Barbara Parkins

Nationality:
Canadian
Birthdate:
05/22/1942
Birthplace:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Photo Galleries
Lauren and Heidi of MTV's "The Hills"
Jeff Lipsky/MTV

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biography
A slim brunette leading lady of film and TV, Barbara Parkins made her feature debut in the crime drama "20,000 Eyes" (1961) but really came to public attention as the oft-married Betty Anderson on the popular primetime soap opera "Peyton Place" (ABC, 1964-69). In her second feature, the high profile but trashy "Valley of the Dolls" (1967), she was cast as an aspiring actress with roots in New England, a role that was not much of a stretch from her TV persona. In its day, the film was widely dismissed by critics, but by the 1990s it enjoyed popularity as a camp classic. While never a major Continued
Credits
Bonnie
Judith Ruben
Rosa O'Flynn
Anne Welles
1967
Christina/Kaye
Jackie Wyatt
milestones
Year
Milestone
1961 
Made feature debut in "20,000 Eyes"
 
Began appearing in guest spots on TV shows like "Dr. Kildare" and "Leave It to Beaver"
 
Co-starred as Betty Anderson in the TV serial "Peyton Place" (ABC), the first soap opera to become a major hit in primetime, airing up to three times per week
1967 
Co-starred in "Valley of the Dolls", an embarrassing adaptation of the Jacqueline Susann novel
1971 
Played a traumatized rape victim in ABC movie "A Taste of Evil", starring Barbara Stanwyck
Continued