Morgan Stevens, ‘Fame’ and ‘Melrose Place’ Actor, Dead At 70

Morgan Stevens, an actor known for his roles on Fame and Melrose Place, has died at age 70. No information on the cause of death has been released by the police. The news was first reported by TMZ.

Stevens first gained recognition for playing Paul Northridge in an episode of The Waltons, as well as three reunion films (including A Wedding on Walton’s Mountain, in which his character married Mary Elizabeth McDonough’s Erin Walton).

The actor booked a series of guest roles on a number of TV shows throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Airwolf, The Love Boat, Magnum P.I., Murder, She Wrote, and Return of Marcus Welby M.D.

In one of Stevens’ best-remembered roles, he played teacher David Reardon throughout two seasons of Fame, even writing the Season 3 episode “Catch A Falling Star.”

However, his life and career changed significantly in 1989 when Stevens was arrested on suspicion of DUI by the Los Angeles police after a mild car accident. Although a blood test later cleared him, he was severely beaten by the LAPD police while in custody, sustaining a dislocated jaw, a fractured cheek, and nerve damage. He later sued and an out-of-court settlement was reached (per the New York Post).

The actor returned to acting in the early ’90s, playing Nick Diamond in a multi-episode arc on the popular drama series Melrose Place. His last onscreen appearance was in a 1999 episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Stevens was born in 1951 in Knoxville, Tennessee.