Willard Parker
Actor

Willard Parker Net Worth

Willard Parker was a New York-born meter reader who turned professional tennis player before transitioning to an acting career in 1937. He was signed by Columbia in the 1940s and starred in a number of action adventure films, including The Fighting Guardsman (1946), Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949), Apache Drums (1951), The Great Jesse James Raid (1953), Lone Texan (1959) and Young Jesse James (1960). He also had a secondary role in the musical Kiss Me Kate (1953). In the 1950s, he partnered with Harry Lauter in the TV action show, Tales of the Texas Rangers (1955-1959). He married twice, his second wife being actress Virginia Field, and had a son from his first marriage. He suffered a stroke in 1974 and died of heart failure in his 80s.
Willard Parker is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor
Birth Day February 05, 1912
Birth Place  New York City, New York, United States
Age 108 YEARS OLD
Died On December 4, 1996(1996-12-04) (aged 84)\nRancho Mirage, Riverside County\nCalifornia, U.S.
Birth Sign Pisces
Cause of death Heart attack
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Cathedral City)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1937–1972
Spouse(s) Marion Pierce (1939–1951, divorced) Virginia Field (1951–1992, her death)
Children 1 son

💰 Net worth

Willard Parker, an esteemed actor from the United States, is anticipated to possess a net worth ranging between $100,000 and $1 million in the year 2024. Throughout his illustrious career, Parker has gained recognition for his remarkable talent and contributions to the entertainment industry. With notable performances in various movies and television shows, he has amassed both critical acclaim and financial success. As an accomplished actor, Parker has become a beloved figure among audiences, leaving an indelible impact on the world of acting.

Biography/Timeline

1930

Parker signed to Warner Bros in the late 1930s. He made his debut with an uncredited bit in the Dick Foran Western, The Devil's Saddle Legion (1937). He had small parts in That Certain Woman (1937) with Bette Davis; Back in Circulation (1937) with Pat O'Brien; The Radio Murder Mystery (1937) with Ronald Reagan; Alcatraz Island (1937) with John Litel; Over the Goal (1937) with June Travis; The Adventurous Blonde (1937) with Glenda Farrell; Missing Witness (1937) with Litel; and The Invisible Menace (1938) with Boris Karloff.

1938

Parker's first notable film role was in A Slight Case of Murder (1938) with Edward G. Robinson. He followed it with Accidents Will Happen (1938) with Reagan, but then left the studio.

1939

Parker was married to Marion Pierce from 1939 to 1951. They had one child. They were divorced and Parker married Virginia Field from 1951 until her death in 1992.

1940

Parker decided to go to the stage to learn how to act. He worked for a stock company then tried Broadway, where he had a role in a hit play Johnny Belinda (1940) by Elmer Rice. He then replaced Victor Mature in the cast of the musical Lady in the Dark (1941) opposite Gertrude Lawrence. He went with the show when it toured on the road in 1943. This brought him to the attention of executives at Columbia Pictures who signed him to a long-term contract.

1943

Parker was the second male lead in What a Woman! (1943), a romantic comedy with Rosalind Russell and Brian Aherne.

1945

His career was interrupted by Service with the US Marines. Then when he returned Columbia promoted him to leading man status in the swashbuckler The Fighting Guardsman (1945). Then they starred him in a comedy One Way to Love (1946); and a Western, Renegades (1946).

1948

Universal borrowed him for a support role in You Gotta Stay Happy (1948) with Joan Fontaine and James Stewart. Back at Columbia he supported Don Ameche and Dorothy Lamour in the musical Slightly French (1949). Universal borrowed him for another support part, this time in the Yvonne de Carlo Western Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949).

1949

Columbia gave him the lead in some "B"s, Bodyhold (1949), as a Wrestler, with Lola Albright; and David Harding, Counterspy (1950), playing the title role. He played the third lead in the comedy Emergency Wedding (1950), supporting Larry Parks and Barbara Hale.

1950

Parker went to Lippert Pictures to make Bandit Queen (1950), co-starring with Barbara Britton.

1951

Universal used Parker as the third lead in the Western Apache Drums (1951). He had support roles in three films for Pine-Thomas Productions, Caribbean Gold (1952), Sangaree (1953) and The Vanquished (1953). He guest starred on TV in The Adventures of Ellery Queen (1952).

1952

Parker and his wife Virginia Field appeared in "Mr. And Mrs. Trubble" for Schlitz Playhouse (1952). That show invited him back for "Twenty-two Sycamore Road" (1953, with Nancy Reagan), "Little War at San Dede" (1954), and "Visitor in the Night" (1955).

1953

Parker returned to leads with the role of Jesse James in The Great Jesse James Raid (1953) for Lippert Pictures. He had a small role in Kiss Me Kate (1953)at MGM.

1954

He also guest starred on Fireside Theatre in "A Mother's Duty" (1954) and "No Time for Susan" (1955, with his wife), and The Ford Television Theatre in "Kiss and Forget" (1953, with his wife), and "The Mumbys" (1955, with his wife).

1955

Parker was cast as Ranger Jace Pearson in the 52-episode CBS television series, Tales of the Texas Rangers, which aired from 1955 to 1958. His co-star was Harry Lauter as Ranger Clay Morgan. The series was rerun thereafter on ABC.

1956

Parker starred in a low budget Western for Fox, Naked Gun (1956), and Lure of the Swamp (1957). He guest starred in Lee Marvin's NBC crime drama, M Squad (1958) then starred in some low budget Westerns, Lone Texan (1959), Young Jesse James (1960) and Walk Tall (1960). He did "Dr Kate" for Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1960). Walk Tall was directed by Maury Dexter who used Parker in The High Powered Rifle (1961) andAir Patrol (1962).

1962

He guest starred in ABC's religion drama series, Going My Way, starring Gene Kelly and Leo G. Carroll as Roman Catholic Priests in New York City. Parker was cast as Msgr. Joe Giblin in the 1962 episode, "The Crooked Angel."

1964

He had the lead in the British film The Earth Dies Screaming (1964) and was one of many names in Waco (1966).

1972

His last film role was in The Great Waltz (1972).

Some Willard Parker images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.