Dark Shadows Witch. Dark Shadows is a Gothic soap opera that aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971. The show followed the Collins family, a wealthy family residing in the fictional town of Collinsport, Maine. The family's history was turbulent, filled with secrets, supernatural elements, and witchcraft. One of the most prominent characters in Dark Shadows was the witch, Angelique Bouchard. She was a vengeful and powerful witch who had a deep connection with the Collins family.
“I played her as somebody who was much more of a tragic figure, who was desperately, desperately in love,” Parker said in 2016. “And her heart was broken. That’s much more sympathetic than just being a mean old witch. I felt that her acts were acts of desperation, not acts of evil.”
On Facebook, her Dark Shadows co-star Kathryn Leigh Scott wrote Monday that Parker s death left her heartbroken, as all of us are who knew and loved her. But being the subject of countless fan magazine articles, interviews and promotional events couldn t outweigh Hollywood s antipathy to soaps, especially one that had been as campy as Dark Shadows.
She was a vengeful and powerful witch who had a deep connection with the Collins family. Angelique's character had a complex storyline that involved her love for Barnabas Collins, a vampire, and her constant attempts to destroy Barnabas and the Collins family. The witchcraft aspect of Dark Shadows was a recurring theme throughout the show.
Lara Parker Dies: ‘Dark Shadows’ Scene-Stealing, Spell-Casting Witch Angelique Was 84
Lara Parker, who found the role of a lifetime at just 28 years old when she was cast by Dark Shadows producer Dan Curtis as the beautiful, vengeful and altogether evil witch Angelique Bouchard Collins, died October 12 in her sleep in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer. She was 84.
Her death was announced by producer Jim Pierson of Dan Curtis Productions, on behalf of Parker’s family.
“I’m heartbroken, as all of us are who knew and loved her,” said her Dark Shadows co-star and longtime friend Kathryn Leigh Scott in a statement. “She graced our lives with her beauty, talent and friendship, and we are all richer for having had her in our lives.”
Related Stories
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
Christopher Pennock Dies: ‘Dark Shadows’, ‘General Hospital’ Actor Was 76
Parker, who also authored four popular Dark Shadows-related novels from 1998-2016, arrived on the supernatural soap opera in 1967, not long after Canadian actor Jonathan Frid had been cast as vampire Barnabas Collins. Frid’s storyline changed the show from a moody, Gothic Jane Eyre-type serial into a flat-out horror show.
When Curtis and the show’s writers decided to do a six-month story arc set in 1795 to show how Barnabas had become a blood-sucker, they set about finding an actress who could play the witch who had set the curse on him way back when. Although some cast members had imagined a raven-haired sorceress, producer and creator Curtis apparently saw something in the blond, blue-eyed (or, in some lights, green), Southern-accented Parker that screamed Martinique witch.
As with most of his gut instincts, Curtis was right. No sooner had she arrived on the show in autumn 1967, as an unassuming servant girl to Barnabas’ fiancée Josette du Prés (played by Scott), when she began casting spells, uttering incantations, turning one foe into a cat and, by the end of the flashback arc, summoning the bat that would curse Barnabas for eternity — all while filling the small screen with her big, stunning blue-green eyes, widened to a maniacally effective extent.
Parker became an instant sensation, at the time rivaled only by Barnabas among the show’s youthful fandom. So popular was Parker that she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and “bit” the host on the neck after putting in her specially-made vampire fangs.
Parker, who would stay with the series until its cancellation in 1971, played multiple characters — but nearly all of them aliases of the duplicitous Angelique. She’d briefly play Angelique as a vampire and for several months donned a shortish black wig and very ’60s lime-green miniskirts to disguise herself as Cassandra Blair, who, with a little spell-casting magic, quickly married into the wealthy Collins family.
But sooner or later, Angelique proper would return to make trouble for the Collins clan, as fans demanded no less.
Lara Parker and David Selby in ‘Night of Dark Shadows’ (1971) Everett CollectionLeaving New York City, where Shadows was taped, for Los Angeles with her then-husband and two small sons, Parker often would say in interviews and at the many Dark Shadows conventions she attended that she expected the four-year phenomenon that had been daytime’s first supernatural soap to open Hollywood’s doors. But being the subject of countless fan magazine articles, interviews and promotional events couldn’t outweigh Hollywood’s antipathy to soaps, especially one that had been as campy as Dark Shadows. Parker would say that she thought Angelique would be a springboard to movie roles but would realize late in life that the witch had been her greatest and most enduring part.
Born Mary Lamar Rickey on October 27, 1938, in Knoxville, TN, Parker attended Vassar and Memphis’ Rhodes College before earning a master’s degree at the University of Iowa. Having done some summer stock, Parker, then living in Wisconsin with her husband and two young sons, announced to her family that she was heading to New York, at least temporarily, to give acting a shot.
The gamble paid off, and quickly. Within days of arriving in New York in 1967, Parker was cast as Angelique. Her husband and sons soon joined her, and the family lived in the West Village until moving to L.A. in 1972. She’d already filmed her first major movie role toward the end of the soap’s run, 1971’s Night of Dark Shadows, the second spinoff movie from the series following the previous year’s more successful House of Dark Shadows.
If Hollywood wasn’t exactly waiting with the open arms Parker anticipated, there were certainly enough roles to provide some encouragement. Within a couple of years after moving to L.A., she’d had guest roles on such series as Kung Fu, Medical Center, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, The Six Million Dollar Man, Police Woman, The Rockford Files and, in 1975, a one-off role as yet another witch in a Curtis production, Kolchak: The Night Stalker. She would not remember that job fondly, recalling years later the stinging rudeness of star Darren McGavin, who apparently had no idea who she was when he suggested that she’d need practice to learn to play a witch.
From left: Lara Parker, David Selby and Kathryn Leigh Scott at the Los Angeles premiere of Tim Burton’s ‘Dark Shadows’ in 2012 Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty
Parker would continue acting, increasingly sporadically, through the 1980s and early ’90s but largely had retired from the business when Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, both fans of the original supernatural soap, came calling: They invited Parker, Scott, an ailing Frid and their co-star David Selby (he played the rakish Quentin Collins, a ghost and werewolf) to make cameos in their upcoming big-screen Dark Shadows reboot feature film. The quartet’s appearance did in fact make the final cut, albeit briefly. None of the originals was particularly fond of the jokey 2012 film.
Parker at a 2013 Los Angeles Barnes & Noble book signing for her novel ‘Wolf Moon Rising’ Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic/Getty
In her later years, Parker turned to writing and teaching — her novels include Angelique’s Descent (1998), The Salem Branch (2006), Wolf Moon Rising (2013) and Heiress of Collinwood (2016). The books proved popular among Dark Shadows‘ still-devoted, conventions-attending fan base, as well as devotees of romance and horror genre novels.
Parker kept in touch with her co-stars including Scott, Selby, Roger Davis, the late John Karlen and others throughout her life, particularly once the conventions became annual events in the late 1980s through the 1990s and up to the 50th anniversary celebration in 2017.
Many of the original cast, including Parker, recorded a series of Dark Shadows audio dramas in the 2000s released by Big Finish Productions. They also reunited for a “Smartphone Theatre” Zoom-style, Covid-era performance of A Christmas Carol in 2021 and, on Halloween night 2020, a YouTube/Zoom Dark Shadows cast reunion.
Parker is survived by second husband Jim Hawkins, daughter Caitlin, sons Rick and Andy, and their wives Miranda and Celia; and grandson Wesley.
Angélique traveled back to 1897 in order to further torment a time-traveling Barnabas. Initially a villain once more, she falls in love with Quentin Collins and, eventually, becomes a firm ally in the enduring war against Count Andreas Petofi.
Various characters had special abilities and powers, including telekinesis, mind control, and the ability to cast spells. Witchcraft was often used as a means of revenge or manipulation in the storylines. In addition to Angelique, other witches and warlocks appeared in Dark Shadows. They often clashed with each other in their quest for power or sought to use their abilities for their benefit. The presence of witchcraft added an eerie and mystical element to the show, keeping audiences intrigued and captivated. Dark Shadows has become a cult classic and is known for its unique blend of supernatural elements and soap opera drama. The portrayal of witches and witchcraft in the show contributed to its lasting legacy and popularity among fans. Overall, the dark shadows witch storyline added an extra layer of intrigue and suspense to the show. It showcased the power and danger that witches possessed and how their actions could impact the lives of the Collins family. The portrayal of witchcraft in Dark Shadows remains an iconic aspect of the show and helped make it a beloved and memorable series..
Reviews for "The untold story of dark witchhunters and their methods"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Dark Shadows Witchh" but was ultimately disappointed. The storyline felt disjointed and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow. Additionally, the character development was weak, leaving me feeling disconnected from the film. The acting performances were also underwhelming, with many of the actors seeming half-hearted in their roles. Overall, I found "Dark Shadows Witchh" to be a disappointing and forgettable experience.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - I had mixed feelings about "Dark Shadows Witchh". While the visuals were stunning and the cinematography was great, the plot felt convoluted and confusing. It seemed like the film was trying to be too many things at once, resulting in an inconsistent and messy narrative. The pacing was also an issue, with certain scenes dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I appreciate the effort put into the visuals, but the storytelling fell short for me.
3. Michael - 1/5 stars - "Dark Shadows Witchh" was a complete letdown for me. The acting was atrocious, with wooden performances that lacked any semblance of emotion. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and laughable, taking away any potential for the film to be taken seriously. Additionally, the special effects were poorly executed, appearing cheap and unrealistic. I couldn't wait for the film to end and would not recommend it to anyone.
4. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Dark Shadows Witchh" had an interesting premise but failed to deliver on its potential. The script felt weak, relying on cliches and predictable plot twists. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to become invested in their fates. The film also suffered from pacing issues, with the middle portion dragging on and feeling unnecessary. Overall, while there were some enjoyable moments, "Dark Shadows Witchh" ultimately fell short for me.