Spenser (film series)

Joe Mantegna portrayed Robert B. Parker's detective "Spenser" in three TV films on the A&E cable network between 1999 and 2001.

Production
Robert B. Parker had a significant role in the development of the TV movies (all three films were adapted by Parker, with his wife co-authoring Walking Shadow) as opposed to the earlier Spenser: For Hire. Nonetheless, he felt that the movies didn't get it right, not because of the performances but because of the limited budget. Parker had a small role in the first film, and cameos in the later two. His son, Daniel, and wife, Joan, appear in Thin Air. Spenser's ally, Hawk, was played by Sheik Mahmud-Bey in "Small Vices", and returns in "Walking Shadow" portrayed by Ernie Hudson.

All three movies were filmed in locations in Canada.

Spenser: Small Vices
In this movie Spenser tries to solve the murder of a college student. It was broadcast in 1999, and is based on the 1997 novel of the same name.
 * Joe Mantegna as Spenser
 * Marcia Gay Harden as Susan Silverman
 * Joanna Miles as Evans
 * R.D. Reid as Quirk
 * Scott Wickware as Captain Healy
 * Sheik Mahmud-Bey as Hawk
 * Robert B. Parker as Ives

Thin Air
In this movie, Spenser searches for the wife of his longtime associate, Sgt. Belson. It was broadcast in 2000, and is based on the 1995 novel of the same name.
 * Joe Mantegna as Spenser
 * Marcia Gay Harden as Susan Silverman
 * Joanna Miles as Evans
 * R.D. Reid as Quirk
 * Jon Seda as Luis DeLeon
 * David Ferry as Frank Belson

Walking Shadow
In this movie, Spenser tries to solve the on-stage murder of an actor. It was broadcast in 2001, and is based on the 1994 novel of the same name. It is directed by Po-Chih Leong.
 * Joe Mantegna as Spenser
 * Marcia Gay Harden as Susan Silverman
 * Scott Wickware as Captain Healy
 * Ernie Hudson as Hawk
 * Eric Roberts as Police Chief DeSpain
 * Christopher Lawford as Jimmy Christopholous
 * Tamlyn Tomita as Rikki Wu

Audiobooks
Joe Mantegna has also narrated a number of Spenser novels;