Lara Parker, Star of Dark Shadows, Dead at 84

Lara Parker, best known to TV fans as the beautiful and scary Angelique Bouchard Collins on Dark Shadows has died. She was 84.

Lara Parker: In Memoriam

The news of Parker’s passing was reported by her dear friend and Dark Shadows co-star Kathryn Leigh Scott (ex-Maggie/ex-Josette). “I have sad news . . . my beautiful, beloved friend Lara Parker passed away Thursday, October 12,” Scott shared on Facebook. “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.”

In an interview on her website with Craig Hamrick, Parker revealed, “I’m still shy. And I’m actually a very sweet, unselfish person. Not at all like Angelique. I would never have the courage to do the things she did.”

Early Years and Acting LIfe

Born Mary Lamar Rickey on October 27, 1938 in Knoxville, Tenn., Parker grew up in Memphis. She studied at Vassar College and later graduated from Rhodes College with a Bachelor of Arts. Later, she earned a Master of Arts degree in speech and drama from the University of Iowa.

In addition to playing the beguiling and enchanting Angelique on Dark Shadows (along with other roles on the half-hour supernatural soap), Parker’s acting credits include the role of Laura Banner (wife of David Bruce Banner) in The Incredible Hulk TV series (Laura died in the pilot), The Six Million Dollar Man, Barnaby Jones, and Police Woman.

She appeared on the short-lived CBS soap opera Capitol as Linda Vandenburg from 1985-86. She played Wanda in the 1977 ABC mini-series Washington: Behind Closed Doors. Parker starred along with Peter Fonda, Loretta Swit (M*A*S*H), and Warren Oates in the 1975 thriller Race with the Devil.

Lara Parker and Jonathan Frid: Reunited

Parker and leading man Jonathan Frid (Barnabas Collins, Dark Shadows) appeared in the 1994 CBS prime time special 50 Years of Soaps in which a clip of their work was shown and the two were reunited onstage. The actress starred in two big screen versions of Dark Shadows. She played Angelique in 1970’s Night of Dark Shadows which starred David Selby (Richard, Falcon Crest) as Quentin and Kate Jackson (Charlie’s Angels) as Tracy. Parker also made a cameo appearance in the Johnny Depp-starring version of Dark Shadows along with Selby, Scott, and Frid in 2012.

The actress turned author with the novels Angelique’s Descent, Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch, and Dark Shadows: Wolf Moon Rising. Parker reprised the role of Angelique for a recent series of Dark Shadows audio dramas.

Parker was wed to Jim Hawkins, a building contractor. They have a daughter, Caitlin. Parker is also survived by two sons, Rick and Andy, from her first marriage to Tom Parker. Soap Hub sends deep condolences to Parker’s family and friends at this difficult time.