Parker Stevenson Shares His Journey From Acting To Photography And Life Lessons

Parker Stevenson reminisces about the time he stood in line to see the treasures of King Tut, only to find himself becoming the main attraction. “Through the glass, I see people on the other side looking at me,” recalls Parker, who was then starring in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, telling Closer. “I’m like, ‘No, you should be looking at the exhibit!’” At 71, Parker has made waves as lifeguard Craig Pomeroy on Baywatch, but today, he’s best known as a photographer. Despite the shift in focus, he still cherishes his love for the beach. “I’m at the beach every day in my real life, jogging, swimming,” he says. “For 20 years, I went surfing four or five times a week. Now, it’s maybe once every two weeks.”

How did you get started as an actor?

“Before I even realized acting was my true calling, I was in architecture school and then business school in New York. Acting was a way to get out of the house and make some money during the summers. My mother was an actress, which opened doors for me. It gave me an edge, a way into the industry, and a foot in the door that others didn’t have.”

Would we have seen your mom in anything?

Read also:

Katie Lees Beachfront Bliss Life Love And Luxe In The Hamptons

“She was a familiar face on TV commercials for about 20 years. She had one for Kodak in the '60s that aged her to all different times in her life. Younger, her age then, and all the way up. As a boy, to see her transform into all those different ages was truly remarkable.”

Could the commercial have sparked your passion for photography?

“That’s an interesting thought. What definitely made an impression on me was the daily commute on the train going in and out of New York City when I was home from boarding school and going out on auditions. I would sit by the window on the 45-minute train ride from the suburbs. Everything would go by so quickly, and you'd only catch glimpses of people sitting out on a fire escape or a couple kissing. All those fleeting moments, those frozen instances, exposed me to the beauty of still images.”

Was The Hardy Boys your big break?

“Absolutely. Suddenly, I was a known face. We were on lunch boxes. The posters were everywhere. Shaun [Cassidy] was even singing. It was such an unreal experience. The show had a life of its own, and I was right in the middle of it.”

Did you and Shaun become close?

Read also:

Dolly Partons Iconic Style A Journey Through Her Glamorous Outfits

“Shaun is like a brother to me. We always got along wonderfully and shared a lot of laughs. When the show ended, we went our separate ways, but the bond remained. In fact, he and his wife, Tracey, set it up for me and my wife, Lisa, to get married near where they live in Santa Barbara.”

Burt Reynolds: A Lifelong Friend and Mentor

“I met Burt at a Directors Guild dinner, and he said, ‘We’re going to work together someday. You’ll be hearing from me.’ I looked at him like, ‘Yeah, right.’ But I ended up working with Burt on Stroker Ace and had a blast. There was a scene where he was supposed to punch me, and he accidentally did. He was so apologetic for bopping me right in the nose!”

Baywatch: A Career Comeback

“After the first season of Baywatch, I told David Hasselhoff I was done running around the beach in a little Speedo. Then he called me and said, ‘Come direct the show.’ So I said yes and started directing, and then acting in episodes again. Looking back, I never should have left that show. We all make mistakes. My wife at the time, Kirstie Alley, wasn’t thrilled about me working every day at the beach with Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, and Erika Eleniak.”

Working with Kirstie Alley

“Kirstie was in the first miniseries of North and South and had been away for six months. We had only been married a short time, so when the Billy part became available in Book II, I didn’t want to be away from her for that long again, so I really went after that part. But I ended up going away to shoot for six months, and she only worked two weeks.”

When Kirstie won her Emmy for Cheers, she famously thanked you for giving her ‘the big