WILLARD PARKER BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Willard Parker was born on February 5th, 1912 in New York City, New York with the birth name Worster Van Eps.  His first choice of career was as a tennis player and he also earned money working as a meter reader, however, when he turned twenty five he had a change of heart and decided to pursue a career as an actor.
 
His acting career began with a number of small film roles and a couple appearances as a stage actor.  He then was given the chance to sign a contract with Columbia Pictures and soon was appearing on such films as, "The Fighting Guardsman" (1946) starring alongside Anita Louise, Janis Carter, John Loder, Edgar Buchanan, George Macready and Lloyd Corrigan, "The Great Jesse James Raid" (1953) starring with Tom Neal, Barbara Payton and Wallace Ford, "Kiss Me Kate" (1953) starring Kathryn Grayson, Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore and Howard Keel, "Lone Texan" (1959) also starring Grant Williams and Audrey Dalton and "Young Jesse James" (1960) starring Ray Stricklyn and Merry Anders and Robert Dix.
 
Along with his film work he was most well known for his role on the television series, "Tales of the Texas Rangers" (1955) sharring the starring spotlight with fellow actor Harry Lauter.  Other television appearances over the course of his career included, "The Ford Television Theatre", "M Squad" starring Lee Marvin, "Going My Way" and "Fireside Theatre". 

His last role was on the film, "The Great Waltz" (1972) starring Horst Buchholz, Mary Costa, Rossano Brazzi and Nigel Patrick and he then chose to retire from the industry and pursue a completely new career selling real estate. 

Throughout his lifetime he married twice, first to Mario Pierce in 1939 and they remained together until 1951 and had one child together.  He then wed Virginia Field in 1951 and they were together until she passed away in 1992.  Four years later Willard Parker passed away from heart failure on December 4th, 1996 in Rancho Mirage, California. 

Filmography

1972         The Great Waltz
1966         Waco
1964         The Earth Dies Screaming
1962         Going My Way
1962         Air Patrol
1960         The High Powered Rifle
1960         Walk Tall
1960         Young Jesse James
1960         Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1959         Lone Texan
1955-1958     Tales of the Texas Rangers
1958         M Squad
1957         Lure of the Swamp
1956         Naked Gun
1953-1955     The Ford Television Theatre 
1952-1955     Schlitz Playhouse
1954         Fireside Theatre 
1953         Kiss Me Kate
1953         The Great Jesse James Raid
1953         The Vanquished
1953         Sangaree
1952         Caribbean
1951         Apache Drums
1951         My True Story
1950         Hunt the Man Down
1950         The Bandit Queen
1950         Emergency Wedding
1950         David Harding, Counterspy
1950         The Secret Fury
1949         Bodyhold
1949         Calamity Jane and Sam Bass
1949         Slightly French
1948         You Gotta Stay Happy
1948         The Mating of Millie
1948         Relentless
1948         The Wreck of the Hesperus
1946         Renegades
1946         One Way to Love
1946         The Fighting Guardsman
1943         What a Woman!
1939         The Magnificent Fraud
1939         The Zero Hour
1938         Accidents Will Happen
1938         A Slight Case of Murder
1938         The Invisible Menace
1937         Missing Witnesses
1937         The Adventurous Blonde
1937         Over the Goal
1937         Alcatraz Island
1937         Love Is on the Air
1937         Back in Circulation
1937         That Certain Woman
1937         The Devil's Saddle Legion