Whatever Happened to the Cast of ‘Scarecrow & Mrs. King’?
When it comes to assessing TV’s top crime-fighting duos from the 1980s, Scarecrow and Mrs. King is one series that doesn’t always get its due. Often overshadowed by the likes of Hart to Hart, Remington Steele and later Moonlighting, the 1983-87 screwball comedy starred Bruce Boxleitner as the devilishly handsome (and cocky) spy Lee Stetson (codename “Scarecrow”), who begrudgingly gets paired up with divorced housewife Mrs. Amanda King, played adorably by Charlie’s Angel’s Kate Jackson.
Over four seasons, the duo traveled the world (for real) and doled out their version of quirky justice — despite Lee constantly forgetting his gun and Amanda frequently being forced to step in with a strong frying pan whack. Their chemistry was truly lightning in a bottle, and the series’ will-they-or-won’t-they-ever-kiss tension provided plenty of fun.
The cast will reunite at the Hollywood Show on June 6 and 7 in Burbank, California (Kate Jackson will only be at the show June 7). Have you ever wondered what happened to the main stars after the series, and what they are doing today? If you can’t come out to the show and hear from them yourself, here’s a quick rundown .
Bruce Boxleitner (75)
Lee Stetson
Warner Bros./Courtesy: Everett Collection
Greg Gayne/NBC/Everett Collection
Bruce was a natural as the always fashionably styled Lee Stetson, a role he adored playing. The versatile actor, who had memorable performances in How the West Was Won (1977-79), Tron (1982) and Babylon 5 (1994-98), has graced our screens via Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart and MatchMaker Mysteries, in addition to his most recent roles in 2023’s Western Far Haven, 2010’s Tron: Legacy and as Oak Miller on the 2024 TV series Blue Ridge.
Kate Jackson (76)
Amanda King
CBS/courtesy Everett Collection
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After The Rookies and Charlie’s Angels, Kate continued on the crime beat, but revealed her true quirky side in the role of dauntless housewife Amanda King. She took some time off following that role to focus on her health after a breast cancer diagnosis; Jackson recovered, and returned to TV movies and guest roles throughout the ’90s. Her last credited role was in an episode of Criminal Minds in 2007.
Off the screen, she’s spent much of her life dedicated to helping others, receiving recognition on behalf of her work with children and animals. In recent years, Kate has became the spokesperson for the American Heart Association’s Power of Love fundraising campaign. She’s making another rare appearance at the Hollywood Show on June 7, 2025, and the panel is expected to be a sellout.
Martha Smith (72)
Francine Desmond
©Warner Bros. Television/courtesy Everett Collection
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for TCM)
Over-intelligent agent Francine Desmond was perpetually annoyed when her superiors would turn to Mrs. King — the housewife (with children!) — as an option for solving any of their cases. Martha Smith was the perfect Francine, always poised and dressed to dazzle.
The former Ford Motor Company model and Playboy Bunny actually got into acting by accident — she originally considered being a psychologist — before taking on her longest role as Francine. Martha also starred as Dr. Sandy Horton on Days of Our Lives and Babs in 1978’s National Lampoon’s Animal House, along with plenty more guest roles and creative ventures (like when she went on the road with Rod Stewart). Today, she also works in real estate in Los Angeles.
Paul Stout (53)
Philip King
Warner Bros./ Courtesy: Everett Collection.
Paul starred as one of Amanda King’s sons in the series. Prior to his role on Scarecrow, he starred in ABC’s Afterschool Specials, an episode of Webster and The Twilight Zone (“Night of the Meek”), as well as in Meatballs Part II (1984). He only had one credit following the end of the beloved series, appearing on an episode of The Bronx Zoo in 1988. He will be attending the Hollywood Show on June 6 and 7, 2025.
Greg Morton (52)
Jamie King
©Warner Bros./ Courtesy: Everett Collection
Milwaukee-born Greg Morton starred as Amanda King’s son Jamie in the series. He had one additional TV movie credit in 1985’s There Were Times, Dear. Leaving his child acting days behind, he channeled his creative side building a career as a graphic design artist, writer, poet and filmmaker. He will be attending the Hollywood Show on June 6 and 7, 2025.
Beverly Garland (d. 2008)
Dotty West
Warner Bros./Courtesy: Everett Collection.
The beloved Beverly Garland was the welcome addition to My Three Sons, before she provided plenty of laughs on Scarecrow as the often confused mother to Mrs. King. Her character was a constant support system to her often busy single-mother daughter, helping Amanda raise the two boys.
Beverly worked well into the early 2000s in film and TV, even guest starring on Friends as Monica’s brash Aunt Iris who taught the girls how to play poker. Beverly passed away on Dec. 5, 2008 at age 82.
Mel Stewart (d. 2002)
Billy Melrose
Warner Bros./ Courtesy: Everett Collection.
Former All in the Family actor Mel Stewart brought a cool head and a dry wit to the role of Billy Melrose, the eye-rolling section chief of the Agency. With his signature calm demeanor, he gave the show a grounded charm amid all the espionage antics. After the series wrapped in 1987, Stewart didn’t hang up his trench coat for good — he popped up in shows like L.A. Law, Hill Street Blues and the 1989 revival of Dragnet. Offscreen, he kept busy behind the camera and in the classroom, sharing his talent as a director and acting teacher. He died of Alzheimer’s disease at age 72 in 2002.
ReMIND Magazine will be at the show and provide photos and updates on the reunion panel!
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