Jonathan Frid

A classically trained actor and graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Jonathan Frid built an acclaimed theatrical career in Canada, England and the United States. Despite his impressive and varied stage roles, he became most famous for playing the conflicted vampire Barnabas Collins on the Gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" (ABC, 1966-1971). Although he only intended to play the role briefly, Frid's iconic turn as the deadly but desperately unhappy Collins took the world by storm and helped make the series a beloved cult favorite. Yielding a big-screen hit, "House of Dark Shadows" (1970), the series proved so popular that several remakes were later attempted even years later - most notably the Tim Burton big-screen love letter "Dark Shadows" (2012) that cast Johnny Depp as Collins and featured Frid in a cameo. After "Shadows," Frid returned to the quieter life of a stage actor, eventually retiring back to his native Canada, where he died of natural causes on April 13, 2012. Although he built an amazing theatrical career as a working actor, Jonathan Frid was most beloved for his highly influential turn as a vampire struggling with his soul, and the impact of his compelling portrayal remained evident decades later, changing the genre forever.