Craig Parker

Craig Parker
Parker at the 2012 Chicago Comic Con
Born (1970-11-12) 12 November 1970 (age 54)
Suva, Fiji
NationalityNew Zealand
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present

Craig Parker (born 12 November 1970) is a New Zealand actor, known for his roles as Guy Warner in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street (1992–96, 2007–08, 2020, 2023), Haldir in the Lord of the Rings films The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002), Darken Rahl in the syndicated television series Legend of the Seeker (2008–10), Gaius Claudius Glaber in the starz series Spartacus (2010–12), and Stéphane Narcisse in the CW television series Reign (2014–17).

Career

Parker starred in the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street as Guy Warner, a character that has made several return appearances, most recently involving a story where Guy ran off with his brother's wife, Toni, only to return months later as a drug addled loser who attempted to use his daughter to score drugs for him. It ultimately led to the death storyline of Toni Warner. He is the reigning champion of New Zealand's Celebrity Joker Poker. He made his soap debut in 1992, and last appeared in 2020.[1]

Parker in 2012

Parker appeared as Haldir of Lórien in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy from 2001 to 2003, and as Sabas in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009). He starred in a number of New Zealand television series, most notable Mercy Peak (2001-2004), and Diplomatic Immunity (2009).[2] He guest-starred on Xena: Warrior Princess, Young Hercules, Sleepy Hollow, and NCIS. He also serves as narrator for New Zealand documentaries.

Parker starred as Darken Rahl in Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert's syndicated television series Legend of the Seeker. He later starred as Gaius Claudius Glaber in the Starz original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, and Spartacus: Vengeance which premiered on 22 January 2010 and is also produced by Raimi and Tapert.

From 2014 to 2017, Parker played Lord Stéphane Narcisse in the CW period romance drama series Reign. He guest starred in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. portraying the Kree Taryan in 2018, and later had a recurring role during the first season of the 2018 reboot of Charmed playing Alastair Caine.[3]

Personal life

His grandfather moved from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Fiji when he was stationed during his years of service in the British Army. Apart from his Scottish ancestry, Parker is also of Welsh, Danish, and English descent. Parker was educated at Glenfield College, on Auckland's North Shore.[4]

Parker is openly gay. He came out in an interview with The New Zealand Herald in 2008.[5]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 A Soldier's Sweetheart Soldier #1
2001 No One Can Hear You Henley
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Haldir
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Gothmog / Guritz Extra / Voice
2006 Weekend Lovers Matt
2009 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Sabas

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Gloss Justin Grieg Unknown episodes
1989 Hotshotz Nicholas
1992–1996,
2007–2008, 2020, 2023 		Shortland Street Guy Warner Main role
1993 The Tommyknockers Student bartender Miniseries
1996 City Life Seth 2 episodes
1997 2 People Host Unknown episodes
1997 Xena: Warrior Princess Prince Sarpedon Episode: "For Him the Bell Tolls"
1998 Young Hercules Lucius 2 episodes
1999 Xena: Warrior Princess Cleades Episode: "The Key to the Kingdom"
1999 A Twist in the Tale Larry Sharpe Episode: "A Crack in Time"
2001 Xena: Warrior Princess Bellerophon Episode: "To Helicon and Back"
2001–2004 Mercy Peak Alistair Kingsley Main role, 32 episodes
Nominated — New Zealand Film and TV Award for Best Supporting Actor
2003 Power Rangers Ninja Storm Blue Face Voice role; episode: "Prelude to a Storm"
2003 Power Rangers Ninja Storm Mad Magnet Voice role; episode: "There's No "I" in Team"
2003 Power Rangers Ninja Storm Motodrone Recurring voice role, 8 episodes
2005 Power Rangers S.P.D. Narrator Voice role; episode: "Beginnings: Part 1"
2008–2010 Legend of the Seeker Darken Rahl Main role, 25 episodes
Nominated — New Zealand Film and TV Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actor
2009 Diplomatic Immunity Leighton Mills Main role, 13 episodes
2010 Radiradirah Prince John 2 episodes
2010, 2012 Spartacus Gaius Claudius Glaber Recurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2), 13 episodes
2011 Waitangi: What Really Happened James Stuart Freeman Television film
2012 Shackleton's Captain Frank Worsley Television film
Nominated — New Zealand Film and TV Award for Best Performance by an Actor
2013 NCIS: Los Angeles Vasile Comescu Episode: "Reznikov, N."
2013 Sleepy Hollow Colonel Banastre Tarleton Episode: "The Sin Eater"
2014 NCIS JAG Major Richard Huggins Episode: "Shooter"
2014–2017 Reign Lord Stéphane Narcisse Main role (seasons 2–4), 56 episodes
2018 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Taryan 2 episodes
2018–2019 Charmed Alastair Caine Recurring role (season 1), 11 episodes
2021 Good Trouble Yuri Elwin Recurring role (season 3), 6 episodes. Recurring role (season 4)[6]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Macbeth Malcolm
1992 Weed Hugh
1994 The Seagull Constantin
1997 Arcadia Valentine Coverly
1998–99 Wind in the Willows Mole
1999 Theatre Sports
1999 Amy's View Dominic Tyghe
2001 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Rosencrantz
2001 The Judas Kiss Robert Ross
2002–03 The Rocky Horror Show Narrator
2005 Serial Killers Matt
2006 Glide Time John
2007 The Pillowman Katurian

References

  1. ^ "Why Craig Parker envied his Shorty co-stars". NZ Herald.
  2. ^ Screen, NZ On. "Craig Parker | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com.
  3. ^ "Charmed Reboot Casts Reign's Craig Parker as Possible Villain". ScreenRant. 14 September 2018.
  4. ^ "No more Mr Nice Guy". Herald on Sunday. 20 January 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  5. ^ "In Addition to a Gay Character, "Spartacus" Also Features Out Actor Craig Parker".
  6. ^ Petski, Denise (3 March 2021). "'Good Trouble': Catherine Haena Kim & Craig Parker To Recur On Season 3". Deadline Hollywood.

Media related to Craig Parker at Wikimedia Commons