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{{Cast Data | {{Cast Data | ||
| image= | | image= Cast - Frank Parker c. 2015 CE.jpg | ||
| character=[[Zed]] | | character=[[Zed]] | ||
| series=TOS | | series=TOS | ||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
| born_day= 1 | | born_day= 1 | ||
| born_year= 1939 | | born_year= 1939 | ||
| death_month= | | death_month= 9 | ||
| death_day= | | death_day= 16 | ||
| death_year= | | death_year= 2018 | ||
| nationality= US | | nationality= US | ||
| imdb= 0662243 | | imdb= 0662243 | ||
| sortkey=Parker, Frank | | sortkey=Parker, Frank | ||
}} | |image2=Zed.jpg}} | ||
'''Frank Parker''' ( | '''Frank Russell Parker''' (July 1, 1939 – September 16, 2018) was an American television actor who portrayed [[IFB]] reporter [[Zed]] in the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]] episodes "[[The Man with Nine Lives]]" and "[[Murder on the Rising Star]]". Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, Parker was raised in the nearby Philadelphia suburb of Lansdowne.<ref name="legacy_obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/frank-parker-obituary?id=8072943|title=Frank Russell Parker Obituary|date=September 25, 2018|accessdate=November 11, 2025|archiveurl=|archivedate=|format=|language=|quote=|author=|publisher=Legacy.com}}</ref><ref name="deadline_obit">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/frank-parker-dead-days-of-our-lives-grandpa-shawn-brady-general-hospital-1202471297/|title=Frank Parker Dies: Actor Who Played Grandpa Brady On 'Days Of Our Lives' Was 79|date=September 26, 2018|accessdate=November 11, 2025|author=Pedersen, Erik|publisher=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> | ||
Parker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh in 1962, then moved to Culver City, California to pursue his acting career.<ref name="legacy_obit" /><ref name="deadline_obit" /><ref name="welovesoaps">{{cite web|url=https://www.welovesoaps.net/2018/09/frank-parker-dead-at-79.html|title=Frank Parker Dead at 79|date=September 26, 2018|accessdate=November 11, 2025|publisher=We Love Soaps}}</ref> He performed under the name '''Brett Parker''' during the early part of his career.<ref name="findagrave">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193383512/frank-parker|title=Frank Parker (1939-2018)|accessdate=November 11, 2025|publisher=Find a Grave}}</ref> | |||
== Career == | |||
=== Television === | |||
Parker made his television debut in a 1964 episode of the military comedy series ''[[w:Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.|Gomer Pyle: USMC]]''.<ref name="deadline_obit" /> By the mid-1960s, he was guest-starring on such series as ''[[w:Lost in Space|Lost in Space]]'', ''[[w:Daktari|Daktari]]'', and ''[[w:Hogan's Heroes|Hogan's Heroes]]''.<ref name="deadline_obit" /> | |||
Throughout the 1970s, Parker appeared in numerous television series including ''[[w:Mission: Impossible|Mission: Impossible]]'', ''[[w:Ironside (1967 TV series)|Ironside]]'', ''[[w:Dan August|Dan August]]'', ''[[w:The Mod Squad|The Mod Squad]]'', ''[[w:The Jimmy Stewart Show|The Jimmy Stewart Show]]'', ''[[w:Room 222|Room 222]]'', ''[[w:Cannon (TV series)|Cannon]]'', ''[[w:The Cowboys (TV series)|The Cowboys]]'', ''[[w:Little House on the Prairie (TV series)|Little House on the Prairie]]'', ''[[w:McCloud (TV series)|McCloud]]'', ''[[w:Barnaby Jones|Barnaby Jones]]'', ''[[w:S.W.A.T. (1975 TV series)|S.W.A.T.]]'', ''[[w:Black Sheep Squadron|Black Sheep Squadron]]'', ''[[w:Switch (TV series)|Switch]]'', ''[[w:Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'', ''[[w:The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries|The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries]]'', ''[[w:The Six Million Dollar Man|The Six Million Dollar Man]]'', the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]], ''[[w:Sword of Justice (TV series)|Sword of Justice]]'', ''[[w:CHiPs|CHiPs]]'', and ''[[w:Quincy, M.E.|Quincy, M.E.]]'' | |||
Parker played Grandpa Shawn Brady on the NBC daytime soap opera ''[[w:Days of Our Lives|Days of Our Lives]]'' from 1983 until he retired in 2008.<ref name="deadline_obit" /> He was given a hero's exit from the show when his character was on a sabotaged airplane and gave up his oxygen mask to save his son, Bo (played by Peter Reckell).<ref name="deadline_obit" /> Parker also had roles on other daytime dramas including ''[[w:General Hospital|General Hospital]]'' (as Paddy Kelly in 1980), ''[[w:The Young and the Restless|The Young and the Restless]]'', and ''[[w:Never Too Young (TV series)|Never Too Young]]''. | |||
From 1980 to the mid-1980s, Parker continued guest-starring on primetime television, appearing on ''[[buckwiki:Buck Rogers in the 25th Century|Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]]'', ''[[w:Hart to Hart|Hart to Hart]]'', ''[[w:The Fall Guy|The Fall Guy]]'', ''[[w:Blue Thunder (TV series)|Blue Thunder]]'', and ''[[w:Crazy Like a Fox (TV series)|Crazy Like a Fox]]''. | |||
=== Film === | |||
Parker appeared in several films during his career, including ''[[w:Midway (1976 film)|Midway]]'' (1976) and ''[[w:The Concorde ... Airport '79|The Concorde... Airport '79]]'' (1979). He also appeared in the made-for-television movies ''Just a Little Inconvenience'' (1977) and ''The Other Victim'' (1981). | |||
== Personal life == | |||
Parker was married to Nola Donelle Rajcok in 1981, and together they had three daughters: Candace Donelle and fraternal twins Danielle Dallas and Lindsay Kyle.<ref name="legacy_obit" /> Tragically, his daughter Candace died in a car accident in January 1999.<ref name="imdb_bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662089/bio/|title=Frank Parker - Biography|accessdate=November 11, 2025|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> In 2005, Parker married Mary Jean Dunning Garofalo, and the couple resided in Vacaville, California.<ref name="legacy_obit" /> | |||
An accomplished singer, Parker was known to burst into song at any moment and could light up a room with his singing voice.<ref name="legacy_obit" /> His co-star Stephen Nichols remembered him as "So full of Blarney and Joy!"<ref name="news24">{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/you/celebs/former-days-of-our-lives-actor-frank-parker-dies-at-79-after-suffering-from-parkinsons-disease-20180926|title=Former Days of our Lives actor Frank Parker dies at 79 after suffering from Parkinson's disease|date=September 26, 2018|accessdate=November 11, 2025|publisher=News24}}</ref> | |||
Parker died on September 16, 2018, at the age of 79 in Vacaville, California, from complications of Parkinson's disease and dementia.<ref name="legacy_obit" /><ref name="deadline_obit" /> He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters Danielle Buckles and Lindsay Parker (Travis Burbank); his grandson, Jaxson Dale; and numerous nieces and nephews.<ref name="deadline_obit" /> | |||
== References == | |||
<references /> | |||
== External links == | |||
* {{imdb name|id=0662089|name=Frank Parker}} | |||
[[Category:Glen Larson Productions Cast and Crew]] | [[Category:Glen Larson Productions Cast and Crew]] | ||
[[de: Frank Parker]] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:53, 12 November 2025
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| Portrays: | Zed | ||||
| Date of Birth: | July 1, 1939 | ||||
| Date of Death: | September 16, 2018 | ||||
| Age at Death: | 79 | ||||
| Nationality: |  USA
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| Related Media | |||||
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| @ BW Media | |||||
[{{{site}}} Official Site]
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Frank Russell Parker (July 1, 1939 – September 16, 2018) was an American television actor who portrayed IFB reporter Zed in the Original Series episodes "The Man with Nine Lives" and "Murder on the Rising Star". Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, Parker was raised in the nearby Philadelphia suburb of Lansdowne.[1][2]
Parker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh in 1962, then moved to Culver City, California to pursue his acting career.[1][2][3] He performed under the name Brett Parker during the early part of his career.[4]
Career
edit sourceTelevision
edit sourceParker made his television debut in a 1964 episode of the military comedy series Gomer Pyle: USMC.[2] By the mid-1960s, he was guest-starring on such series as Lost in Space, Daktari, and Hogan's Heroes.[2]
Throughout the 1970s, Parker appeared in numerous television series including Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Dan August, The Mod Squad, The Jimmy Stewart Show, Room 222, Cannon, The Cowboys, Little House on the Prairie, McCloud, Barnaby Jones, S.W.A.T., Black Sheep Squadron, Switch, Wonder Woman, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, The Six Million Dollar Man, the Original Series, Sword of Justice, CHiPs, and Quincy, M.E.
Parker played Grandpa Shawn Brady on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives from 1983 until he retired in 2008.[2] He was given a hero's exit from the show when his character was on a sabotaged airplane and gave up his oxygen mask to save his son, Bo (played by Peter Reckell).[2] Parker also had roles on other daytime dramas including General Hospital (as Paddy Kelly in 1980), The Young and the Restless, and Never Too Young.
From 1980 to the mid-1980s, Parker continued guest-starring on primetime television, appearing on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Hart to Hart, The Fall Guy, Blue Thunder, and Crazy Like a Fox.
Film
edit sourceParker appeared in several films during his career, including Midway (1976) and The Concorde... Airport '79 (1979). He also appeared in the made-for-television movies Just a Little Inconvenience (1977) and The Other Victim (1981).
Personal life
edit sourceParker was married to Nola Donelle Rajcok in 1981, and together they had three daughters: Candace Donelle and fraternal twins Danielle Dallas and Lindsay Kyle.[1] Tragically, his daughter Candace died in a car accident in January 1999.[5] In 2005, Parker married Mary Jean Dunning Garofalo, and the couple resided in Vacaville, California.[1]
An accomplished singer, Parker was known to burst into song at any moment and could light up a room with his singing voice.[1] His co-star Stephen Nichols remembered him as "So full of Blarney and Joy!"[6]
Parker died on September 16, 2018, at the age of 79 in Vacaville, California, from complications of Parkinson's disease and dementia.[1][2] He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters Danielle Buckles and Lindsay Parker (Travis Burbank); his grandson, Jaxson Dale; and numerous nieces and nephews.[2]
References
edit source- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Frank Russell Parker Obituary (backup available on Archive.org) (in ). Legacy.com (September 25, 2018). Retrieved on November 11, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Pedersen, Erik (September 26, 2018). Frank Parker Dies: Actor Who Played Grandpa Brady On 'Days Of Our Lives' Was 79 (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved on November 11, 2025.
- ↑ Frank Parker Dead at 79 (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). We Love Soaps (September 26, 2018). Retrieved on November 11, 2025.
- ↑ Frank Parker (1939-2018) (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). Find a Grave. Retrieved on November 11, 2025.
- ↑ Frank Parker - Biography (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). IMDb. Retrieved on November 11, 2025.
- ↑ Former Days of our Lives actor Frank Parker dies at 79 after suffering from Parkinson's disease (backup available on Archive.org) (in English). News24 (September 26, 2018). Retrieved on November 11, 2025.