Barbara Parkins (born May 22, 1942) is a Canadian-American former actress, singer, dancer and photographer.

Early life Parkins was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the age of 16, she and her adoptive mother moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled at Hollywood High School and studied acting, tap, ballet and fencing at the Falcon School, where her mother played the piano.Spaner, David. Dreaming in The Rain (2003). Arsenal Pulp Press, , p. 5

Parkins worked as an usher in a cinema to pay for drama lessons."Actress Barbara Parkins Once Ushered at Movies" by Bob Thomas, Nashua Telegraph, December 22, 1965, p. 9

Career Parkins began her career as a backup singer and dancer in the nightclub acts of stars like comedian George Burns. She made her film debut in the 1961 low-budget crime caper 20,000 Eyes, and guest-starred in television series such as Leave It to Beaver, The Untouchables, Perry Mason and The Wide Country.

Parkins was involved in two of the most highly publicized projects of the 1960s, the ABC primetime serial Peyton Place, and the film adaptation of Jacqueline Susann's best-selling novel, Valley of the Dolls.

In Peyton Place, Parkins received lead billing for her role as small-town bad girl Betty Anderson. The character was scripted to die in a car crash six weeks into the season, but audience reaction to Parkins was overwhelmingly favorable and her character was kept in the story line. In a late-1965 interview, the actress said she was lucky to have the role of Anderson, calling her character the "salt and pepper in the stew".

Parkins was the only leading cast member nominated for an award throughout the run of the series (Lee Grant and Ruth Warrick were nominated in 1966 and 1967, respectively, for supporting actress Emmy Awards, with Grant winning the award). In 1966, she was nominated for an Emmy Award as Lead Actress in a Drama Series, but lost to Barbara Stanwyck for The Big Valley. Parkins said while losing the award was painful, she was glad to have lost it to Stanwyck instead of Anne Francis, who was also nominated and whose work Parkins thought was "unfeminine"."No. 1 Girl in 'Peyton Place'" by Hal Humphrey, The Oakland Tribune, June 5, 1966, p. 26-EN

Following the close of Peyton Place, producer Paul Monash developed a spin-off series, The Girl from Peyton Place, for Parkins. However, when co-star Ryan O'Neal, who played her husband, declined to participate, the project was shelved.

In Valley of the Dolls, Parkins played Anne Welles, a character based on author Susann. The Welles character was described as "the good girl with a million-dollar face and all the bad breaks". Although the film was trashed by the critics, it was a commercial success and became a cult classic.

After visiting London in 1968 to be a bridesmaid in the wedding of Valley of the Dolls co-star Sharon Tate and director Roman Polanski,Clark, John., SFGate.com, June 11, 2006 Parkins moved to England, where she starred in several productions, including Puppet on a Chain (1970), The Mephisto Waltz (1971), and Shout at the Devil (1976), Parkins said she moved to London because it was relaxed and simple, and she loved its traditions."Barbara Parkins talks about the men in her life" by Gene Handsaker, Independent, September 8, 1970, p. 16

Parkins posed for nude pictorials in the May 1967, February 1970 and May 1976 editions of Playboy magazine.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Parkins appeared on American television in series that included Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill, Captains and the Kings and The Testimony of Two Men, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Hotel, and Vega$. She also appeared in television films, including To Catch a King, in which she portrayed the Duchess of Windsor, and opposite Sharon Stone in Calendar Girl Murders.

Parkins returned to the role of Betty Anderson in Peyton Place: The Next Generation (1985), a one-shot sequel to the series.

In 1991, Parkins starred in Canadian mystery series Scene of the Crime. She appeared in two Susann-inspired projects, the biography Scandalous Me and a segment of the Lifetime series Intimate Portrait.

In 2006, Parkins participated with Ted Casablanca on the audio commentary for the DVD release of Valley of the Dolls.

While filming Valley of the Dolls, Parkins met photographer Edward Steichen, a friend of the film's cinematographer, and was influenced to begin a lifetime career in photography. She is also an advocate for endangered wildlife.

Filmography Sources:Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974-1984 (1985), Verlag für die Deutsche Wirtschaft AG. , pp. 34, 75, 264, 409Parkins film listing fandango.com, retrieved January 26, 2010

Films Year Title Role Notes 1961 20,000 Eyes High School Girl 1967 Valley of the Dolls Anne Welles 1970 The Kremlin Letter B.A. 1971 The Mephisto Waltz Roxanne Delancey The Deadly Trap Cynthia Puppet on a Chain Maggie 1972 Asylum Bonnie 1974 Christina Christina/Kay 1976 Shout at the Devil Rosa O'Flynn/Oldsmith 1979 Bear Island Judith Rubin 1982 Breakfast in Paris Jackie Wyatt 1984 Katy Caterpillar Mother Nature English version, voice

TV series Year Title Role Notes 1961 The Untouchables uncredited Episode: "The Lily Dallas Story" The Tall Man Sue Wiley Episode: "Shadow of the Past" Leave It to Beaver Judy Walker Episode: "No Time for Babysitters" 87th Precinct Mary Episode: "Lady Killer" Wagon Train Eve Episode: "The Mark Miner Story" General Electric Theater Betty/Ruth 2 episodes 1962 My Three Sons Bobbie Episode: "Coincidence" Perry Mason Paula Durham Episode: "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle" Dr. Kildare Annie Episode: "The Soul Killer" 1963 Laramie Marilee Bishop Episode: "The Wedding Party" 1962-1963 The Wide Country Sharon Crosley/Billie Kidwell 2 episodes 1964–1969 Peyton Place Betty Anderson Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 1971A Taste of EvilSusan WilcoxTelevision film 1972 Ghost Story Eileen Travis Episode: "The New House" 1973SnatchedBarbara MaxvillTelevision film 1974 Born Free Opal Vanek Episode: "The Devil Leopard" 1974 Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill Leonie6 episodes 1976 Gibbsville Jenny Episode: "All the Young Girls" Captains and the Kings Martinique3 episodesLaw of the LandJane AdamsTelevision film 1977 Testimony of Two Men Marjorie Ferrier/Hilda EatonYoung Joe, the Forgotten KennedyVanessa Hunt1978Ziegfeld: The Man and His WomenAnna HeldThe Critical ListAngela Adams 1980 Vega$ Lani Episode: "Aloha, You're Dead" Fantasy Island Lorna Hendricks Episode: "The Love Doctor/Pleasure Palace/Possessed" 1981 The Manions of America Charlotte KentMiniseries 1983 Hotel Eileen Weston Episode: "Faith, Hope & Charity" Uncommon ValorDr. Margaret HoughtonTelevision film1984To Catch a KingDuchess of WindsorCalendar Girl MurdersCleo Banks1985Peyton Place: The Next GenerationBetty AndersonTelevision film1986Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious NunEllen Cartwright 1988 Jake and the Fatman Candace Morgan Episode: "But Not for Me" 1989 Murder, She Wrote Kay Weber Episode: "The Error of Her Ways" 1991 Scene of the Crime Various charactersEpisode: "Wild About Harry" 1996 Picket Fences Lucy Wanamaker Episode: "Forget Selma" 1998Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann StoryAnnie Laurie WilliamsTelevision film Superman: The Animated Series Mother Box Episode: "Apokolips... Now!"

Notes

References Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle. The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present (2007). Random House, Inc., , pp 220, 1077, 1201 Newcomb, Horace. Encyclopedia of Television (2004). CRC Press. , pp. 1754–1756

External links

Barbara Parkins Photography at CeLaVie Barbara Parkins Photography Collection at 100Prints.co.uk