- Is a Korean War veteran.
- His character Spenser is modeled after Raymond Chandler's private eye Philip Marlowe.
- Helen Hunt requested he create a female private detective for her to play. The result was Parker's series of novels featuring Sunny Randall.
- He was chosen to complete Raymond Chandler's last Phillip Marlowe novel (one of the inspirations for Parker's own fictional private eye, Spenser), "Poodle Springs." Though Chandler left only four chapters when he died in 1959, Parker, to critical acclaim and commercial success, completed the novel, which was published in 1989 (with an initial print run of 200,000).
- Received his doctorate in American Literature from Boston University, and later taught at Northeastern (also in Boston).
- Won the 1977 Mystery Writer's of America's "Edgar" Award (named after Edgar Allen Poe) for Best Novel of the Year for his 1976 novel, "Promised Land", fourth in the Spenser series.
- Has never revealed the first name of Spenser, his best-known character. In fact, in only one book--1991's "Stardust"--is Spenser even asked his name by another character.
- 2002: Received the prestigious Connor Award given by the brothers of the Phi Alpha Tau fraternity based out of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also an honorary brother of the fraternity.
- In 2002, Parker was awarded the "Edgar" for "Grand Master" by the Mystery Writers of America.
- Has two sons, Daniel Parker (an actor) and David Parker (a choreographer).
- Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colby College (Maine) before joining the army. After completing his service, he returned to college, earning Master's (1962) and Doctoral degrees from Boston University (1971).
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