Joanna Barnes dies aged 89 - Parent Trap star dead after lengthy illness

Parent Trap star Joanna Barnes has died aged 89 at her home.

Her family confirmed the actress, famous for her role in the cult classic, died at home after a lengthy illness.

Blonde Barnes appeared in both the original and remakes of The Parent Trap. Barnes played gold-digger Vicky Robinson in the original and returned as Vicki Blake, mother of renamed conniver Meredith in the 1998 production.

She is survived by two sisters, Lally and Judith, and three stepchildren, John, Laura, and Louise.

Her other movie career credits include Auntie Mame, Home Before Dark, Spartacus, and The War Wagon.

Barnes also worked on the small screen, with a number of TV series including 21 Beacon Street and The Trials of O’Brien.

Joanna Barnes has passed away aged 89 and has been fondly remembered by movie fans. (IMDB)

She also turned her hand to presenting as host of the 1967 ABC television show Dateline: Hollywood.

Although her fame was largely due to her movie and TV work, she was also penning novels alongside her acting work.

Her four published novels include The Deceivers, Who is Carla Hart, Pastora, and Silverwood.

This led to her becoming a Los Angeles Times book reviewer. She also contributed to a column on interior design.

She is survived by two sisters, Lally and Judith, and three stepchildren, John, Laura, and Louise.

Joanna Barnes in legal drama Judd For The Defense (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Joanna Barnes was also an accomplished novelist (Getty)

But for fans who have paid tribute to the late movie star her role in Parent Trap will be the one for which she is remembered most fondly.

One fan posted on Twitter: "So sad to hear that Joanna Barnes has passed. As a kid, I thought she was so delightfully evil as Vicky in The Parent Trap, but reevaluating the movie as an adult who doesn't like camping gave me newfound sympathy for her maintenance gold digger."

Joanna Barnes and Kirk Douglas in costume for the motion picture The War Wagon. (Bettmann Archive)

Another added:"Sad to see beautiful #actress #JoannaBarnes has passed away at 87. Along with her #movies & #TV work she also wrote a number of #novels."

A third chimed in recalling a scene in her classic character in Auntie Mame: "Gloria Upson has picked up her ping-pong ball and left the building."

A fourth penned: "RIP Joanna Barnes. Few performers ever brought me as much joy as you did in a single scene."