Dark Shadows - Michael Stroka Interview 01

[@FilPol-yu1es]

He had that certain Mystique that the Men Actors needed.. to be Successful on DARK SHADOWS. Charismatic Actor.

[@66collinwood]

I loved Michael in all his roles on the show! He was such a great guy when I met him in person in 1979. So sad, he died of kidney cancer at the age of 57.

[@buckeyefangirl1976]

I loved Mike. Very talented actor. So sad he left us way too young. R.I.P.Michael. You are missed.❤

[@nassauguy48]

What is amazing is that all the cast members from DS not only retained their profound fondness for the show but also for each other. They always seemed eager to talk about their DS days, which is so unusual. What is ironic, from what I have read, is how the cast members from shows where the characters were all happy and "loved" each other could not stand each other in real life and wanted to put those shows behind them. In DS, the characters were out to persecute and even kill each other, but the cast members really loved each other!

[@thomaspiccirillo6820]

Michael RIP Michael mentions George Di Cenzo great actor and man. Played Vincent Bugliosi, was in Back to the Future. RIP

[@njpubadjuster3710]

Di Cenzo also played one of the sheriff's deputies in House of Dark Shadows.

[@hak4890]

Excellent as Vincent B.

[@helenegalek8268]

I studied acting with him; a charismatic, caring man and incredible teacher...miss him...

[@JazzIsKing]

I watched the show every day when I got home from School.

[@hak4890]

Absolute Greatness. Such incredible talent; I loved him!

[@jeanettesmith765]

Loved him on Dark Shadows!

[@TheBob3759]

Thanks for posting all these DS interviews. They all bring back great memories.

[@kathrynbellerose3925]

Very gifted actor.RIP

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

He was my favorite, sexiest actor on the show.

[@inthemixx8664]

Since Mr. Stroka passed away in the spring of 1997, this interview was at least that long ago but you can almost pin point this particular interview to be filmed around 1990. The clue to me that gives that away is when he says that it was "poetic justice that it's being revived in another incarnation now" which must place this some time in 1990 since the Ben Cross Dark Shadows revival came out in January of 1991 and ran until March of 91'.

[@TheBob3759]

Good observation.

[@inthemixx8664]

@@TheBob3759 Thank you!

[@sharonlynnh.1951]

I love actor Michael Stroka, his Dark Shadow's role as the cold & "cunning"Aristede: Count Petofi (actorThayer David.."love him, too!!) right hand man was total spot on evil. Brilliant!!! A person you love to hate. Smile. Rest in sweet harmony Mr. Stroka. Miss you so very much & other DS's legends that passed away far too soon.

[@66collinwood]

Love this interview with Michael Stroka!

[@tadimaggio]

A very attractive and (to judge by this interview) intelligent man. What a pity that we lost him to kidney cancer at age 58. (I still remember how I got a chill when the show was on originally, when Quentin snuck up on Aristide in his sleep, intending to kill him. Aristide's magic talisman woke him up): QUENTIN: "That charm won't protect you from me." ARISTIDE (rising, grinning evilly, and producing his special dagger): "For you, Mr. Collins, I have the 'Dancing Lady' " QUENTIN: "THEN LET HER DANCE!" (Cue all-out donnybrook) Great stuff.

[@belfiore_18]

He was a great actor. Very Handsome in a unique way! Gone too soon . Such a New York/NJ guy! Love him I believe he was a Taurus like me :)

[@anna-laurahocker5570]

He was so handsome and could pass for Jonathan Frid's brother.

[@videoinformer]

In his first scene as Aristede, he had the dramatic help of a character he called "the dancing lady", a companion and assistant he loved to draw attention to.

[@Janadu]

He was a charming person in real life, but he really made me hate him as Aristede/Bruno. That's good acting.

[@patrickperalta59]

Janadu, I know what you mean when he played Aristede I hated him. he played the type character that you hate with in 5 mins after he appears on screen and your wishing someone would kill him. it's like watching a horror movie the same type thing after meeting all the characters you pick out who you want to see Jason or Michael to kill. lol

[@sharonhenderson8956]

Dark Shadows Actor Micheal Str🌟ka was conning n sly in all his iconic Roles especially my fave as the evil Aristede. Count Petofi (Thayer David🌟) right hand man. Dearly miss the star Mr. Stroka. 🕯💕

[@maryciulla3238]

I had a crush on him!

[@kevinpyne5808]

I had a man crush on him in 1970.

[@TheBob3759]

He was on the Dating Game. It was on right after Dark Shadows.

[@rockshot100]

Whether or not he has anything to say, we still want to hear it.

[@tylerhynes0]

Rip good looking guy

[@malivore7264]

Maybe he does not care as much but I realized lately I feel bad that he never got to play a good guy character in the show, I mean brunoPT and lazlo were not as evil as aristede and other bruno but they werent good guys entirely either.

[@marilynwillett804]

Every single actor or actress talks about it being nice and fun but nobody ever says any interesting stories. Except Frid, talking about a fan's mother yelling at him outside. lol

[@MaryKRowe]

I know this was published in 2012 but when were the interviews made?

[@inthemixx8664]

Since Mr. Stroka passed away in the spring of 1997, it was at least that long ago but you can almost pin point this particular interview to be filmed around 1990. The clue to me that gives that away is when he says that it was "poetic justice that it's being revived in another incarnation now" which must place this some time in 1990 since the Ben Cross Dark Shadows revival came out in January of 1991 and ran until March of 91'.

[@therobinmasterstheory1636]

I liked Laszlo The Gyspy. :)

[@amandamccullough624]

i like him really cooling than his name bruno hess so movie dark shadows because that friend or maybe like crazy,

[@jockboy69]

@4:56 "...going around the corner to this French restaurant...". I wonder if Michael was talking about "Tout va bien," a longstanding French restaurant on 51st St.

[@thomaspiccirillo6820]

jockboy69 HI I JUS SAW THIS I EAT AT "TOUT" AND DID W LOUIE EDMONDS MY DAD WAS A CAMERAMAN ON DS THE RESTAURANT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS CALLED OR WAS THE BRITTANY ANY DS QUESTIONS I LOVE TO HELP ANSWER GODSPEED

[@skipeastport5529]

@@thomaspiccirillo6820 I think it was the Brittany du Soir at 9th Avenue and 53rd St. Your dad was Rudy, right? I always remembered his name from the credit crawl. I’m so sorry you lost your dad at a young age. I know he was only in his late 40s when he died. Did he pass from an illness?

[@thomaspiccirillo6820]

@@skipeastport5529 Skip Thank you! You're right it was!my dad took me to The Brittany. He died at 48 in 1980 from lung cancer. Yeah we loved seeing his name on the crawl. It used to run five days a week, then three,then one. Another nice man named Skip was Ross Skipper who did video with my dad on DS. Godspeed Mr. Eastport Thank you!

[@amandaraymccullough7121]

Bruno HESS know talk about dark shadow because scary people was friend long time ago before his house about ghost in graveyard. because I don't know why ask BRUNO was makeup or something about look for you. and maybe long time be dead age 134 year old.

[@adelgado75]

I wonder how much they were paid?

[@marilynwillett804]

Well the biggest star was Joan Bennett and she got 333. for each episode. So everyone else got less, that's for sure, especially the unknowns.

[@googleuser7454]

Apparently around $300 an episode

[@amandamccullough7090]

Not Michael stroka like something wrong talking about that really dark shadows or big trouble old friends like Bruno Hess . really old sometime.