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Actor

1952-06-04 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. · Male

21 series in the catalog

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.

Parker Stevenson ShadowWorks

Interview with Parker Stevenson at Classic Film & TV Cafe