Laura Van Kirk (previously Lowden) was a recurring character and recurring antagonist in the television series Dynasty on The CW. She first appeared in the third episode of the second season. 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
Laura Van Kirk was born into a wealthy family of high social status. She married an equally powerful millionaire, John Lowden. They had two children together, a daughter and a son named Liam Ridley.
Eighteen-years later, Liam's high school girlfriend, Heidi, had a secret affair with John which resulted in her pregnancy. Laura thought it would be best if Liam thought he was the father - to protect everyone involved. She convinced everyone that Heidi should have the child but give him up for adoption. However, unbeknownst to anyone, Heidi kept the baby and named him Connor. ("Is The Next Surgery on The House?")
After John's death, Laura suffered a mental breakdown which triggered her berating Liam and trying to make every aspect of their lives perfect. ("The Butler Did It") Some years after, Laura remarried with George.
Personality
Laura is a sophisticated woman who knows exactly what she wants in life and usually gets it. She comes from a wealthy family and grew up looking down on those who didn't have money or power. She is a perfectionist known for her calm and collected mannerisms. Laura has a way of quietly controlling people and the world around her. She has no qualms telling someone what she thinks and is opinionated, outspoken, and sly.
Laura cares for her son deeply and is capable of love and compassion, but often chooses not to show that vulnerable side of herself. Laura does what is best for herself and her interests above the interests of others. She has no sense of commitment to her husband, George, as she cheated on him with both Landon III and Blake Carrington. Coincidently, it is still unknown how she and Adam Carrington broke off whatever relationship they previously had.
Appearances
| Dynasty: Season 1 (0/22) | ||||||||||
| "I Hardly Recognized You": | "Spit It Out": | "Guilt is for Insecure People": | "Private as a Circus": | "Company Slut": | "I Exist Only For Me": | "A Taste of Your Own Medicine": | "The Best Things In Life": | "Rotten Things": | "A Well-Dressed Tarantula": | "I Answer to No Man": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| "Promises You Can't Keep": | "Nothing But Trouble": | "The Gospel According to Blake Carrington": | "Our Turn Now": | "Poor Little Rich Girl": | "Enter Alexis": | "Don't Con a Con Artist": | "Use or Be Used": | "A Line From the Past": | "Trashy Little Tramp": | "Dead Scratch": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| Dynasty: Season 2 (2/22) | ||||||||||
| "Twenty-Three Skidoo": | "Ship of Vipers": | "The Butler Did It": | "Snowflakes in Hell": | "Queen of Cups": | "That Witch": | "A Temporary Infestation": | "A Real Instinct for the Jugular": | "Crazy Lady": | "A Champagne Mood": | "The Sight of You": |
| Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Mentioned |
| "Filthy Games": | "Even Worms Can Procreate": | "Parisian Legend Has It...: | "Motherly Overprotectiveness": | "Miserably Ungrateful Men": | "How Two-Faced Can You Get": | "Life is A Masquerade Party": | "This Illness of Mine": | "New Lady in Town": | "Thicker Than Money": | "Deception, Jealousy, and Lies": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Appears | Mentioned | Absent | Mentioned |
| Dynasty: Season 3 (4/20) | ||||||||||
| "Guilt Trip to Alaska": | "Caution Never Won A War": | "Wild Ghost Chase": | "Something Desperate": | "Mother? I’m At La Mirage": | "A Used Up Memory": | "Shoot From the Hip": | "The Sensational Blake Carrington Trial": | "The Caviar, I Trust, Is Not Burned": | "What Sorrows Are You Drowning?": | |
| Mentioned | Appears | Mentioned | Appears | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | |
| "A Wound That May Never Heal": | "Battle Lines": | "You See Most Things in Terms of Black & White": | "That Wicked Stepmother": | "Up A Tree": | "Is The Next Surgery on The House?": | "She Cancelled...": | "You Make Being a Priest Sound Like Something Bad": | "Robin Hood Rescues": | "My Hangover's Arrived": | |
| Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Mentioned | Absent | Appears | Appears | Mentioned | Mentioned | Mentioned | |
| Dynasty: Season 4 (1/22) | ||||||||||
| "That Unfortunate Dinner": | "Vows Are Still Sacred": | "The Aftermath": | "Everybody Loves The Carringtons": | "New Hopes, New Beginnings": | "A Little Father-Daughter Chat": | "The Birthday Party": | "Your Sick and Self-Serving Vendetta": | "Equal Justice for the Rich": | "I Hate to Spoil Your Memories": | "A Public Forum for Her Lies": |
| Appears | Absent | Mentioned | Mentioned | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent |
| "Everything But Facing Reality": | "Go Rescue Someone Else": | "But I Don't Need Therapy": | "She Lives in a Showplace Penthouse": | "The British Are Coming": | "Stars Make You Smile": | "A Good Marriage in Every Sense": | "Everything Looks Wonderful, Joseph": | "You Vicious, Miserable Liar": | "Affairs of State and Affairs of the Heart": | "Filled With Manipulations and Deceptions": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent |
| Dynasty: Season 5 (1/22) | ||||||||||
| "Let's Start Over Again": | "That Holiday Spirit": | "How Did The Board Meeting Go?": | "Go Catch Your Horse": | "A Little Fun Wouldn't Hurt": | "Devoting All Of Her Energy to Hate": | "A Real Actress Could Do It": | "The Only Thing That Counts Is Winning": | "A Friendly Kiss Between Friends": | "Mind Your Own Business": | "I'll Settle For a Prayer": |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
| "There's No Need to Panic": | "Do You Always Talk to Turtles": | "Vicious Vendetta": | "Ben": | "My Family, My Blood": | "There's No One Around to Watch You Drown": | "Episode 5.18": | "But a Drug Scandal?": | "Episode 5.20": | "Episode 5.21": | "Episode 5.22": |
| Absent | Appears | Mentioned | Absent | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
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")
Gallery
.jpeg "The Next Surgery (6).jpeg (377 KB)")
.jpeg "The Next Surgery (7).jpeg (383 KB)")
