Dark Shadows - Jonathan Frid Interview 04

[@ernestgrouns8710]

His portrayal and how he chose to handle the vampire aspect is why the character (and the show) was so wildly successful.

[@Amphitera]

not only that, but he gave aspects to it that are in folklore, which never made it to the screen before because a), movie writers didn't have a clue and b), it's almost impossible to portray even by the best actor. You have to HAVE the certain something, you can't act it. Lugosi didn't make a convincing vampire if you go by folklore (he probably did a good impersonation of the Bram Stoker character, of course, but that's just the problem: Stoker was a bad writer, and the book was terrible). I always liken Lugosi to having the appeal of a root canal surgery, so it was pretty funny to see JF saying he acted D like a cold fish, lol!

[@roseanderson9766]

I just finished watching the whole series.... I absolutely loved Jonathan and especially his work with John Karlan and Nancy Barrett.... he had such chemistry with those two.... most of the actors on that show did a very good job. Louis Edmonds and Joan Bennett did some stellar work. I always enjoyed watching Grayson especially when she was Magda the Gypsy....

[@marilynwillett804]

''there isn't a person in the world who doesn't have an evil streak in him''

[@juliehawkins3907]

RIP, I will miss you sir!

[@bethvirginiaphillips4583]

Jonathan had the perfect bone structure in his face to be a vampire, and Grayson Hall's sharp cheek bones would have made her a great vampire herself. She was related to a real life Romanian gypsy and was proud of her cheekbones, compliments of her forebear Romanian grandmother.

[@thejupiter2574]

I read that her mother's background was also Jewish and that the mother appeared in the Yiddish Theater as an actress. Maybe they were Romanian Jews since there used to be many Eastern E U Jews as well. ?

[@ashleycurrin4317]

What an amazing man he, was.. Wish I could have been brought back in those days or, when I did come along. Had the chance to meet him and, others.. I got to watch DS in the 90s.. My mom used to watch this show back them.. I love him and his, storyline with, the late Robert Rodan character Adam!!!

[@lariasher5432]

Thank you for posting this

[@allenlovell1604]

Not sure, but I think his last film appearance was in the goofy "Dark Shadows " movie remake with Johnny Depp playing Barnabas Collins ! Frid played some bumbling servant in that ridiculous move ; such a humiliating role for him. Every time I see the movie. HOUSE OF. DARK. SHADOWS or NIght of Dark Shadows and I hear that eerie soundtrack of music, I still get goosebumps ! Thanks for posting this KZbin !:()

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

The Johnny Depp movie... Damaged the legacy of Dark Shadows. It was an disrespectful hodgepodge of a movie.

[@thejupiter2574]

I found this information about Jonathan Frid in an official Dark Shadows and Frid group /site where his life was discussed by people who knew him personally. >>>>> "" Mr. Frid was a proud Canadian. When he retired he moved back to Ontario Canada where he had family and many friends. Jonathan Frid never married ( obviously ) . He did not adopt any kids, he never wanted any. However, he is 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 greatly missed by his relatives, friends, by his fans and by his community. May he RIP ."

[@jimhaleyMoatas1701]

...It was wild when the actors played different characters. Here that person was evil, but over here, he was a good guy..it kept it fresh

[@jimhaleyMoatas1701]

You could see that Barabas wasn't really evil. He wasn't a 2D villain...as the show went on, We learned that he was cursed into a vampire by a witch who was in love with him and because of this, His true love was killed. He was 2 centuries out of his time..Yeah, Johnathan played Barnabas like a person..The writers turned an almost 2-D bad guy into a sympathetic character...and THAT'S WHY Dark Shadows was a Hit...Johnathan was..in Retrospect. A Great actor...and we kids recognize it without realizing it.

[@lindapesnell5723]

❤️ Thank You ❤️

[@hollyprincipato3287]

Loved Barnabas...Bramwell...he was ok

[@jojoheartspaypay]

Early barnabas collins more scarier than early nosferatu. There, I said it.

[@wilsonsalvador1898]

Actorzaso

[@11redlions]

here he said what he thinks is horrible is when people don't know when its over and they identify so much with it. let go of it, its a fantasy but they take it real. still some do after 50 years. ive seen posters using profanity when talking about Angelique etc.

[@davidgagnon3781]

How can anyone not be bewitched by Angelique?

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

​@@davidgagnon3781...Well, she was legitimately Evil.

[@davidgagnon3781]

@@user-kf8wb2cq4f Aren't they all. 😁

[@user-kf8wb2cq4f]

He chose to no longer play the Barnabas Collins character to play BRAMWELL.