Spenser: For Hire

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Spenser: For Hire is a mystery television series based on Robert B. Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, played by Robert Urich, operated out of Boston and got involved in a new mystery (often a murder) each episode. It ran on ABC from 1985 to 1988. The two-hour pilot movie was an adaptation of the fourth novel in the book series Promised Land.

The other major characters were Hawk, played by Avery Brooks, and Susan Silverman, played by Barbara Stock. Stock left the show in its second season and was replaced by Carolyn McCormick as Rita Fiore. Stock returned for the final season. In 1989, Brooks received his own, short-lived spinoff series, A Man Called Hawk.

During the early 1990s, Urich and Brooks reunited for several made-for-TV films based upon the original series. Barbara Stock was replaced in the first two made for TV movies by Barbara Williams and in the other two by veteran actress Wendy Crewson (Air Force One).

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A 1999 TV movie, Spenser: Small Vices, introduced a new cast, with Joe Mantegna as Spenser, Sheik Mahmud-Bey as Hawk, and Marcia Gay Harden as Susan. Mantegna subsequently reprised the role in Spenser: Thin Air and Spenser: Walking Shadow. The latter also starred Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) as Hawk and guest starred Eric Roberts.

Since taking over the role of Spenser in the more recent TV movies, Mantegna also does the readings for the new Spenser books that come out on audio.