Lara Parker obit

Lara Parker, Angelique on Cult Favorite 'Dark Shadows,' Dies at 84

 

She was not on the list.

Lara Parker, beloved by fans of TV's "Dark Shadows" for her performance as Angelique on the original series and in a movie, has died at 84.

Friends announced her October 12 death on Facebook.

Her "Dark Shadows" co-star Kathryn Leigh Scott wrote, "I have sad news... my beautiful, beloved friend Lara Parker passed away Thursday, October 12. I'm heartbroken, as all of us are who knew and loved her. She graced our lives with her beauty and talent, and we are all richer for having had her in our lives. Family meant more than anything to Lara, and they have wanted these few days since her passing to themselves. Rest in peace, my cherished friend."

She went on, "We met as 'Josette' and 'Angelique' on Dark Shadows... that's how many knew us, but we knew each other as friends and confidantes. For more than 50 years, our lives were intertwined through our mutual love of literature, writing and acting. While getting on with the ordinary stuff of life, we sought each other out for encouragement, support and a trusted sounding board. We could not have been more unalike, and therein lay the magic of our enduring friendship. My thoughts are with her family in this sad time of grief and remembrance."

Parker was born Mary Lamar Rickey in Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 27, 1938. She was raised in Memphis.

She made her TV debut on "Dark Shadows," the innovative Gothic soap about the lives of the rich Collins clan. Drenched in the supernatural, it was a series like no other, with Parker's Angelique Bouchard Collins used to show how the central character, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid), became a vampire. Her popularity kept Parker coming back for more.

She reprised her role in the second feature based on the series, "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971).

She worked on Broadway in 1968's "Woman Is My Idea," and acted with Robert De Niro in the early Brian De Palma film "Hi, Mom!" (1970). She had a prominent role in the film "Save the Tiger" (1973) opposite Jack Lemmon, and also appeared in "Race with the Devil" (1975) with Peter Fonda.

Some of her other memorable TV work includes an appearance on "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" (1975), the miniseries "Washington: Behind Closed Doors" (1977), and the short-lived series "Jessica Novak" (1981).

In 1977, Parker appeared in the pilot episode of "The Incredible Hulk" as David Banner's wife Laura, who tragically burns to death after an accident that is part of Banner's Hulk origin story.

Later in life, Parker, a regular at autograph shows, returned to Angelique, publishing four "Dark Shadows" novels (1998-2016), reading some of their audiobook recordings, and cameoing in 2012's film adaptation of "Dark Shadows," which starred Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer. Eva Green played Angelique in the Tim Burton-directed critical disappointment.

Though not playing Angelique, she was reunited with some "Dark Shadows" co-stars in two "Doctor Mabuse" films (2013 & 2014), and gave her final performances on the TV show "Theatre Fantastique" (2014) and in the short film "The Job Interview" (2016).

Parker is survived by her second husband, Jim Hawkins, to whom she had been wed for more than 40 years, their daughter, and her two sons from her first marriage, to artist Tom Parker.

Actress

The Great Nick D

Post-production

 

John Karlen and Christopher Pennock in The Job Interview (2016)

The Job Interview

Short

The Vampire Huntress

2016

 

Elyse Ashton, Christopher Pennock, Annie Waterman, Eric Gorlow, Kelly Erin Decker, and Kelsey Hewlett in Theatre Fantastique (2014)

Theatre Fantastique

8.1

TV Series

Mrs. Markway

2014

1 episode

 

Theatrical Poster

Doctor Mabuse: Etiopomar

6.9

Madame Carrozza

2014

 

Official Poster

Doctor Mabuse

6.0

Madame Carrozza

2013

 

Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonny Lee Miller, Jackie Earle Haley, Eva Green, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bella Heathcote, and Gulliver McGrath in Dark Shadows (2012)

Dark Shadows

6.2

Guest

2012

 

Greg Evigan and Connie Sellecca in P.S.I. Luv U (1991)

P.S.I. Luv U

7.4

TV Series

Nurse

1991

1 episode

 

Ben Gazzara, Eva Marie Saint, and Connie Sellecca in People Like Us (1990)

People Like Us

6.0

TV Movie

(uncredited)

1990

 

The China Lake Murders (1990)

The China Lake Murders

6.0

TV Movie

Helene Harrelson

1990

 

Sam J. Jones in The Highwayman (1987)

The Highwayman

6.6

TV Series

Dr. Terwishe

1988

1 episode

 

Michael Landon in Highway to Heaven (1984)

Highway to Heaven

6.8

TV Series

Margo Stevens

1987

1 episode

 

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

Remington Steele

7.2

TV Series

Lila Colbert

1983

1 episode

 

Manimal (1983)

Manimal

6.5

TV Series

Drew's Date

1983

1 episode

 

Foxfire Light (1983)

Foxfire Light

4.7

Rachel Parmelee

1983

 

A New Day in Eden (1982)

A New Day in Eden

7.7

TV Series

Betty Franklin

1982

1 episode

 

Rooster (1982)

Rooster

7.2

TV Movie

Janet

1982

 

Debrah Farentino, Nicholas Walker, and Jess Walton in Capitol (1982)

Capitol

7.2

TV Series

Linda Vandenburg (1985-1986)

1982

 

Helen Shaver and David Spielberg in Jessica Novak (1981)

Jessica Novak

TV Series

Katie Robbins

1981

4 episodes

 

The Fall Guy (1981)

The Fall Guy

7.1

TV Series

Attractive Lady

1981

1 episode

 

This Is the Life (1952)

This Is the Life

7.1

TV Series

Gloria Prescott

1980

1 episode

 

Christopher Plummer in Desperate Voyage (1980)

Desperate Voyage

6.7

TV Movie

Grace

1980

 

Galactica 1980 (1980)

Galactica 1980

5.4

TV Series

Shirley Blore

1980

2 episodes

 

Chad Everett in Hagen (1980)

Hagen

6.5

TV Series

Janette

1980

1 episode

 

Kate Mulgrew in Mrs. Columbo (1979)

Mrs. Columbo

5.6

TV Series

Laura White

1980

1 episode

 

Kam Fong, Al Harrington, Jack Lord, and James MacArthur in Hawaii Five-O (1968)

Hawaii Five-O

7.4

TV Series

Angie Walker

Julie Kincaid Trahune

1978–1980

2 episodes

 

Barry Bostwick and Kyle Richards in Once Upon a Family (1980)

Once Upon a Family

6.4

TV Movie

Maggie Conway

1980

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

Christine Lennox

1980

1 episode

 

Claude Akins, Brian Kerwin, and Mills Watson in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979)

The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo

6.5

TV Series

Evelyn Flowers

1979

1 episode

 

Michelle Pfeiffer and Earl Holliman in The Solitary Man (1979)

The Solitary Man

6.2

TV Movie

Lisa Tobin

1979

 

The Lazarus Syndrome (1979)

The Lazarus Syndrome

5.6

TV Series

Denice

1979

1 episode

 

Sword of Justice (1978)

Sword of Justice

7.5

TV Series

Dory

1979

1 episode

 

Louis Gossett Jr. and Ronald Hunter in The Lazarus Syndrome (1978)

The Lazarus Syndrome

5.0

TV Movie

Denice

1978

 

Jack Klugman in Quincy M.E. (1976)

Quincy M.E.

7.3

TV Series

Angie Wilson

Angela, Desskasa's Secretary

1977–1978

2 episodes

 

Robert Blake in Baretta (1975)

Baretta

6.7

TV Series

Trudy

1978

1 episode

 

Switch (1975)

Switch

7.2

TV Series

Tonya Mason

Shirley Harris

Ester Kelly

1976–1977

3 episodes

 

Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk (1977)

The Incredible Hulk

7.0

TV Series

Laura Banner (uncredited)

1977

1 episode

 

Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977)

Washington: Behind Closed Doors

8.0

TV Mini Series

Wanda Elliott

1977

6 episodes

 

Polly Holliday, Beth Howland, and Linda Lavin in Alice (1976)

Alice

6.8

TV Series

Mrs. Randolph

1976

1 episode

 

Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Jenny Villers

Maria

1973–1976

2 episodes

 

Stranded

5.6

TV Movie

Crystal Norton

1976

 

City of Angels (1976)

City of Angels

7.8

TV Series

Eunice Wheeler

1976

1 episode

 

Jack Warden in Jigsaw John (1976)

Jigsaw John

7.4

TV Series

Diane Lacey

1976

1 episode

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

7.1

TV Series

Marlene Bekey

Andrea Collins

1974–1976

2 episodes

 

Doctors' Hospital (1975)

Doctors' Hospital

7.8

TV Series

Angela Sloane

1976

1 episode

 

Emergency! (1972)

Emergency!

7.9

TV Series

Betty Grinnell

1975

1 episode

 

Jackie Cooper in Mobile One (1975)

Mobile One

6.2

TV Series

1975

1 episode

 

Race with the Devil (1975)

Race with the Devil

6.6

Kelly

1975

 

S.W.A.T. (1975)

S.W.A.T.

6.7

TV Series

Susan

1975

1 episode

 

Adventures of the Queen (1975)

Adventures of the Queen

5.0

TV Movie

Barbara

1975

 

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

8.4

TV Series

Madelaine Perkins

1975

1 episode

 

The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Diana Lewis

1975

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)

Police Woman

6.6

TV Series

Charlene

1975

1 episode

 

David Hartman in Lucas Tanner (1974)

Lucas Tanner

7.0

TV Series

Dr. Bruner

1975

1 episode

 

Airport 1975 (1974)

Airport 1975

5.7

Lara - Stewardess (uncredited)

1974

 

Fred MacMurray in The Chadwick Family (1974)

The Chadwick Family

6.3

TV Movie

Eileen Chadwick Hawthorne

1974

 

Arthur Hill in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971)

Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law

7.0

TV Series

Terry Harris

1974

1 episode

 

Robert Young and Ruth Hussey in My Darling Daughters' Anniversary (1973)

My Darling Daughters' Anniversary

7.0

TV Movie

Charlotte

1973

 

James Daly in Medical Center (1969)

Medical Center

7.1

TV Series

Paula

1973

1 episode

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.6

TV Series

Fran Conley

1973

1 episode

 

Save the Tiger (1973)

Save the Tiger

6.9

Margo

1973

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Louise

1972

1 episode

 

Kung Fu (1972)

Kung Fu

7.6

TV Series

Amy Allender

1972

1 episode

 

Night of Dark Shadows (1971)

Night of Dark Shadows

5.4

Angelique Collins

1971

 

Dark Shadows (1966)

Dark Shadows

8.1

TV Series

Catherine Collins

Opening Voiceover

Catherine Harridge ...

1967–1971

269 episodes

 

April in the Wind

1970

 

Hi, Mom! (1970)

Hi, Mom!

6.1

Jeannie Mitchell

1970

 

N.Y.P.D. (1967)

N.Y.P.D.

7.4

TV Series

Virginia Terry

1968

1 episode

 

Kristen Alderson, Kassie Wesley DePaiva, Erika Slezak, Trevor St. John, and John-Paul Lavoisier in One Life to Live (1968)

One Life to Live

6.9

TV Series

Carol Phipps (1985)

1968