Lar Park Lincoln represented the future of Knots Landing. Her creation of the scheming and troubled Linda Fairgate energized the old warhorse and paved the way for a 90s generation of devotees. The decision to retire Linda’s character through one of network television’s most grisly murders in effect killed the last young light on the show. Knots Landing limped along for another two years but the zesty excitement we had grown to love, had grown to depend on, was snuffed out.
Lincoln has had a turbulent ride since then, suffering through career disappointments and family sorrows and soaring as a mother and self-made businesswoman. Her invention “The Freedom Bag” is one of the most popular items in the world of home shopping. She has two children reaching adolescence, both ready to follow in their mother’s footsteps. And Mom herself is finally ready to return to acting after nearly a decade’s absence.
We welcome Lar Park Lincoln back, speaking to us from her home in San Antonio.
Arthur Swift: It’s an exciting day to be speaking with you.
Lar Park Lincoln: Why thank you very much.
Petey Hollister asks
Wow, *the* Lar Park Lincoln. Lar, babe, I've been a fan all the way back to 1988 when I first saw you as Tina Shepherd in Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. And then when you turned up on Knots, my second favorite pastime (horror movies being the first), I was surprised and delighted. Your portrayal of Linda Fairgate was one of the best things about Knots in the later years, and such Linda catchphrases as "To hell with theory, let's get down to the brass tacks" and "MORT?" are still bandied about my home all the time. The show suffered a huge loss when you exited stage left. My question is this: since it's been stated that you are planning a return to acting, I'd like to know if you already have a project lined up and if so, when can we expect to see it? Also, I've read that you're a fan of horror films; would you be willing to return to the Friday the 13th franchise if they wanted you back?
Lar: That’s a fun question. I don’t have a project yet. But I really love television. I love the technical aspect much more than movies. And in September I’ll be going out for the Emmys for my “re-debut,” so hopefully around that time I’ll have an offer (for work). As for Friday the 13th series I’d love to come back to that if they asked me.
AS: How did you get involved with that?
Lar: Well it was very quiet the way they advertised for the audition. It was cast as something called “Birthday Bash” so they wouldn’t have all the fans showing up and crashing the audition but my husband read the script and he said, “This is definitely Friday the 13th.” (Laughs). He passed away 7 ½ years ago.
AS: I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that.
Lar: But I’ve written a script for Friday the 13th that has a grown-up Tina returning as a psychiatrist and I’m hoping Paramount might want to produce it.
AS: That sounds like a great idea. But isn’t there a “Freddy vs. Jason” movie in the works as well?
Lar: I’ve been told that but I don’t know much about it.
AS: So what else have you been doing?
Lar: What aren’t you doing is more like it. We put products on QVC (the shopping network), I do live on-air hosting for the beauty line which is interesting because it’s live speaking with very little delay on the phone. I’ve been writing; producing a video called “Getting Started and Not Scammed.” (The video) is important to me because I want to show how to avoid people taking advantage of those trying to get a start in acting, and the scams that go on all across the country. I started on my own at 16 and I did not come from a family with money; I only had two pairs of blue jeans in a little apartment. I went to modeling school and was an intern and worked my way up from there. So I’ve been doing public service seminars about this and they’re going to be filmed for a video.
I’ve been doing all that and have been a single mom to my two children.
AS: What was the cause of your husband’s death?
Lar: Cancer. He had it for 2 ½ years and was 43 when he died. We had a home hospice set up here in San Antonio. So I took time off after being on 90210 to be with my family. I feel great, and with the passage of time it seems right to return to acting.
AS: How old are your children now?
Lar: My daughter is turning 13 and my son 10. My daughter is a little union actress who played a young Ashley Judd and my son has also been bitten by the (acting) bug, so we’ll see.
Ulysses asks
- In an old magazine from ´89 I read that you were originally contracted to appear on KNOTS LANDING as a mid-twenties mystery woman and eventual love interest for Gary Ewing. But then the producers thought you looked like a teen and because on DALLAS, another of their shows, they´d already given a young girlfriend to Larry Hagman and they didn´t want to look like they were copying themselves. Is that story a true one?
Lar: That’s almost exactly true actually. There’s a little piece of trivia I’ve put in my new bio. I originated as Linda Fairgate, that was a two-part position, where I wore a brown wig and aggravated Karen. They wanted me to be like a young Michele Lee for that. (Laughs). And then I also played a character named Sally’s Friend---
AS (stunned): You were Sally’s Friend?
Lar: It was me … they only showed my body…
AS: But I thought Teri Austin was Sally’s Friend? She’s been credited as Sally’s Friend.
Lar (slightly confused): No, it really was me. I did eight episodes as the body of Sally’s Friend, but they thought I was too energetic and too young to play her when her identity was revealed. Which is funny because they later paired me with Bill Devane, who was actually older! So that question is almost right, but I don’t think they were afraid of looking like they were copying from Dallas at that point (chuckles).
AS: Well that resolves the mystery of Sally’s Friend. I think people thought that since Jill Bennett died right before Sally appeared, that it must be Teri Austin.
Lar: It was me – Sally’s Friend. But I originally didn’t come in to read for Linda. I was casted to be a young Donna Mills, in flashback. She was only supposed to be in one episode, I think. I remember showing up for the audition and there was a line of blondes who looked like Donna Mills and a line of 5’9” brunettes who were supposed to look like Karen. And after testing for Donna they thought I would be better as Linda. The brown wig also was because they said they had too many blondes on the show.
AS: Your hair evolved in many ways.
Lar (laughing): Yes it has. They made it shorter and more severe as time went on. They really wanted to age me faster than I was aging so they kept working on my hair.
Along those lines, Bob Phillips asks:
Had you ever watched Knots Landing before joining the cast?
Lar: Of course! I