Bill Stalker

Bill Stalker made an imposing and unforgettable television presence: over 6 feet tall, rumple-suited, and sporting a bushy mustache, his casting as a television cop was almost inevitable. Following success in his native New Zealand, Stalker was cast in Crawford Productions' airline drama, 'Skyways', as Peter Fanelli, head of airport security. He made an immediate impact, quickly became one of the serial's most popular actors. Upon the serial's cancellation, the Fanelli character was transferred to the police serial 'Cop Shop' (also produced by Crawford Productions), with Fanelli now heading Riverside CIB as a Detective Sergeant. Stalker stayed with the program for nine months, and resigned to pursue movie offers. However, in a weekend break between taping his final scenes, Stalker was killed in a motorcycle accident on November 29th 1981.