Lara Parker, best known for her portrayal of the character Angelique in the iconic ABC gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows,” passed away in her sleep on October 12 at her home in Los Angeles’ Topanga Canyon neighborhood. Her daughter confirmed this sad news. She was 84 years old.
Between 1967 and 1971, Lara Parker, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, played the central antagonist, Angelique Bouchard, on “Dark Shadows.” The show was set in the fictional town of Collinsport, Maine, and revolved around the Collins family. The storyline followed the character Barnabas Collins (played by Jonathan Frid), who unknowingly incurs the wrath of the besotted witch Angelique following a brief dalliance. She curses him, turning him into a vampire, which sparks a tumultuous love-hate relationship that spans centuries.
After the demise of her character Angelique, Lara Parker continued to appear in the series, taking on the role of another character, Catherine Harridge Collins.
Following the conclusion of “Dark Shadows,” Parker pursued roles in various films and television series, including “Save the Tiger” (1973), the drama series “Jessica Novak” (1981), and appearances in two “Doctor Mabuse” films in 2013 and 2014.
Lara Parker held a master’s degree in creative writing from Antioch University and also ventured into writing fiction that expanded upon the “Dark Shadows” universe. She authored four books: “Dark Shadows: Angelique’s Descent” (1998), “Dark Shadows: The Salem Branch” (2006), “Dark Shadows: Wolf Moon Rising” (2013), and “Dark Shadows: Heiress of Collinwood” (2016).
In addition to her acting and writing career, Lara Parker featured in the film “Night of Dark Shadows” (1971), based on the series, and made a cameo appearance in the 2012 film “Dark Shadows,” a remake of the original TV series, with Johnny Depp playing Barnabas and Eva Green as Angelique. Reflecting on her role, Parker shared that her portrayal had evolved from a “heroine” to a character with ruthless, strong, and resilient qualities, inspired by advice from her co-star Jonathan Frid.
Lara Parker is survived by her second husband, Jim Hawkins, children Caitlin, Rick, and Andy, as well as a grandson.
