Frank Parker

Character actor Frank Parker spent years toiling on television before finding his niche with a long run on the daytime soap opera "Days of Our Lives" (NBC, 1965-). A native of Darby, Pennsylvania, he began his acting career in the 1960s with a guest spot on "Gomer Pyle, USMC" (CBS, 1964-69). He continued working throughout the decade in small roles in TV series like "Lost in Space" (CBS, 1965-68), "Hogan's Heroes" (CBS, 1965-71), and "Daktari" (CBS, 1966-69). He made his big screen debut in the Doris Day vehicle "The Glass Bottom Boat" (1966), and appeared with Elvis Presley in "Stay Away, Joe" (1968). Throughout the 1970s, Parker was a regular presence on television in guest roles, frequently playing a law enforcement character. Among the numerous programs that he appeared on were "The Six Million Dollar Man" (ABC, 1973-78), "S.W.A.T." (ABC, 1975-76), and "CHiPs" (NBC, 1977-83). He also appeared in the TV movie "Just a Little Inconvenience" (NBC, 1977) and the disaster film "The Concorde: Airport '79" (1979). Parker had his first taste of daytime drama when he appeared on the short-lived "Never Too Young" (ABC, 1965-66) in the '60s. He took a role on the extremely popular "General Hospital" (ABC, 1963-), playing the original owner of the show's hangout, Kelly's. He began his best known role in 1983 when he appeared on "Days of Our Lives" as "Grandpa" Shawn Brady, the father of mainstays Roman and Bo Brady. Parker appeared on and off as the character during the rest of his acting career, before leaving in 2008 because of failing health. The show's writers gave the character a heroic end when he died after giving up his oxygen mask to save Bo during a plane crash. Parker passed away on September 16, 2018 from complications related to Parkinson's Disease and dementia.