Parker Stevenson recalls a moment when he realized the spotlight wasn’t just on King Tut’s treasures—it was on him. “I was waiting in line to see the treasures of King Tut, and I noticed people were looking at me instead of the exhibit,” Parker, who was then starring in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, tells Closer. “I’m like, ‘No, you should be looking at the exhibit, not me!’” At 71, Parker has made waves as lifeguard Craig Pomeroy on Baywatch, but today, he’s more known for his photography. Still, his love for the beach remains unwavering. “In real life, I’m at the beach every day, jogging, swimming, and even surfing four or five times a week for 20 years. Now, it’s maybe once every two weeks,” he shares.
So, how did Parker get started in acting?
“Before I decided to become an actor, I was in architecture school and then business school in New York. Acting was a way to get out of the house and earn some money during the summers. My mom was an actress, and that gave me a foot in the door.”
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Did we ever see Parker’s mom in anything?
“Oh, absolutely! She did a ton of TV commercials for about 20 years. She even starred in a Kodak commercial in the '60s that showed her aging through different stages of her life. As a kid, watching her transform into different ages was truly fascinating.”
Could that Kodak commercial have sparked Parker’s passion for photography?
“That’s an interesting thought. What really made an impact on me was riding the train in and out of New York City during my boarding school days and auditioning. On those 45-minute rides, I’d watch life flash by outside the window—people on fire escapes, couples kissing. Those fleeting moments exposed me to still images, which sparked my interest in photography.”
From The Hardy Boys to Stardom
Was The Hardy Boys Parker’s big break?
“Absolutely. Suddenly, I was a recognizable face. We were on lunchboxes, posters everywhere, and Shaun Cassidy was singing. It was such a surreal experience. People knew who I was, and it changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined.”
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Did Parker and Shaun Cassidy form a close bond?
“Shaun is like a brother to me. We got along fantastically and laughed endlessly. When the show ended, we went our separate ways, but he and his wife, Tracey, helped set up my wedding to my wife, Lisa, near Santa Barbara.”
Burt Reynolds: A Friendship That Shaped Parker's Career
What was Parker’s friendship with Burt Reynolds like?
“I met Burt at a Directors Guild dinner, and he told me, ‘We’re going to work together someday. You’ll be hearing from me.’ I thought, ‘Yeah, right.’ But sure enough, I ended up working with Burt on Stroker Ace, and it was a blast. There was this one scene where he accidentally punched me in the nose. He was so apologetic, but honestly, it was all part of the fun.”
Baywatch: A Beachfront Adventure
Is it true that Baywatch’s David Hasselhoff first asked Parker to direct?
“Yes. After the first season of Baywatch, I told David I was done running around the beach in a Speedo. But then he called me and said, ‘Come direct the show.’ I agreed, started directing, and even acted in episodes again. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have left the show. My then-wife Kirstie Alley wasn’t thrilled that I’d be working with Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, and Erika Eleniak every day.”
Life Beyond the Screen
Parker and Kirstie Alley played siblings in North and South: Book II. How did that come about?
“Kirstie was already in the first miniseries and had been away for six months. We were newly married, so when the Billy part became available in Book II, I didn’t want to be away from her for that long again. I went after that part, but ironically, I ended up shooting for six months while she only worked for two weeks.”
When Kirstie won her Emmy for Cheers, she famously thanked Parker for giving her ‘the big one.’ What was Parker thinking?
“It was a perfect summary of Kirstie’s humor and my discomfort with it. After the awards
