Simon & Simon: What The Surviving Cast Of The '80s Detective Show Looks Like Now

In the early 1980s, the first episode of "Simon & Simon" debuted on CBS. The show about two totally disparate brothers who run their own investigation agency in San Diego followed in the footsteps of everything from the 1970s series "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" to the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." It struggled to land with audiences initially, but all that changed when CBS used its smash hit "Magnum, P.I." — starring a young Tom Selleck in the midst of his stunning transformation — to garner more viewers for "Simon & Simon" through crossover episodes. It ran for a whopping eight seasons, rocking the small screen alongside powerhouses like "Three's Company" and "Happy Days." Before it was all said and done, the show earned two Primetime Emmy nominations. 

While the '80s had its fair share of forgotten sitcoms, police procedurals, and primetime dramas alike, "Simon & Simon" is another story — and the cast is a big reason why. Sadly, some of the stars, like Mary Carver and Eddie Barth, have since passed, but the surviving members seem to still be thriving, whether it be in front of the camera or away from the public eye. Here is what the surviving actors of "Simon & Simon" are up to today.

Actor Gerald McRaney's breakout role was rough-around-the-edges investigator Rick Simon in "Simon & Simon." His prior credits include parts in low-budget flicks like "Night of Bloody Horror" and recurring spots on "Gunsmoke," "The Rockford Files," and "Barnaby Jones." After "Simon and Simon" ended in 1989, McRaney kept the ball rolling, landing "Major Dad," "Promised Land," and "Jericho."

McRaney's career continued to thrive in the 2010s when he joined "NCIS: Los Angeles" as Hollace Kilbride. And then, of course, there was his recurring appearance in "This Is Us" as Dr. Nathan Katowski. McRaney's stellar performance earned him an Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a drama series in 2017. In a 2017 interview with the Television Academy Foundation at the Emmys, McRaney shared the advice his father told him that allowed him to maintain his career over the years: "My father said to me, 'If you believe the first four or five of those sons of b****** who tell you you don't have what it takes, they'll be right.'" As of 2026, McRaney's most recent roles were on the Hulu shows "Murdaugh: Death in the Family" and "Paradise."

As the book-smart younger brother, A.J. Simon,actor Jameson Parker's chemistry with Gerald McRaney in "Simon & Simon" was unmatched. Before "Simon & Simon," Parker had already found some success on the small screen thanks to the soap opera "One Life to Live." After his gig on the CBS original ended in 1989, Parker continued to nab small roles on hit shows, guest-appearing in classics like "Murder, She Wrote," "Burke's Law," and "Walker, Texas Ranger." His final credit is four episodes of "JAG" in the early 2000s. 

In 1992, Parker was shot by his neighbor following a dispute, and he sustained physical injuries, as well as lasting psychological trauma, including PTSD and depression. He eventually left show business and redirected his creative energy toward writing. In addition to editing the book "To Absent Friends: A Collection of Stories of the Dogs We Miss," he released the 2003 memoir "An Accidental Cowboy," where he opened up about his road to recovery following the aforementioned shooting. His last acting gig was in 2004, and he clearly developed a deep passion for writing. From 2012 onward, he published "American Riff," "The Horseman at Midnight," and "Dancing with the Dead." His other published works include "Return to Laughter," "Changing Earth, Changing Sky," and, according to his LinkedIn profile, he has a blog called "Barking Backward."

On "Simon & Simon," Jeannie Wilson played Janet Fowler, the career-minded assistant district attorney who developed a relationship with A.J. Simon. Although she was a recurring character in the show's earlier seasons, she eventually made fewer appearances from 1983 onward, culminating in her departure in 1987. While "Simon & Simon" became a career highlight for Wilson, she also found success guest-appearing alongside the cast of "The Love Boat" and starring in the short-lived show "Street Hawk." After "Simon & Simon," Wilson continued to make guest appearances on other big V shows, such as "Full House" and "JAG."

As of this writing, Wilson's spot on a 2001 episode of "JAG" is her final TV acting credit. In 2010, however, she did briefly step back into the spotlight to promote a new movie. Alongside her husband, Jack Lucarelli, Wilson co-produced "Cartel War," a crime drama that follows Los Angeles cops grappling with their wavering moral compass to take down a drug cartel. The film — which Lucarelli co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in — premiered at Colorado's Vail Film Festival that year. In it, Wilson played Detective Carol Stern. Since then, however, information about Wilson's career is scarce. As of 2026, she has not returned to the big screen and is presumably leading a low-key life with her husband.

After playing good-natured lieutenant Marcel Proust "Downtown" Brown in "Simon & Simon," Tim Reid continued to find success as an actor. Before "Simon & Simon," he played DJ Gordon "Venus Flytrap" Sims in "WKRP in Cincinnati." Venus Flytrap, one of the only Black characters on the show, was a groundbreaking role that pushed back against racial stereotypes that existed on television during the late '70s. Decades later, Reid won over a younger generation as the strict but affable father figure Ray Campbell on "Sister, Sister." After that, he popped up alongside the casts of "That's So Raven" and "That '70s Show," and he's become a fixture of Hallmark Channel and Lifetime original holiday movies. As of this writing, his most recent credit is the 2025 movie "A Christmas Prayer." 

Though he's built an impressive, decades-spanning career, in a 2021 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, he said he believes he has yet to have his "proudest" career moment. "Career-wise, I always say I haven't done it yet. I know there are moments where I've had that — it's not on a scale of high or low, it's just on an equal scale. It's like an ether. I've been in the ether a few times," he said. "Some of the performances in some of the shows I've done — that's when I get in that ether. But have I broken through that? No, I hope to."

In Season 3 of "Simon & Simon," Daphne Maxwell Reid was introduced as Temple Hill, a fierce television reporter. Though she only appeared in 16 episodes total, she was one of the more memorable "Simon & Simon" side characters. Before acting on "Simon & Simon" alongside her husband, Tim Reid, she was on classic shows like "Hill Street Blues," "WKRP in Cincinnati," and "The A-Team." 

After "Simon & Simon," Daphne Maxwell Reid landed arguably her biggest role. In 1993, she joined the cast of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" as Vivian Banks — or Aunt Viv — after the original actor, Janet Hubert, left the show. This change was certainly polarizing at the time — and beyond — but it was objectively a boon for her career. She then went on to appear on popular series like "Sister, Sister," "In the House," and "Crossing Jordan."

In addition to acting, Daphne has also found success as a photographer. After releasing her first photography collection, "Doors," in 2009, Daphne published several photography books and annual calendars. According to a 2022 interview with Trainwreckd Society, Daphne's passion for photography started when she was 8, and decades later, she dove headfirst into being a professional photographer. "At the age of 60, I was challenged by my friends to mount a gallery show of my work, and my professional journey began," she said. "It has grown into a little cottage industry that I have been proud to have created. I love the journeys of learning that come with taking a chance on a new venture. It has been fulfilling."

In the 7th season of "Simon & Simon," Joan McMurtrey was introduced as the strong-headed lieutenant Abigail Marsh and stayed until the end of Season 8.  Following her stint on the CBS original, McMurtrey remained a working actor, taking guest roles alongside the casts of "ER," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Malcolm in the Middle," and more. She also played Dr. Michelle Paxson in 26 episodes of "The Bold and the Beautiful." As of this writing, her most recent acting credits are two episodes of "How to Get Away with Murder" and 2020's "The Glorias."

McMurtey, who has a master's degree in fine arts, has become an acting teacher. She began to work as an associate professor at Columbia College Hollywood in 2013. McMurtrey briefly transferred to AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in 2016, right before settling in as a professor at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2017.  According to McMurtrey's LinkedIn, SCAD is where she has worked for the last nine years.