Peacock Buzz 13/11/97


REAL MISS PARKER IS NO QUEEN OF MEAN TO YOUNG CANCER
PATIENTS


Andrea Parker of NBC's "The Pretender" Volunteers
To Counsel Afflicted Teens as Part of Charity



It's only coincidental that Andrea Parker portrays icy Miss Parker --
poster girl for women with attitude -- on NBC's "The Pretender"
(Saturdays, 8-9 p.m. ET), but while most viewers recoil from her sleek,
bad-to-the-bone character, a few cancer- afflicted teens see another
Miss Parker off-camera, one who has provided love and caring friendship
during their uphill battle.

Quietly, Parker has dedicated much of her free time during the past two
years in corresponding with and mentoring child and teenaged cancer
patients as part of her affiliation with the Glenn Siegel "My Good
Friend" charity organization. Named for and inspired by the young man
whose goal, before he succumbed to brain cancer, was to make life easier
for his fellow pediatric cancer patients, the national charity is now
run by his parents, Barbara and Marv Siegel.

"I first heard about this group while guest-starring on an
episode of  (NBC's) 'JAG,' when I found some information in my dressing room trailer," says Parker. "Fifteen minutes later, I was moved to tears because there was so much passion in their mission." Parker called Marv Siegel and volunteered to join the non-profit  charity's efforts to pair entertainment and sports celebrities with some of the young patients. She shared several phone chats with various  teens, and helped to uplift their spirits simply by showing that someone cared, and
eventually became a buddy.

After more time passed, she developed a special relationship with
Sabrina, a Virginia teen, and at last flew there to meet her new pal
last summer.

"The experience was overwhelming," recalls Parker. "It was so positive
for everyone that we feel like family now. She has taught me a lot about
strength and love and not giving up. She's a smart and passionate young
woman who is a survivor.

"Since then, Sabrina writes me letters in code to see what's up on the
show. The sad thing is that she really understands the pain behind (the
fictional) Miss Parker's anger. She's even writing a script for 'The
Pretender.'"

Parker wants to make it clear that her primary mission is to offer
support for her youthful charges, not derive any false sense of
self-satisfaction.

"I'm not here to get anything out of this; I just hope to relieve some
pain, give love, and offer a hand to those who need it. I want to let
them know that they are valued. I'm troubled by the randomness of life,
where some are blessed while others are burdened. I hope if I were going
through something like this, I would know that no one can do it alone.
Some kids get love at home, others don't. There's got to be someone
there to help.

"One of the good things about being an actor in Hollywood is that you're
in a position to remind other people that there are still others who
need help. It's the ultimate gratification -- it's why we were put on
this earth."

Parker admits that the dubious notoriety of her well-coifed,
stiletto-heeled character often precedes her when dealing with adults
who spy her in public. But not so with her "Good Friends."

"Adults say with relief, 'Oh god, you're not really like Miss Parker.'
Every time someone says that, I'm really flattered. They think I'm a
witch, and then learn I'm not. That's totally cool!

"But kids understand more so than adults that what they see is just
pretend -- if you'll excuse the pun. They haven't lost their innocence."


Presently, Parker keeps busy away from the set by visiting and signing
autographs for children at local Los Angeles hospitals, as well as
maintaining her relationships with her phone and pen pals.

In the meantime, she knows the value of perpetuating the myth of the
fictitious Miss Parker.

"I suggest to people I meet on the street to tell their friends that I
was vicious in person," she says, with an evil twinkle. "They might as
well make up a big, fat, juicy story and say that I was nasty. That
often makes a better story!"

Fortunately, many young cancer survivors know better.

(Glenn Siegel's "My Good Friend" is a national charity; volunteers can
write to the organization at: 3587 Highway 9, No. 207, Freehold, New
Jersey 07728)