Heartbroken to hear about Lara. I first started watching Dark Shadows when it aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in the early '90s, and Lara transfixed me at first sight. She was a wonderful actress, charismatic, sexy, and had chemistry with just about any scene partner. She carried Dark Shadows through strong and lean times, all the way to the end. Even when not playing Angelique, she had one of the stronger heroines (Catherine). I even have a few of Lara's books in storage somewhere.

We've lost so many people lately, but this one hurts.

 

Edited October 16, 20232 yr by DRW50

Yes, this one does especially hurt.  I was one of the kids who ran home from school in the 60s to see what Angelique and company were up to.  Very beautiful woman and seemed like a sweet person in real life.

I loved the little bit I saw of her Angelique before life got in the way of me continuing to watch Dark Shadows. Haven't been able to pick it up again for various reasons. Her, Suzanne Somers, Piper Laurie. That's three, time for a break world.

I adored Lara Parker growing up (and once sat next to her at a convention a million years ago when I was very young - it was an experience). I wish she'd gotten one more good soap role. I'll never forget her.

Losing Suzanne and Lara back to back like this stings so much. They were both everyday parts of my life in my preteen and early teenage years, both of them playing huge but different roles in the “escape” I desperately needed from real life at the time. Rest in peace to them both.

You may not have known her name but if you opened the pages, or even peeked at a cover of Essence magazine or paid attention to style and fashion in the 1990s, you likely would recognize her face. R.I.P. Gail O’Neil.

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/10/gail-oneill-supermodel-obituary

3 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

You may not have known her name but if you opened the pages, or even peeked at a cover of Essence magazine or paid attention to style and fashion in the 1990s, you likely would recognize her face. R.I.P. Gail O’Neil.

https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/10/gail-oneill-supermodel-obituary

I'd heard this a few days ago; thanks for posting it. Only 61. I saw in her obituary that she had refused to do ads for cigarettes or for any products from South Africa (during the apartheid years). Good for her. I didn't realize she'd been one of the correspondents in the starting years of the Early Show (or whatever it's called now).

https://deadline.com/2023/10/joanna-merlin-dead-1235574804/

59 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

https://deadline.com/2023/10/joanna-merlin-dead-1235574804/

She was one of those people that you recognized but never really could say where you'd seen them. Probably because she showed up all over the place and always did solid work. 

7 hours ago, I Am A Swede said:

She was one of those people that you recognized but never really could say where you'd seen them. Probably because she showed up all over the place and always did solid work. 

Yes. I remember her best from Fame - she just had a few scenes but she had such a dynamic presence, and was a good team with Debbie Allen.

As has been said, now there's been three, maybe the universe will call a break. 

I loved seeing the "today" picture of Lara Parker!! 

And, I love the picture Vincent Irizarry has up on his IG acct for Suzanne Somers, what a totally wonderful dame she was. 

Immediately recognized Joanna Merlin from her character Mrs. Berg from the Fame movie, which I could only see once it aired on HBO years after it originally played in movie theaters (it was way too mature for me to see in its original theatrical run). I also recognize her from her work as a teacher, where she did actually teach acting in NYC schools of the arts. May she RIP. 

It is odd that the Fame television series decided to make Mrs. Berg a little white haired old lady who worked in the administrative office, when in the original movie, the character was a dance teacher.

Edited October 19, 20232 yr by DramatistDreamer

https://variety.com/2023/film/news/burt-young-dead-rocky-1235761505/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR3Vnd1eg-k2w82in5cx4tM8nUYktjNFKDJf-vcY7lWM5W1pSTxpPP0CZ94

Burt Young, Who Played Paulie in ‘Rocky’ Films, Dies at 83