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Jonathan Frid, star of the original Dark Shadows, has died He was 87. The Canadian actor, who passed away Friday in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, played benign vampire Barnabas Collins on ABC’s gothic soap opera from 1967-71 and in the 1970 movie House Of Dark Shadows. Frid also has a cameo in Warner Bros’ upcoming Tim Burton-directed Dark Shadows reboot as an older version of Barnabas. In the movie, which comes out May 11, he meets up with the younger version of himself played by Johnny Depp.
Although Frid wasn’t in Dark Shadows when it first debuted in 1966, his elegantly fiendish Barnabas quickly became the star when he joined several months later. After the series ended, Frid returned to the theater, performing Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare and a long run on Broadway in the 1980s in Arsenic And Old Lace. He also appeared in several films including Oliver Stone’s 1974 directorial debut Seizure. However, it was Dark Shadows for which the Yale-trained actor remained best known. Later in life, Frid, along with others from the show, became a frequent participant in Dark Shadow fan conventions.
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Jonathan died of fright because Johnny Depp is about to slaughter Barnabas Collins in the Dark Shadows remake.
Stupid joke being made over and over. An artist has passed away, more talented than the people making this pithy remark.
It’s really not such a “stupid joke.” Have you seen the trailer and the TV commercials? Barnabas shimmying into a box of packing peanuts? Brushing his fangs? Seriously? If Frid finally accepted that his career had been defined by one role, why stick around to see it desecrated?
Oh for God’s sake. The trailer for the new “Dark Shadows” looks awesome! I loved the original show – but it can’t be replicated today (an attempt to do so in 1991 in a new television series flopped) and the original Dark Shadows actors who did cameos in the new film gave it their resounding approval. Jonathan Frid was a cool guy and had a wicked sense of humor, I’m sure he loved the new approach ot Barnabas and appreciated the franchise had to change with the times. But really these silly obsessive “fans” of the original crack me up. Everyone knew that nothing new that could be done would satisfy them and while everyone else is eager to see the new Tim Burton film, the silly fans can be counted on to raise all manner of hell and accusations of “but this ISN”T the way Dark Shadows should be done.” LOL. If you don’t like it, get studio backing and make your own film, otherwise STFU and watch dvds of the old show. No body cares if you like the new one or not!
Funny! For a 12 year old! Perhaps Mr Frid (Unlike you) knew this was a comedy BASED on Dark Shadows.
Really? They should have called it “Stupid Vampire Movie” and left the “Dark Shadows” legacy out of it.
For real! Jonathan Frid was probably tickled pink with the new Barnabas. He was a cool guy and had a great sense of humor. Let’s face it, the old show is great, but it’s campy as hell, it’s appropriate to play up the camp element for a new feature. But you can’t reason with the “fans.”
R.I.P. Jonathan Frid
Although Mr. Frid rests, Barnabas Collins lives on – but NOT in the guise of Johnny Depp’s latest portrayal.
Died after seeing an early cut of Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows remake.
Shit. Dick Clark, Jonathan Frid, and Levon Helm. Today, all Boomers feel really, really old. And very sad. What a diverse, wonderful group of performers.
RIP to all.
I am sadden by this news. He played his character, Barnabas Collins so brilliantly. Dark Shadows was a Daytime Drama filled with a magnificent cast and was an innovative soap opera with storylines. No one comes close to Jonathan Frid’s exceptional performances as the smooth and scary BC. Sincere condolences go out to his family at this most difficult time.
I totally agree;remember it well. It was one of a few shows that was before its time. Depp is great in anything he does and look forward to seeing him do this. We can’t go back to the times of Roy Rogers, Peyton Place, American Bandstand, etc. So hopefully memories will be great for this generation just like it is for us. To the Complainers & critics — do you ever just enjoy something for what and when it is? To each his own; however, I don’t think any of us out here would recognize you for your talent(s) such as Depp – he’s memorable – you are NOT. Enjoy the movie if you can.
It takes something special to make a character iconic, Mr Frid had that “something”.
Jonathan Frid died yesterday at age 87. Or did he?
I loved Dark Shadows I used to watch it every day.RIP Barnabas.
Perhaps Burton’s fim should be called “NOT SO DARK SHADOWS.”
DS fans for years haave done skits and made “home movies” spoofing various aspects of the show. That’s fine among friends. But to spend even a small fortune on a major motion picture is quite another story. The good thing is that it will give some publicity to the show. The bad thing is that eager fans have been anticipating this film for at least five years, never even considering that it might be a comedy. Then again, when you think of Depp’s portrayal of a pirate in the Carribean series, perhaps we should have been better prepared.The original DS got me interested in the classic horror stories from which it “borrowed’ and led me to appreciate classic Universal horror films of the ’30′s. For this and so many other reasons DS is a treasure and I am hugely grateful to Dan Curtis Productions for bringing it to television.
I was suprised by his passing. If not for this website I might not have ever known..How dreadful of the rest of the media not even mention his death in passing. He was a class act and will be remembered by all Dark Shadow fans.