Lara Parker, Dark Shadows Actor, Dead At 84

"Dark Shadows" actor Lara Parker has died at the age of 84, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Parker's daughter revealed that her legendary mother died in her sleep at her home. Her cause of death has not yet been announced. Kathryn Leigh Scott, who acted beside Parker on "Dark Shadows," posted a heartfelt tribute to her friend and colleague on Facebook. "I have sad news ... my beautiful, beloved friend Lara Parker passed away Thursday, October 12," wrote Scott. "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."

"Dark Shadows," where Parker portrayed a haunting, yet empathetic witch named Angelique, was her most famous role, but she also appeared in other acting projects such as "N.Y.P.D.," "The Six Million Dollar Man," and "The Incredible Hulk." The accomplished soap star was also an accomplished author, who penned several books that fit into the "Dark Shadows" world, including one featuring her onscreen character, "Dark Shadows: Angelique's Descent."

Lara Parker will always be best known for her onscreen accomplishments. However, she was also incredibly devoted to her writing endeavors. According to Parker's blog, she held a Master's Degree in creative writing, which allowed her to teach at the collegiate level. Parker's novel-writing career bloomed after HarperCollins approached her to write a "Dark Shadows" series, though they didn't exactly have high hopes about her writing talent. "I think my editor thought they would have to rewrite my book and they were surprised and pleased that it wasn't necessary," revealed Parker during a 20 Questions interview on her blog. 

During the same interview, Parker spoke of the similarities between acting and writing. "I would like to continue writing for the rest of my life," admitted Parker. "Acting is too unpredictable — it's too hard to get jobs ... Writing can be a solitary pursuit and it is always rewarding. Both require the same process however, the hard day-to-day work that brings those unexpected results." Parker also attended book-related events, including the 2017 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. "I would love to see friends there," wrote Parker on her website. "I always go every year, and it is a wonderful event for writers," she added.