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Laura Van Kirk

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Laura Van Kirk is a supporting character on The CW's Dynasty. She is portrayed by Sharon Lawrence.

Laura is Liam’s well-bred, erudite mother who is so overpowering and manipulative that she puts Fallon’s mother, Alexis, to shame.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Laura Van Kirk was born into a wealthy family of high social standing and later married an equally powerful millionaire, John Lowden. Together, they had two children, including their son, Liam Ridley.

Eighteen years later, Laura discovered that John had been having an affair with Liam's high school girlfriend, Heidi. To protect both her family’s image and her late husband from potential legal consequences—since Heidi was only 17 at the time—Laura manipulated the situation. She convinced Heidi to deceive Liam by claiming the baby was his and arranged for her to be sent away to give birth, with the intent of putting the child up for adoption. However, unbeknownst to everyone, Heidi secretly decided to keep the baby, naming him Connor.

Following John's death, Laura suffered a mental breakdown, which manifested in her obsessive need for control, leading her to berate Liam while striving for perfection in every aspect of their lives. Some years later, she remarried George.

Series[]

Following the death of her brother Max, Laura arrives in Atlanta to check on Liam and meet his new wife, Fallon Carrington. Her overbearing nature leads to immediate tension, especially when Fallon stands up to her on Liam's behalf.

In a subsequent appearance, Laura feigns a cancer diagnosis to elicit sympathy from Liam. She collaborates with Fallon's brother, Adam Carrington, who assists in her deceit and engages in a brief affair with her. Laura's machinations intensify when Liam suffers amnesia; she files a restraining order against Fallon and attempts to expedite Liam's marriage to another woman, Ashley, to keep Fallon at bay. However, Liam eventually calls off the wedding, sensing unresolved aspects of his past.

It is later revealed that Laura had coerced Liam's ex-girlfriend, Heidi, into falsely claiming that her child, Connor, was Liam's, when in fact the father was Laura's late husband. This manipulation strains her relationship with Liam, leading him to cut ties with her. In a bid to regain control, Laura conspires with Blake Carrington to sabotage Fallon and Liam's engagement, offering to approve the sale of Carrington Atlantic back to Blake in exchange. Despite their plan's failure, Laura and Blake engage in a brief affair.

Laura's final scheme involves a partnership with Adam to secure her position as CEO of Van Kirk Industries by obtaining Liam's vote. When Liam refuses, Laura publicly humiliates Fallon over her fertility issues, leading to a complete severance of ties with her son. In a tragic turn, Laura accidentally administers an excessive dose of Adam's experimental anti-aging drug, resulting in disorientation. She subsequently trips and fatally impales herself on her own shoe heel.

Throughout the series, Laura Van Kirk's relentless pursuit of control and manipulation ultimately leads to her downfall, impacting her relationships and sealing her tragic fate.

Appearances[]

Trivia[]

  • When Liam was eight, Laura left him alone on a mountain in Aspen for twelve hours, because she forgot he was with her. ("The Butler Did It")
  • Laura describes herself as intensely competitive, with Liam referencing tennis as a "blood sport." ("The Butler Did It")

Gallery[]

References[]

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