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The Stunt Men and Women



1937
 

1952

Eddie Parker

Birth name: Edwin G. Parker

1900 - 1960

Edwin 'Eddie' Parker was born December 12, 1900 in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota to Fred and Barbara Parker. The family re-located to Denver, Colorado and were there for the 1910 and 1920 census. And another move occurred and Eddie and his mother were in Los Angeles at the time of the 1930 census.

Parker became a busy and respected member of Hollywood's stunt community and worked in hundreds of films at Republic, Universal, Columbia, other production companies. But he also picked up additional income doing hundreds of bit parts and acting jobs in B westerns, serials, A grade films, and TV programs.

His acting and stunt work was significant. Here's his numbers from the Internet Movie Database as of February, 2023:

Acting (lots of uncredited roles): 303 films

Stunts and doubling: 444 films

Years active: 1931 - 1960

His early work was in 1930s Mascot cliffhangers, John Wayne westerns, more. He MAY have appeared in some late 1920s films but that has yet to be confirmed.

Parker's acting roles at Republic Pictures is documented in Jack Mathis' Republic Confidential, Volume 2, The Players (Jack Mathis Advertising, 1992). He acted in 65 films during the years 1935 - 1955. Interestingly, he was there at the formation of Republic Pictures in the mid 1930s. And he also had a minor part and stunting in Republic's final cliffhanger, KING OF THE CARNIVAL (Republic, 1955; 12 chapters).

He also turns up in Charles Starrett / Durango Kid oaters, Johnny Mack Brown adventures at Monogram, Gene Autry's series for Columbia Pictures, Eddie Dean's films for PRC, more. And he was frequently employed by Universal in horror films and a good example is Eddie as the gauze wrapped "Klaris" in ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY (Universal-International, 1955). He was billed - as Edwin Parker - in the MUMMY's opening and closing titles and credits.

Here's a few of Parker's acting roles in B westerns and serials:

  • Parker and Earl Dwire are henchmen working for the 'Shadow' in John Wayne's STAR PACKER (1934 Lone Star/Monogram).
  • he plays a wounded mountie in John Wayne's THE TRAIL BEYOND (Lone Star/Monogram, 1934).
  • he's a member of the "Black Raiders" gang in THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN (Republic, 1939; 15 chapters).
  • he has some dialog as second-in-command to villain George Chesebro in Eddie Dean's SHADOW VALLEY (PRC, 1947).
  • in Eddie Dean's HAWK OF POWDER RIVER (1948 PRC), Tim Holt's sister Jennifer Holt is the leader of an outlaw gang. Parker is her crooked lawyer.
Parker's stunt specialty was fisticuffs / screen brawls and a great example is the saloon fight in LONE STAR TRAIL (1943 Universal) which starred Johnny Mack Brown and Tex Ritter. Another great barroom battle occurs in Johnny Mack Brown's FLAME OF THE WEST (Monogram, 1945). In cliffhangers, Eddie doubled many including Lee Powell in THE FIGHTING DEVIL DOGS (Republic, 1938; 12 chapters). And Parker - and other stuntmen - provided us with a fistfight overload in SECRET SERVICE IN DARKEST AFRICA (Republic, 1943; 15 chapters).

As noted earlier, his near thirty year acting and stunt career ran from the early 1930s through 1960. He and Bess M. Harvey tied the knot on July 6, 1935 in Los Angeles and were together through his death on January 20, 1960 from a heart attack. In their later years, they lived in Sherman Oaks, California. Appears Bess and Eddie had no children.

Lots of comments and questions from book authors, researchers, etc. about his death. The story goes that he (and stuntman Ken Terrell?) staged a fight for a January, 1960 Jack Benny TV program or rehearsal, and Eddie succumbed to a heart attack later at his Sherman Oaks home.

Did not find a death announcement at newspapers.com, newspaper archive, or Variety archive. There was a funeral notice in the January 21, 1960 Los Angeles (California) Times newspaper - services at the funeral home and church were January 22 - 23 and interment at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles.

Harrison Carroll's syndicated "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood" newspaper column noted his death:

"Hollywood was saddened by death of veteran stuntman Eddie Parker. He had come out of retirement to work on a TV show and complained of feeling bad. In the night, he died ..." (Click HERE for the clipping.)

From Boyd Magers:

"Stuntman/actor Eddie Parker, who was in over 45 serials, died following a heart attack suffered during the making of a Jack Benny TV episode January 20, 1960. He was 59."

Before he became TV's Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore worked with Eddie at Republic and Columbia ... and he had positive memories and commented that "Eddie was a great stunt double." There's more on Moore's remembrances of Eddie Parker further down this webpage.




(Courtesy of Shirley Jean Rickert)

Left to right are Shirley Jean Rickert, John Wayne, Eddie Parker, Allen Pomeroy, and bearded Tex Phelps in 'NEATH THE ARIZONA SKIES (Lone Star/Monogram, 1935).

According to his World War II draft registration, Eddie was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 195 pounds. Notice his height vs. John Wayne.



And another height comparison - John Wayne and Eddie Parker in a screen capture from a colorized version of THE STAR PACKER (Lone Star/Monogram, 1934).


Below is the standard Day Player contract for Parker doing an acting role at Republic Pictures. Pay was $25.00/day, $125.00/week, and production #1095 was MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR SATAN (Republic, 1940; 15 chapters).

The 1940 census asked about work and income for 1939 - Eddie worked 24 weeks and earned $4300.00. According to the Census Bureau, the average family income in 1940 was $1,368.00 and median income for a man in 1940 was $956.00.


(Courtesy of Phil Arnold)


This bio on Edwin Parker was in the pressbook for the serial THE LONE RANGER RIDES AGAIN (Republic, 1939; 15 chapters).


Can confirm two of his early jobs prior to Hollywood:

In the 1920 census, 19 year old Eddie was a "Salesman - Flower store" in Denver, Colorado.

I Was That Masked Man (Taylor Publishing, 1998) by Clayton Moore and Frank Thompson is a nice biography of Clayton 'Lone Ranger' Moore. Moore had comments about Eddie on page 102:

"Eddie Parker ... had been a mortician before he started doubling. He told me once, that if he was burying someone in a tuxedo and he had a date that night, he would wear the tuxedo. 'My client wouldn't miss it for one night. After all, He's gonna be wearing it for a loooong time!' Once we heard the story, Roy Barcroft and I really gave Eddie the business. We never ran out of mortician jokes. He was a little odd, but Eddie was a great stunt double."



The above photo ad for Edwin Parker is from the "Character Men" section of the January and March, 1926 Standard Casting Directory. Appears there's some undiscovered 1920s film work for him.

There's also some photo ads as well as many name and telephone number listings for Edwin Parker / Eddie Parker in 1930s issues of the Academy Players Directory.



  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Eddie Parker: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662219/

The Internet Movie Database has a "people working together" search function. Parker worked in:
31 films with John Wayne: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0662219,nm0000078
30 films with Johnny Mack Brown: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0113902,nm0662219
28 films with Charles Starrett: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0823633,nm0662219
15 films with Gene Autry: https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?role=nm0000810,nm0662219

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), California Death Index, Minnesota Historical Society website, and obituaries/funeral notices provide more on Eddie Parker and family.

Family trees on Ancestry.com indicate Eddie's wife was Bess Myrtle Harvey, born 1897, and passed away on December 1, 1966.

  • Minnesota Historical Society has a birth index record for Edwin Parker, born December 12, 1900 in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and his mother's maiden name was Heseldentz: https://www.mnhs.org/people/birthrecords/1900-37136
  • Birth record (not the birth certificate) of Edwin Parker - he was born December 12, 1900 in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota to Fred and Barbara Parker: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPNG-8QP
  • 1910 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting in Denver, Colorado are 34 year old Fred A. Parler [sic] (born Ireland; occupation "Foreman - Elevator"), 35 year old wife Barbara (born Minnesota), and 9 year old son Edwin G. Parler [sic] (born Minnesota): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKW5-R64
  • 1920 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting in Denver, Colorado are 45 year old Fred Parker (born Minnesota; occupation "Truck Driver - Packing Company)", his 48 year old wife Barbara (born Minnesota; occupation "Chambermaid - Hotel"), and 19 year old son Edwin (born Minnesota; occupation "Salesman - Flower store"): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX2J-5D5
  • 1930 census summary and census takers worksheet - renting in Los Angeles, California were 55 year old Barbara R. Parker (born Minnesota; listed as single; occupation "Actor - Movie Studio") and her 29 year old son Edwin G. Parker (born Minnesota; occupation "Janitor - Office Bldg"): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCVL-LRX
  • July 6, 1935 Los Angeles County marriage license of 34 year old Edwin Parker (born Minnesota; occupation "Theatrical - Motion Pictures") and 34 year old Bess M. Harvey (born Iowa; occupation "Clerk-Dept Water and Power") in Los Angeles. Was first marriage for both.:
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8JK-7B8
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93H-4283?i=407&cc=1804002
  • 1940 census summary and census takers worksheet - 39 year old Edwin Parkes [sic] (born Minnesota) and 42 year old wife Bess M. (born Iowa) were renting at 1147 Sanborn Avenue, Los Angeles. He completed school through eighth grade; occupation was "Actor - Picture Industry", and in 1939, he worked 24 weeks and earned $4300.00. Bess was a "Clerk - Dept. Water and Power": https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9CZ-YZX
  • Ancestry.com had his World War II draft registration dated February 14, 1942 - 41 year old Edwin Parker was born December 12, 1900 in St. Paul, Minnesota; he lived at 1147 Sanborn Avnue, Los Angeles; contact was his mother Barbara Parker in Los Angeles; and his occupation was "Free lance Actor - Screen Actors Guild". He was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 195 pounds.
  • 1950 census summary and census takers worksheet - living at 1729 M????, Los Angeles were 49 year old Edwin Parker (born Minnesota; occupation "Actor - Motion Picture Studio") and his 52 year old wife Bess M. (born Iowa): https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGK-XJSR
  • California Death Index has a record for Edwin Parker, born December 12, 1900 in Minnesota, mother's maiden name of Hazelden, and passed away January 20, 1960 in the Los Angeles area: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGRD-YB5
  • The January 21, 1960 Los Angeles (California) Times newspaper had a funeral notice - excerpts: "PARKER, Edwin, of 4236 Sherman Oaks Avenue, Sherman Oaks (California). Beloved husband of Mrs. Bess Parker. ... Interment Calvary Cemetery." (Funeral notice is at: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118130322/funeral-notice-for-actor-and-stuntman/)

Find A Grave has a photo of the marker for Edwin Parker who is interred at Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6963467/eddie-parker

The Classic Horror Film Board has a super-size section devoted to Eddie Parker, and there's hundreds of photos, lobby cards, and screen captures. The links below will open in a separate window / tab:

Webpage number 38 has info on his death and the Jack Benny program. Scroll down toward the bottom of this webpage: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/eddie-parker-gallery-new-t55226-s740.html

Webpage number 3 has questions about whether Parker was in the later Frankenstein and Wolfman movies at Universal: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/viewtopic.php?p=126861#p126861




(From Old Corral collection)

Above - a young John Wayne has collared a young and thin Eddie Parker. And on horseback, Yakima Canutt has Earl Dwire under wraps. This re-release lobby card is from THE STAR PACKER (Lone Star/Monogram, 1934), one of eleven 1930s Wayne westerns directed by Bob Steele's father, Robert North Bradbury.



(Courtesy of Ed Tabor)

Left to right are John Wayne, Lloyd Ingraham, Eddie Parker, and Jay Wilsey (Buffalo Bill, Jr.) in a lobby card from RAINBOW VALLEY (Lone Star/Monogram, 1935).



(From Old Corral collection)


Above is a 1950 re-issue lobby card and a crop / blowup from the Three Mesquiteers' THUNDERING TRAILS (Republic, 1943). Our Mesquiteer trio were Tom Tyler, Bob Steele, and Jimmie Dodd. That's trooper Eddie Parker on the far left. Reed Howes in the center with 'stache and flat top hat. Tyler and Steele on the right. And John James is ruffin' up a no-good in the center.



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

On the left are Allan Lane and Linda Stirling captured by three great stunt men doing acting jobs in THE TIGER WOMAN (Republic, 1944) serial. Center is Cliff Lyons, then Duke Green, and far right is Eddie Parker.



(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Left to right are Eddie Parker, Johnny Mack Brown, and Riley Hill in TRIGGER FINGERS (Monogram, 1946).



Cast listing and photo of Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, and Eddie Parker (as mummy "Klaris") clipped from the pressbook for ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY (Universal-International, 1955).

In the film's opening and closing titles and credits, Eddie was billed as "Edwin Parker".


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