Fans of "Dark Shadows" -- and everyone associated with that show -- can thank this man for the fact that it became the phenomenon that it did. The network was ready to pull the plug on "Dark Shadows" after its first 6 or 7 months because of low ratings -- and so Dan Curtis and company decided to introduce a vampire into the show -- and made the perfect casting decision in choosing Jonathan Frid for the role. He single-handedly turned it into a smash hit (moving the show back half-an-hour to 4pm so that kids coming home from school could see it didn't hurt either).
I really enjoyed watching this! Just one question, "Why doesn't anyone ask him about his service in the Canadian Navy during World War Two??? Jonathan Frid was a WWII veteran. He made it back from the war, and took up acting, again. We are so lucky that he did. ~Janet in Canada
As a 5th grader, Oh yes I ran Home, to watch, My Barnabas Collins, Yes Pres. Of his fan club, still admire Mr. Frid as a Person ,such sex Appeal, ❤❤💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
I found this bio information about Jonathan Frid from the large Official Dark Shadows grp and website , posted by people who knew and worked with Mr. Frid. >>>>> "" Mr. Frid was a proud Canadian. When he retired he moved back to Ontario Canada where he had relatives and many friends. Jonathan Frid never married ( obviously ) and he never adopted any children. He did not want any kids though he did dearly love his brother's children. Mr. Frid was survived by his beloved cousins and his brother's children, and by his Grand niece and nephews who loved and adored him. They called him 'Uncle John'. He was dearly loved. Mr. Frid was not a religious man so there was no ceremony after he died. He never liked to be fussed over and he did not want a funeral nor a memorial. He preferred to be remembered alive and enjoying life. Mr. Frid did not want a final resting place in fear of the many obsessive fans he had who would seek out the grave of 'Barnabas Collins' and set up memorials and write graffiti about his character. He didn't want fans to put him up on a pedestal like a movie idol. He never wanted that kind of attention. Jonathan Frid said that many fans had trouble separating him, the actor from the character he had played. Fans would address him as Barnabas instead of his real name and they'd ask him a lot of 'vampire' related questions. He did not want those kinds of obsessive fans to bother his relatives . Mr. Frid would often say that he was nothing like his Barnabas character. He also stated several times that he would like to be remembered for more than just his work on Dark Shadows. He had twenty years of acting experience before he even appeared on the TV show and several years of doing dramatic readings in his reader's theater and in his one-man shows and his tour with the play, Arsenic and Old Lace with actors Marion Ross, Jean Stapleton and Larry Storch. Mr. Jonathan Frid was so much more than just his Barnabas character. Mr. Frid is missed by his relatives, his friends, fans and by his community. R I P .""
I saw him do one of his one man shows back in the late 1980s, when he came to Erie, PA. By the way, who ever posted this spelled Jonathan's name wrong.
I read some articles about him being gay. I don't believe it, I remember an interview about why someone asked him why he never married: he said that he is so insecure like many actors that he would not put a wife thru that - being married to someone who was insecure almost every day of their life.
@Charles Rollins Well the fact that you don't believe that Frid was Gay is a credit to his acting ability to play the romantic lead as an actor. It's an illusion. I've read and seen so many of the interviews done with him and about him. There were three different stock answers, statements that I've seen given to the media as to why he did not marry nor have kids. All excuses given to the press to protect him image to the fans. No one could come out as Gay back then , it would have ruined his career and ruin his chances to be cast in leading roles if the general public found out he and several other cast members were Gay. Today we know it's just no big deal, being Gay is just an orientation but back then they could have been legally fired for being who they were.
What difference would it make if he was gay or not? He was a brilliant actor that gave humanity to a character that in literature was always just a monster!
It matters historically because Mr. Frid had to 'deny' and hide that part of his identity for the fans and the media. It's part of who he was. Many actors who are gay 'channel' that part of themselves into their work artistically, creatively. It's important because of the times that the 'closeted' actors lived through when they could have been legally fired from their jobs just because of who they were. So it's out of Love and Respect for Mr. Frid that his orientation is acknowledged because he was not free to express that part of his identity.
I can't believe this terribly underrated actor would have his sexual preference in question. Let's face it , most soaps go on and on for decades, and Dark Shadows only made it two seasons. The script was, for lack of a better word, garbage. And much of the acting was poorly directed and the whole thing was a low budget mess. But Jonathan Frid came to the scene and spiced it up buy giving it some grit. Barnabas Collins and Willie Loomis took that stupid going nowhere goth story to a new higher level. Thats the only reason that show aired another two seasons.
Such a superior Shakespearean actor; but his very conservative, dry sense of humor is what makes him an interesting man. Not really liking his role as Barnabas and at the same time making the individual sooooo real for the invite world to see, proves how incredibly talented he was.
I just love the man. He had a charm, a charisma, a realness, something... I don't know what it is exactly, but I love him.
Yeah, definitely got that vibe from him. He had some humility, perhaps. No ego at all.
Fans of "Dark Shadows" -- and everyone associated with that show -- can thank this man for the fact that it became the phenomenon that it did. The network was ready to pull the plug on "Dark Shadows" after its first 6 or 7 months because of low ratings -- and so Dan Curtis and company decided to introduce a vampire into the show -- and made the perfect casting decision in choosing Jonathan Frid for the role. He single-handedly turned it into a smash hit (moving the show back half-an-hour to 4pm so that kids coming home from school could see it didn't hurt either).
Every day I rushed home from school. Still my favorite show right beside Law and Order SVU.
Such a class act and gentleman.
Few actors have the capacity of preform complex roles like vampires in such a convincing way. My deeply admiration and respect to Jonathan Frid.
+Lautaro Montecinos I am with you! He was wonderful.
Katherine Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans, Josette Dupres) called him the best vampire and not for nothing.
Such a lovely gentleman . Loved him---one of a kind Dark Shadows would never have been a huge success if it weren't for him!
He was the Best actor. Such a wonderful amazing man
OH OUR BARNABAS, EPIC ROLE
I regret never seeing one of his shows. I love his voice and his acting.
Great actor!
Love him !!!!!!
I love him.
What a great actor he was, Jonathan Frid and Barnabas Collins sound and act nothing alike and that is the true greatness of a a professional actor
I really enjoyed watching this! Just one question, "Why doesn't anyone ask him about his service in the Canadian Navy during World War Two??? Jonathan Frid was a WWII veteran. He made it back from the war, and took up acting, again. We are so lucky that he did. ~Janet in Canada
As a 5th grader, Oh yes I ran Home, to watch, My Barnabas Collins, Yes Pres. Of his fan club, still admire Mr. Frid as a Person ,such sex Appeal, ❤❤💋💋💋💋💋💋💋
We used to run home every night at 3:30 in the afternoon to watch dogs shadows at 4:00
I found this bio information about Jonathan Frid from the large Official Dark Shadows grp and website , posted by people who knew and worked with Mr. Frid. >>>>>
"" Mr. Frid was a proud Canadian. When he retired he moved back to Ontario Canada where he had relatives and many friends. Jonathan Frid never married ( obviously ) and he never adopted any children. He did not want any kids though he did dearly love his brother's children. Mr. Frid was survived by his beloved cousins and his brother's children, and by his Grand niece and nephews who loved and adored him. They called him 'Uncle John'. He was dearly loved.
Mr. Frid was not a religious man so there was no ceremony after he died. He never liked to be fussed over and he did not want a funeral nor a memorial. He preferred to be remembered alive and enjoying life. Mr. Frid did not want a final resting place in fear of the many obsessive fans he had who would seek out the grave of 'Barnabas Collins' and set up memorials and write graffiti about his character. He didn't want fans to put him up on a pedestal like a movie idol. He never wanted that kind of attention.
Jonathan Frid said that many fans had trouble separating him, the actor from the character he had played. Fans would address him as Barnabas instead of his real name and they'd ask him a lot of 'vampire' related questions. He did not want those kinds of obsessive fans to bother his relatives .
Mr. Frid would often say that he was nothing like his Barnabas character. He also stated several times that he would like to be remembered for more than just his work on Dark Shadows. He had twenty years of acting experience before he even appeared on the TV show and several years of doing dramatic readings in his reader's theater and in his one-man shows and his tour with the play, Arsenic and Old Lace with actors Marion Ross, Jean Stapleton and Larry Storch. Mr. Jonathan Frid was so much more than just his Barnabas character.
Mr. Frid is missed by his relatives, his friends, fans and by his community. R I P .""
I think it aired on WLBZ TV
I saw him do one of his one man shows back in the late 1980s, when he came to Erie, PA. By the way, who ever posted this spelled Jonathan's name wrong.
SO CANADIAN,SO CANADIAN.
I read some articles about him being gay. I don't believe it, I remember an interview about why someone asked him why he never married: he said that he is so insecure like many actors that he would not put a wife thru that - being married to someone who was insecure almost every day of their life.
Oh honey, he was gay.
@Charles Rollins Well the fact that you don't believe that Frid was Gay is a credit to his acting ability to play the romantic lead as an actor. It's an illusion. I've read and seen so many of the interviews done with him and about him. There were three different stock answers, statements that I've seen given to the media as to why he did not marry nor have kids. All excuses given to the press to protect him image to the fans. No one could come out as Gay back then , it would have ruined his career and ruin his chances to be cast in leading roles if the general public found out he and several other cast members were Gay. Today we know it's just no big deal, being Gay is just an orientation but back then they could have been legally fired for being who they were.
What difference would it make if he was gay or not? He was a brilliant actor that gave humanity to a character that in literature was always just a monster!
It matters historically because Mr. Frid had to 'deny' and hide that part of his identity for the fans and the media. It's part of who he was. Many actors who are gay 'channel' that part of themselves into their work artistically, creatively. It's important because of the times that the 'closeted' actors lived through when they could have been legally fired from their jobs just because of who they were. So it's out of Love and Respect for Mr. Frid that his orientation is acknowledged because he was not free to express that part of his identity.
I can't believe this terribly underrated actor would have his sexual preference in question.
Let's face it , most soaps go on and on for decades, and Dark Shadows only made it two seasons.
The script was, for lack of a better word, garbage. And much of the acting was poorly directed and the whole thing was a low budget mess.
But Jonathan Frid came to the scene and spiced it up buy giving it some grit.
Barnabas Collins and Willie Loomis took that stupid going nowhere goth story to a new higher level. Thats the only reason that show aired another two seasons.
Such a superior Shakespearean actor; but his very conservative, dry sense of humor is what makes him an interesting man. Not really liking his role as Barnabas and at the same time making the individual sooooo real for the invite world to see, proves how incredibly talented he was.
What babbling nonsense