Veteran DAYS actor Frank Parker has died

Beloved Days of our Lives star Frank Parker, who played Shawn Brady from 1983 to 2008, has passed away. He was 79.

Days of our Lives star Frank Parker, known as Salem patriarch Shawn Brady, a.k.a. "Pop," died due to complications from Parkinson's disease and dementia earlier this month. The TV veteran was 79.

Parker won daytime fans' hearts in the role of Grandpa Brady, which the Pennsylvania native played for nearly a quarter century, starting in 1983 and lasting all the way up until his retirement in 2008. As viewers may recall, the powers that be gave the treasured character an honorable exit from the series: Shawn heroically gave up his oxygen mask to save his son, Bo (Peter Reckell), on a doomed flight that eventually took him to his grave.

Prior to landing his iconic role on DAYS, the Carnegie Tech alum had two smaller daytime roles on his rsum -- General Hospital's Paddy Kelly and an unnamed role on The Young and the Restless. His other television credits include Lost in Space, Never Too Young, Hogan's Heroes, Mod Squad, Cannon, The Six Million Dollar Man, Battlestar Galactica, CHIPs, Wonder Woman, and Quincy M.E..

Parker's on-screen son-in-law Stephen Nichols (Steve "Patch" Johnson) posted to Instagram about his death, writing: "Rest In Peace Frank Parker Good man Good actor. Best TV pop in law So full of Blarney and Joy! Much love on your Journey."

Longtime DAYS cast member James Reynolds (Abe Carver) also posted to social media about Parker's death.

"#FrankParker, #PaBrady loved to sing and with a smile would burst into song. RIP Frank!" he shared.

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"I loved working with Frank Parker," wrote Eileen Davidson (ex-Kristen DiMera, DAYS; Ashley Abbott, Y&R). "What a good man and a terrific actor. RIP."

"This is sad news. I so enjoyed spending time with this man," wrote Wally Kurth (Justin Kiriakis, DAYS; Ned Ashton, GH). "He was a natural actor. Very believable -- with a twinkle in his eye that matched his Irish brogue. RIP Frank."

Parker is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Danielle Buckles and Lindsay Parker (Travis Burbank); his grandson, Jaxson Dale; and numerous nieces and nephews.

What are some of your favorite memories of Parker's time as DAYS' patriarch Shawn Brady? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.