006Hunter HuntedNarrator9 episodes 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
External links
Parker Stevenson ShadowWorks Interview with Parker Stevenson at Classic Film & TV Cafe