Days of Our Lives Star Frank Parker Dies at 79 From Parkinson's Disease & Dementia Complications
He was not on the list.
The soap opera community is mourning the loss of longtime actor, Frank Parker.
Parker — best known for playing the role of Grandpa Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives — died on Sept. 16 in Vacaville, California.
The veteran actor passed away due to complications of Parkinson’s disease and dementia, according to his obituary in The Reporter. He was 79.
Parker’s acting career spanned over five decades.
He first broke onto the scene in the 60’s and 70’s, making appearances in film and television — including on soap operas General Hospital and The Young and the Restless — before landing the role as Shawn Brady on Days in 1983.
The actor remained on the daytime drama for 25 years. He retired in 2008 after his character died when he gave up his oxygen mask to save his son during an airplane hijacking.
Around that time, Parker’s health was reportedly beginning to decline which caused him to give up acting for good.
In his obituary, which was also published on Legacy.com, Frank was described as “a people person” who “touched many lives and was loved by everyone.”
“He could light up a room with his singing voice and was known to burst into song at any moment,” his family wrote. “He was a ham and loved the spotlight. Above all, he was the most supportive, generous, kind man and father. Frank loved his family.”
Parker leaves behind twin daughters, Danielle Dallas and Lindsay Kyle, from his first marriage to Nola Donelle Rajcok. His first-born daughter, Candace Donelle, died in 1998 from a car accident.
The actor is also survived by his second wife, Mary Jean Dunning Garofalo. The couple wed in 2005 and resided in Vacaville up until his death.
Following the news, fans and fellow actors from the daytime drama, including James Reynolds and Stephen Nichols, expressed their condolences to Parker and his family on Twitter.
Good man Good actor,” wrote Nichols, who played Patch on Days for over 16 years. “Best TV pop in law So full of Blarney and Joy! Much love on your Journey.”
Another Twitter user, who is a self-proclaimed soap fan wrote: “The Days Viewers will be Forever Thankful for his Work on #Days My Condolences and Love go out to his Family, His Friends & Those who Knew Him.”
Actor (48 credits)
1977-2009 Days of Our Lives (TV Series)
Grandpa Shawn Brady / Shawn Brady / Dr. Patrick Hennessy / ...
- Episode #1.11020 (2009) ... Grandpa Shawn Brady (credit only)
- Episode #1.11019 (2009) ... Grandpa Shawn Brady (credit only)
- Episode #1.11018 (2009) ... Grandpa Shawn Brady (credit only)
- Episode #1.11017 (2009) ... Grandpa Shawn Brady (credit only)
- Episode #1.11016 (2009) ... Grandpa Shawn Brady (credit only)
1985 Crazy Like a Fox (TV Series)
- Fox and Hounds (1985)
1984 Blue Thunder (TV Series)
Harter
- The Island (1984) ... Harter
1983 The Fall Guy (TV Series)
Ted and Sally's Mark
- Death Boat (1983) ... Ted and Sally's Mark
1981 The Other Victim (TV Movie)
1981 Hart to Hart (TV Series)
Herbert Soames
- Slow Boat to Murder (1981) ... Herbert Soames
1977-1981 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)
Mitchell Demming / FBI Agent / Dr. Winton Weiss / ...
- Scream to the Skies (1981) ... Mitchell Demming
- The Money Plague (1979) ... FBI Agent
- Speed Trap (1978) ... Dr. Winton Weiss
- Has Anybody Here Seen Quincy? (1977) ... Jerry Wade
1981 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV Series)
Captain
- Mark of the Saurian (1981) ... Captain
1980 CBS Library (TV Series)
Mr. North
- Animal Talk (1980) ... Mr. North
1979 CHiPs (TV Series)
Clifford / Commissioner
- Christmas Watch (1979) ... Clifford
- Death Watch (1979) ... Commissioner
1979 The Concorde... Airport '79
Technician #2
1979 Sword of Justice (TV Series)
Langdon
- Blackjack (1979) ... Langdon
1979 Battlestar Galactica (TV Series)
Zed
- Murder on the Rising Star (1979) ... Zed
- The Man with Nine Lives (1979) ... Zed
1976-1978 The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series)
Guard Russell / Ed
- The Madonna Caper (1978) ... Guard Russell
- H+2+O = Death (1976) ... Ed
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series)
Captain Morse
- The Strange Fate of Flight 608 (1977) ... Captain Morse
1977 Wonder Woman (TV Series)
Lane Curran
- Knockout (1977) ... Lane Curran
1977 Just a Little Inconvenience (TV Movie)
Bill
1976 Switch (TV Series)
Tom Brown
- The 100,000 Ruble Rumble (1976) ... Tom Brown
1976 Black Sheep Squadron (TV Series)
Commander
- High Jinx (1976) ... Commander
1976 Midway
Deke (uncredited)
1975 S.W.A.T. (TV Series)
Larry Walker
- Murder by Fire (1975) ... Larry Walker
1975 Barnaby Jones (TV Series)
Otis Berne
- Counterfall (1975) ... Otis Berne (as Brett Parker)
1974 McCloud (TV Series)
Sheriff Thornton
- The 42nd Street Cavalry (1974) ... Sheriff Thornton (as Brett Parker)
1974 Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)
Sean Hearn
- If I Should Wake Before I Die (1974) ... Sean Hearn (as Brett Parker)
1974 The Cowboys (TV Series)
Herbert Mackey
- Death on a Fast Horse (1974) ... Herbert Mackey (as Brett Parker)
1972-1973 Cannon (TV Series)
Truman / Interrogating Police Officer
- Trial by Terror (1973) ... Truman (as Brett Parker)
- The Rip-Off (1972) ... Interrogating Police Officer (as Brett Parker)
1973 Pets
Dan Daubrey (as Bret Parker)
1973 The Naked Ape
College Professor (as Brett Parker)
1973 This Is a Hijack
Wyatt (as Brett Parker)
1973 The Young and the Restless (TV Series)
Role Unknown (Year Unknown)
1973 You'll Never See Me Again (TV Movie)
Ticket Seller (as Brett Parker)
1973 Room 222 (TV Series)
Arthur Clemens
- Someone Special (1973) ... Arthur Clemens (as Brett Parker)
1972 Second Chance (TV Movie)
Hardin (as Brett Parker)
1971 Mod Squad (TV Series)
Father Jeremy Hogan
- Death of a Nobody (1971) ... Father Jeremy Hogan (as Brett Parker)
1971 The Jimmy Stewart Show (TV Series)
Garvey Hike
- The Father and Son Game (1971) ... Garvey Hike (as Brett Parker)
1971 Mission: Impossible (TV Series)
Roche
- The Tram (1971) ... Roche (as Brett Parker)
1971 Ironside (TV Series)
Vic Hancock
- The Professionals (1971) ... Vic Hancock (as Brett Parker)
1971 Dan August (TV Series)
- Trackdown (1971) ... (as Brett Parker)
1966-1971 Hogan's Heroes (TV Series)
Lieutenant / Hans - Officer #2
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1971) ... Lieutenant (uncredited)
- Request Permission to Escape (1966) ... Hans - Officer #2 (uncredited)
1969 The Trouble with Girls
Iceman (as Brett Parker)
1968 Daktari (TV Series)
Tom Otis
- The Divining Rods (1968) ... Tom Otis (as Brett Parker)
1968 Stay Away, Joe
Deputy Sheriff Hank Matson (as Brett Parker)
1965-1968 Lost in Space (TV Series)
Security Guard
- Time Merchant (1968) ... Security Guard (uncredited)
- The Reluctant Stowaway (1965) ... Security Guard (uncredited)
1966 The Time Tunnel (TV Series)
Countdown Technician
- Rendezvous with Yesterday (1966) ... Countdown Technician (as Brett Parker)
1966 The Glass Bottom Boat
Engineer (uncredited)
1965 Never Too Young (TV Series)
Role Unknown (Year Unknown)
1964 Gomer Pyle: USMC (TV Series)
Harry Phillips
- Gomer Learns a Bully (1964) ... Harry Phillips (as Brett Parker)
1963 General Hospital (TV Series)
Paddy Kelly (1980)
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