Jonathan Frid [Barnabas Collins] 1924-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 04-19-2012, 08:13 AM

'Dark Shadows' Jonathan Frid Dies on Friday the 13th

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HAMILTON, Ontario -- Jonathan Frid, the man known to fans around the world as Barnabas Collins, the suave vampire from the cult hit soap opera "Dark Shadows" has died at age 87.

The Hamilton Spectator, of Hamilton, Ontario, reports the Canadian actor died in his hometown of Hamilton at the Juravinski Hospital on Friday, April 13.

Frid's final screen role was a cameo in "Dark Shadows," the soap opera's upcoming big-screen revamp directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas.

Kathryn Leigh Scott, who co-starred with Frid on the original "Dark Shadows" and recently reunited with him to film her own cameo in the film, paid loving tribute to the actor on her website.

"I am so grateful to have worked with Jonathan, and to have known him as the charismatic, entertaining, complex and plain-spoken man that he was," she wrote. "What fun we had working together! He was irascible, irreverent, funny, caring, lovable and thoroughly professional."

Scott recalled the moment when Frid and Depp first met on the "Dark Shadows" set: "I won't ever forget the moment when the two Barnabas Collinses met, one in his late 80s and the other in his mid-40s, each with their wolf's head canes. Jonathan took his time scrutinizing his successor's appearance.

'I see you've done the hair,' Jonathan said to Johnny Depp, 'but a few more spikes.' Depp, entirely in character, replied, 'Yes, we're doing things a bit differently.'"

Frid also starred in director Oliver Stone's feature directing debut, the horror movie "Seizure," in 1974.

The soap opera ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971.

Originally conceived as a straightforward gothic soap opera by creator Dan Curtis, it languished in the ratings until Curtis began adding supernatural elements, first a ghost, and then Barnabas Collins.

Frid joined the show in 1967 and it began to take off as a cult hit, especially with younger children, who rushed home from school to watch the show.

Outside of the Barnabas role, Frid had an extensive stage career, including a Broadway and national tour of "Arsenic and Old Lace" in the mid-1980s.

Frid began organizing staged readings of plays, poems and stories at "Dark Shadows" fan gatherings in the early 1980s.

The "Readers Theater" became a replacement for the Q&As with fans, which Frid had grown bored with.

The shows, which also included scenes from Shakespearean plays and Edgar Allan Poe short stories, was one of Frid's great passions in his later years.

Frid also maintained his website up until just a few months before his death, posting regular updates and communicating with his fans.

old grouch · 04-19-2012, 04:35 PM

I always enjoyed him as Barnabas Collins. RIP

AB · 04-19-2012, 06:48 PM

Rest in peace.

80sTrivia · 04-19-2012, 07:01 PM

He was really responsible for making Dark Shadows the huge success that it was. Sad that he dies only a week or so before the big screen version starring Johnny Depp is set to premiere...

http://www.migueldante.com/2012/04/d...frid-dies.html

Retro4Life · 04-19-2012, 07:48 PM

A fine actor and from everything I've read and seen, a true gentleman. He truly made DS what it was..a huge touchstone for millions of fans, yours truly included.

Thanks, Jonathan, and RIP.

Mr. Television · 04-19-2012, 07:50 PM

So very said. I was not a DS fan but there's no doubt that he made that show his own. A true legend. R.I.P. Jonathan.

CHERISLAND · 04-19-2012, 08:33 PM

Very sad news about Jonathan Frid passing away last Friday. May he rest in peace. His legacy of Barnabas Collins will live on forever and ensure that he will never be forgotten.

catlover79 · 04-19-2012, 09:27 PM

This also just happened right after the complete series was released on DVD. Mr. Frid was a class act - not only was he TV's most famous vampire, he was a Shakespearan actor who did many plays and even had a one-man show at one point. He will indeed be missed.

MickeyMac · 04-19-2012, 10:23 PM

Dick Clark, Levon Helm, Jonathan Frid. Not a good week.

Willbo · 04-20-2012, 01:29 PM

Will miss Jonathan Frid. I've got my daughter hooked on the original Dark Shadows. She was very sad by the news. He made Dark Shadows.

Marvo301 · 04-20-2012, 01:45 PM

Lonathon Frid

Leslie Eckhardt · 04-21-2012, 08:48 AM

Truly he became the "life blood" of Dark Shadows. He passed away the very day I purchased Dark Shadows-Fan Favorites. YouTube has many interesting interviews and clips of Jonathan Frid under his name. From what I've seen, he was a true gentleman who appreciated his fans and his fame from this most unique series.

04-19-2012, 08:13 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Jonathan Frid [Barnabas Collins] 1924-2012 'Dark Shadows' Jonathan Frid Dies on Friday the 13th Link HAMILTON, Ontario -- Jonathan Frid, the man known to fans around the world as Barnabas Collins, the suave vampire from the cult hit soap opera "Dark Shadows" has died at age 87. The Hamilton Spectator, of Hamilton, Ontario, reports the Canadian actor died in his hometown of Hamilton at the Juravinski Hospital on Friday, April 13. Frid's final screen role was a cameo in "Dark Shadows," the soap opera's upcoming big-screen revamp directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas. Kathryn Leigh Scott, who co-starred with Frid on the original "Dark Shadows" and recently reunited with him to film her own cameo in the film, paid loving tribute to the actor on her website. "I am so grateful to have worked with Jonathan, and to have known him as the charismatic, entertaining, complex and plain-spoken man that he was," she wrote. "What fun we had working together! He was irascible, irreverent, funny, caring, lovable and thoroughly professional." Scott recalled the moment when Frid and Depp first met on the "Dark Shadows" set: "I won't ever forget the moment when the two Barnabas Collinses met, one in his late 80s and the other in his mid-40s, each with their wolf's head canes. Jonathan took his time scrutinizing his successor's appearance. 'I see you've done the hair,' Jonathan said to Johnny Depp, 'but a few more spikes.' Depp, entirely in character, replied, 'Yes, we're doing things a bit differently.'" Frid also starred in director Oliver Stone's feature directing debut, the horror movie "Seizure," in 1974. The soap opera ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. Originally conceived as a straightforward gothic soap opera by creator Dan Curtis, it languished in the ratings until Curtis began adding supernatural elements, first a ghost, and then Barnabas Collins. Frid joined the show in 1967 and it began to take off as a cult hit, especially with younger children, who rushed home from school to watch the show. Outside of the Barnabas role, Frid had an extensive stage career, including a Broadway and national tour of "Arsenic and Old Lace" in the mid-1980s. Frid began organizing staged readings of plays, poems and stories at "Dark Shadows" fan gatherings in the early 1980s. The "Readers Theater" became a replacement for the Q&As with fans, which Frid had grown bored with. The shows, which also included scenes from Shakespearean plays and Edgar Allan Poe short stories, was one of Frid's great passions in his later years. Frid also maintained his website up until just a few months before his death, posting regular updates and communicating with his fans.
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04-19-2012, 07:01 PM	#4
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	He was really responsible for making Dark Shadows the huge success that it was. Sad that he dies only a week or so before the big screen version starring Johnny Depp is set to premiere... http://www.migueldante.com/2012/04/d...frid-dies.html
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04-19-2012, 07:48 PM	#5
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,706	A fine actor and from everything I've read and seen, a true gentleman. He truly made DS what it was..a huge touchstone for millions of fans, yours truly included. Thanks, Jonathan, and RIP.
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04-19-2012, 07:50 PM	#6
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	So very said. I was not a DS fan but there's no doubt that he made that show his own. A true legend. R.I.P. Jonathan.
	__________________ Sonny

04-19-2012, 09:27 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	This also just happened right after the complete series was released on DVD. Mr. Frid was a class act - not only was he TV's most famous vampire, he was a Shakespearan actor who did many plays and even had a one-man show at one point. He will indeed be missed. Attached Images
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04-19-2012, 04:35 PM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	I always enjoyed him as Barnabas Collins. RIP

04-19-2012, 06:48 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,426	Rest in peace.

04-19-2012, 08:33 PM	#7
CHERISLAND Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 20, 2002 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 300	Very sad news about Jonathan Frid passing away last Friday. May he rest in peace. His legacy of Barnabas Collins will live on forever and ensure that he will never be forgotten.

04-19-2012, 10:23 PM	#9
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Dick Clark, Levon Helm, Jonathan Frid. Not a good week.

04-20-2012, 01:29 PM	#10
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	Will miss Jonathan Frid. I've got my daughter hooked on the original Dark Shadows. She was very sad by the news. He made Dark Shadows.

04-20-2012, 01:45 PM	#11
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,450	Lonathon Frid
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04-21-2012, 08:48 AM	#12
Leslie Eckhardt Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 293	Truly he became the "life blood" of Dark Shadows. He passed away the very day I purchased Dark Shadows-Fan Favorites. YouTube has many interesting interviews and clips of Jonathan Frid under his name. From what I've seen, he was a true gentleman who appreciated his fans and his fame from this most unique series.