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Actress and writer Joanna Barnes has died at the age of 87 following a long illness, according to her friend Sally Jackson (via The Hollywood Reporter<\/a>).<\/p>\n She died on Friday at her home in California after dealing with \u201cmultiple health problems,\u201d her friend said.<\/p>\n Barnes starred as the antagonist Vicky Robinson, the money-grabbing woman with her sights set on marrying the twins\u2019 father Mitch Evers (Brian Keith) in 1961\u2019s The Parent Trap.<\/p>\n She later played the gold-digging Meredith Blake\u2019s (Elaine Hendrix) mother in the 1998 remake.<\/p>\n Barnes was a silver and small screen veteran whose acting career included roles in The War Wagon, with Kirk Douglas and John Wayne, Home Before Dark and Spartacus.<\/p>\n She also played Jane opposite Denny Miller in 1959\u2019s Tarzan, the Ape Man.<\/p>\n In 1958\u2019s Auntie Mame, she played snooty debutante Gloria Upson, earning herself a Golden Globe nomination.<\/p>\n Her TV credits include 21 Beacon Street, The Millionaire, Murder She Wrote and Cheers.<\/p>\n She was also a regular panelist on early episodes of What\u2019s My Line?.<\/p>\n In addition to acting, Barnes was known as a writer and newspaper columnist.<\/p>\n She wrote a book on home decorating, titled Starting from Scratch, and several novels, including The Deceivers, Who is Carla Hart? and Pastora.<\/p>\n Her final acting credit was in an episode of ABC sitcom Then Came You back in 2000.<\/p>\n Fans have paid tribute to Barnes on social media, with one praising her performance as Gloria Upson, saying: \u201c[F]ew performers ever brought me as much joy as you did in a single scene.\u201d<\/p>\n Gloria Upson has picked up her ping-pong ball and left the building. ???? RIP Joanna Barnes. Few performers ever brought me as much joy as you did in a single scene. https:\/\/t.co\/dklESAT9SR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SHmzErHPB3<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Farran Nehme (@selfstyledsiren) April 30, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>