Dark Shadows - John Karlen Interview 05

[@jeanettesmith765]

He made Dark Shadows so much fun to watch!

[@donschwellenbach5461]

OMG looking back, he was brilliant in the part of Willie, he was the softie who cared for Maggie and tried to protect her within the bounds that held him captive to Barnabas, I always thought he was such a great actor

[@JohnCee754]

It's really interesting to compare Karlen's portrayal of Willie Loomis to the much more aggressive and sinister portrayal by the original actor, James Hall. Hall's Willie actually came on to Maggie during their first meeting, and it would have been harder to imagine him risking his life to protect her. Karlen gave Willie a vulnerability and sensitivity that became essential to the character.

[@randolphgarcia3494]

(RIP) OUR DEAR LATE JOHN KARLEN (AKA) OUR BELOVED RASCAL, WILLIE LOOMIS. YOU SIR WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. SAY HI TO YOUR FORMER CO-STARS: THE LATE JONATHAN FRID; GRAYSON HALL; DON BRISCOE & THAYER DAVID ETAL. WHAT A BUNCH!

[@jojoheartspaypay]

👉🏻💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗 Amen.

[@pattyb325]

Love John Karlen! Great actor, loved Dark Shadows!

[@kyzlorda]

John Karlen was fantastic in Dark Shadows. Every role he has tackled has been memorable. It certainly had to be an unusual series for actors at the time to get involved with, but it's the talented actors like Mr Karlen who made this show a classic

[@hollyb6885]

I absolutely agree.

[@bethvirginiaphillips4583]

Brilliant actor. Willie was the most natural and realistic actor on the show. He is a natural born actor and should be remembered as such! Joan and Jonathan were perfect in their roles, but kind of stumbled on their lines and were obviously, acting. John WAS this character, the unforgettable Willie, someone very real.

[@marilynwillett804]

Yes, Frid was a classically trained ACTOR. HE in my opinion was the best actor. Also Joan. John was Willie, he said he was free to be Willie, excited and emotional but Frid had to be the heavy so to speak and played a vampire his unique way plus he had a zillion lines to memorize. I think Frid was the actor and Willie was the re-actor.

[@beyondvger3682]

The first two characters everyone remembers from Dark Shadows are Barnabas Collins and Willie Loomis. He's right about Jonathan's importance to the show as Barnabas, but I for one was glad for the chance to see him show another side of his talent. I thought he did an excellent job as Bramwell. Its really hard to find a better actor if you can. Not to diminish the 'greats' but he was right up there with them and I lament that he never got the chance to show it in a major way on the silver screen. But we are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to see this great talent perform. And John Karlan held his own in all their scenes together. So glad we can still see it.

[@debradonato7363]

I LOVED John Karen♥️🌟💟

[@Flo-zr3yi]

Fantástico ¡! No le haría ningún cambio a la serie.. tengo 60 años y por fin la puedo ver .. algunos capítulos en español y otros en inglés.

[@debradonato7363]

He Deserved a Daytime EMMY♥️🌟✝️

[@jojoheartspaypay]

I thought he did? For Cagney n Lacey

[@ronpetrosky1814]

Met him at the 50th reunion in Tarrytown New York. Wonderful person .

[@michaelhoward9932]

Love Dark shadows As a little kid , my brother and Sister used to sc,

[@11redlions]

Yeah Willie--fresh clams and Maine lobster. You must be from New England but I disagree about Bramwell, he certainly wasn't my fav but a lot of women loved that character. So forceful and handsome as Bramwell.

[@TakersMissy]

+Marilyn Willet - I also disagree about Bramwell (and yes, I LOVED that character too!), as well as the last part not being "Dark Shadows" (the 1840-41 Parallel Time episodes). To me, it still was DS: there were ghosts, spirit possessions, and a 160-year-old curse that hung over Collinwood like a big, dark cloud. Before Barnabas, Dark Shadows really wasn't THE Dark Shadows that it became famous for, either, until Dan Curtis decided to go all in on the supernatural angles and, as he said, "I want a VAMPIRE in there". Boy, did he get one!! :-) Hey - looking back, I think all of the original DS series was FAR better than most of the crap that's on TV today!

[@davidgagnon3781]

I agree with him about the whole Bramwell parallel time thing. It wasn't Dark Shadows.

[@Kjt853]

Willie Loomis, Dark Shadow’s favorite punching bag!

[@geo-george2639]

Funny guy. Very frank.

[@hollyprincipato3287]

I think they should have gone further into Josette being Melanie's mother. That would have been interesting

[@davidgagnon3781]

How many other soaps have a convention?

[@davidgagnon3781]

I just am not aware of Joan Bennet as a big movie star.

[@thomasmagnum3588]

Well, she held her own with two of the biggest movie stars of all time: Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor. Treat yourself to the original “Father of the Bride” some time, you will love it!

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

Fun fact: Joan Bennett's sister was the mother of Morton Downey, Jr!

[@andredarin8966]

@@thomasmagnum3588 She was in the hunt for the role of Scarlet O’hara.

[@David-yw2lv]

He replaced a rather mediocre actor in the role.Karlen was a vast improvement.He was outstanding in all roles in Dark Shadows.I think he would've been good as Han Solo in the Star Wars movies.I also think Jerry Lacy or David Selby would have been good in that role.