I think that a lot of us have seen the very campy 1970's "disaster" movie where cross-eyed stewardess Karen Black has to land a huge airplane after a freak accident kills or disables the entire flight crew, including future DS actor Roy Thinnes. The movie is a source for a lot of the goofiness in Airplane, though Airport 1975 is not without its own laughs.
But look closely at the background players, specifically the other stewardesses. Not future Trapper John nurse, Christopher Norris. Pay close attention and you'll see Lara Parker! It's not much of a part. She doesn't have much to do. She does standard stewardess stuff early on and pretty much reacts the same way every one else does once the chaos hits.
Her character doesn't have a name, according to the imdb listing. Nor does she receive screen credit. She's not alone in that. Established performers like Bob Hastings, Judy Lewis and Virginia Gregg also go uncredited.
I know that Lara also went uncredited for her part as Mrs. David Banner in The Incredible Hulk. She gets a fair amount of screen time and is definitely recognizable. But I was completely unaware that she was in Airport 1975. I've never heard her mention it during any of the Q and A sessions at the festivals. I'm not sure that it's even on her resume. It's not a huge part. But it's a mainstream successful movie. I'm sure that there's a story to be told.
