As New York-born Worcester Van Eps, he was originally a meter reader at first who turned professional tennis player, In 1937, aged 25. However, he parlayed his fair-haired good looks and obvious athleticism into an acting career and changed his name to the friendlier and less ethnic marquee moniker (common during that time of Hollywood) of Willard Parker.
After a number of uncredited film roles and a couple of appearances on the Broadway stage with "Johnny Belinda" (1940) and "Lady in the Dark" (1943), Willard was signed by Columbia in the 1940s and moved into "B" movie leads and co-leads. A reliable player, most of his roles, which fell into the action adventure category, went by unnoticed, including the swashbuckling film
The Fighting Guardsman (1945), and the western actioners
Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949),
Apache Drums (1951),
The Great Jesse James Raid (1953),
Lone Texan (1958) and his role as "Cole Younger" in
Young Jesse James (1960). He also had a secondary non-singing role in his best-known movie, playing a bombastic Texan vying for the affections of
Kathryn Grayson in the musical
Kiss Me Kate (1953).
In the 1950s, Willard developed a semi-strong following partnered with
Harry Lauter in the TV action show,
Tales of the Texas Rangers (1955) (1955-1959).
He eventually retired to sell real estate. Married twice, his second wife was the beautiful blonde actress
Virginia Field, who appeared with him in the British sci-fi flick,
The Earth Dies Screaming (1964). They had no children together, although Willard did have a son by his previous marriage to former stage actress
Marion Pierce.
In 1974, he suffered a stroke, effectively ending his performing career.
He died at age 84, on December 4, 1996, due to heart failure.
Waco(1966)as Pete Jenner
The Earth Dies Screaming(1964)as Jeff Nolan
Going My Way(1962)as Msgr. Joseph Francis Giblin
Air Patrol(1962)as Lt. Vern Taylor
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse(1958)as Bill
TV's Western Heroes(1993)as Ranger Jace Pearson
