Jonathan Frid

I feel as if I have lost another piece of my childhood! Thank you for your loving tribute to one of my favorite characters.

I would run home from school so I could watch Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, which was one of my favorites. I treasure the personally signed picture of Mr. Jonathon Frid. Thanks for filling this young boy’s heart with adventure, suspense and wonderment.

HI JOSETTE. THE PASSING OF JONATHAN FRID IS LIKE A PEACE OF MY CHILDHOOD IS GONE.I GREW UP WITH DARK SHADOWS AND I LOVE THE SHOW.I REMEMBER BARNBAS COLLINS THE FIRST HE STEPPED INTO COLLINWOOD HE WAS SO AWESOME. THERE IS SO MANY MEMORIES OF THE SHOW. I SAW JONTHAN 2 TIMES IN FESTIVALS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MY 3RD TIME SEEING HIM. HE IS GOING TO BE SADLEY MISSED BY HIS FANS.THE SCENES YOU DID WITH BARNABAS WAS TOTALLY AWESOME.MY HEART GOES OUT TOHIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE CAST OF A LEGEND OF A SHOW DARK SHADOWS

That was a beautiful tribute, Kathyrn. Jonathan was a very nice and kind man, I met him at one of the conventions. I have all the DVDs of the series and watch them faithfully. All of you were so good! I must say however, this upcoming movie really doesn’t pay tribute to the true classic created by Dan Curtis. No one will ever play the role of Barnabas, like Jonathan, sorry Johnny Depp! I watched House Of Dark Shadows last night as my tribute to Jonathan, that is a real movie! R.I.P. Jonathan, you were the BEST!

This is really a sad day in Televison. I remembering hurrying home to watch this show. I got addicited to it again when it use to be on the Scifi channel. They should rebroadcast again in honor of Jonathan Frid.

[...] [...]

I remember being in a hurry to get home as soon as possible to watch Dark Shadows. Since the trailer for the new movie came out, I’ve been watching it from the beginning on NetFlix.

Dark Shadows would give me nightmares as a kid…well that’s what my family used to tell me since I never actually became fully awakened by them. Good Times!

I’m glad that everyone of you were able to gather together one more time before Jonathan passed.

I also loved the fact that the director kept filming even though people would flub their lines. I guess back then everything was a live broadcast.

Love,
Brian

[...] imagined.” Kathryn Leigh Scott, &#1072n first ‘D&#1072rk Shadows’ cast member, wrote &#1072b&#959&#965t th&#1077 meeting &#959f th&#1077 two actors &#959n h&#1077r blog. “I won’t &#1077&#957&#1077r forget th&#1077 moment wh&#1077n th&#1077 two Barnabas [...]

I know that Jonathon will be there with you all, watching and secret-smiling at the Burton film. May he rest in peace!

Mighty fine tribute to Mr Frid. Thanks for sharing the photo outside the studio…What an exciting time..the late 60s. I was very young but remember them well. So much energy then. I miss it!

[...] And as linked below in my post about Jonathan, Kathryn Leigh Scott paid tribute to her colleague and friend on her blog here. [...]

Jonathan, I was there when you first entered Collinwood. You gave a child from a broken home a world to enter that I shall forever be in your debt.

God Bless You

Mark Henderson

So glad you had time with him, Kathryn. You both were fun to watch! I will buy the DVD boxed set (I finally ditched the VHS tapes I recorded when it ran back again in the 80′s) and watch it all the way through. I have heard people say, “..who knew this would happen with Dark Shadows.” When I was kid that was all I talked about…I knew it was special. As a kid I would say, “It’s was the neatest TV show ever.” My mother always told me I cried and was depressed for weeks when it went off the air. Thank God they were able to save it albeit the one episode they recreated. DS will be watched for decades to come.

Beautiful words… I am grateful I was able to see Jonathan when he did a show in Georgia and was able to have him sign an original piece of art work I did of Barnabas. I also got to read a poem I wrote to him titled, “With love to Jonathan”. It was a honor for me to be able to do this. When I finished he thanked me and asked if he might have a copy and I gave him the one I was reading from as well as some copies of drawings I had done of him. This was the first time I had seen Jonathan in person and it will be one of my precious memories ever. I also was blessed to see him in Tarrytown, NY a few years back,he was sitting at a table with vendors and talking to people and I took his hand and said “You are truly a remarkable man”! Where he gave me the biggest grin. He will always remain a part of so many hearts, and yes, Barnabas will always be immortal. I love you Jonathan, and know you are still entertaining and charming in the next world. In Peace….

this is the man who ABC daytime is really indebted to.

barnabas saved a soap that was about to be axed and, as a result, the network snared millions of young viewers who got into the soap habit — most of them with ABC’s other daytime dramas.

i remember running home from school to watch, folding my newspapers at the same time. i didnt start my route until DS had finished. hokey? yes. stilted? yes. but there was nothing else like it (and if the ads for the new movie are any indication, the depp-plays-it-for-laughs film will be a bomb.)

when DS was moved to a later time period to make way for a new half-hour soap, i began watching on the very first day — OLTL. watched it right up through episode 11,096 this year.

without barnabas, the network wouldnt have had millions of faithful viewers tuning in every afternoon to watch its other programming, long after DS had ended.

and now the network is giving up on its stories for cheap stuff like THE REVOLUTION — which lasted — what? — not even three months?!?!

what they really need is barnabas collins and some new tales in collinsport.

[...] Kathryn Leigh Scott, an original ‘Dark Shadows’ cast member, wrote about the meeting of the two actors on her blog. [...]

You were my first crush- and will never be forgotten!
RIP Barnabus!! I still love you! <3

HI JOSETTE. I’AM WRITING WITH A BROKEN HEART .I FELL LIKE A PEACE F MY CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN TAKING AWAY FROM ME. DARK SHADOWS WILL LIVE ON FOREVER AND JONATHAN WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR HIIS ROLE AS A VAMPIRE I ADMIRED.YOU AND BARNABAS WAS A TOTTALY AWESOME COUPLE .HE’S AT THE POINT OF NO RETURN AND SADLEY MISSED BY HIS FANS R.I.P. JONATHAN

I was a young stay at home Mom at that time and I was such a huge fan of the show – years later I enjoyed the reruns on the SciFi channel – I own both the VHS and DVDs of DS but wish they would begin rerunning those old shows on TV again – Why didn’t the media report the passing of Mr. Frid? It was finally in our local paper today with just a small article – just wondering – Thank you all, Kathryn, for being such wonderful entertainment – and God Bless Jonathan and the other cast members who have now passed -

GREAT CHILDHOOD MEMORIES!!!!! I’VE GOT THE WHOLE DVD COLLECTION.I’M 50 YRS OLD AND NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING IT.IF DEPP AND BURTON HAVE MADE THIS CAMPY AND A COMEDY MOVIE.THIS WILL BE A DISGRACE AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL. TO ALL DS FANS THIS IS JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE.THIS COULD BE A BOX OFFICE BOMB! THE CAMEO OF CAST WILL BE ITS HIGHLIGHT. FRID WHAT A GREAT ACTOR,”BARNABAS” WAS 1 OF A KIND PERIOD. GOD’S BLESSINGS TO ALL THE LIVING CAST AND A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE FRID FAMILY.GOD SPEED JONATHON.

Running home to see Barnabas Collins on “Dark Shadows was one of my true childhood joys. For all the early day live TV flubs, he and the whole Dark Shadows cast and crew gave a whole generation of kids something that in the midst of Vietnam, race riots, assassinations, and political unrest we could treasure for a lifetime -

Suspense, intrigue, and more fun in one half hour than you could have at two Barnum and Bailey circuses, three Disneylands, and a thousand little league games. Monday through Friday. 4:00 P.M.

Thank you for that.

Kathryn, Thank you for your wonderful tribute to Jonathan Frid. Jonathan was most kind to his teenaged fans. When he portrayed Thomas Becket in “Murder in the Cathedral,” I was impressed. My friends and I attended the play twice, and Jonathan cheerfully signed our posters.

Clearly, on April 13, 2012, a new star was born and it is shining brightly in the night sky.

Love to you Kathryn

I too was one of those young children that ran home from school to watch that hypnotic soap opera. It shaped my life in so many ways that almost everything I do in my life has shades of Dark Shadows in it, from my home and it’s decor, right down to the way I learned to interact with the people in my life. It truly has been a learning experience for me, and I thank the whole Dark Shadows cast for that….especially my ever present (but always invisible) mentor Jonathan Frid…he will always be there in spirit (as he always was) and may he now play the part he was destined for through all eternity……

Thank You for making my life a little more colorful “Barnabas” ))

He was my first crush too!

‘From my facebook:
Yesterday it was Dick Clark and my memories of American Bandstand on Saturday afternoons after cartoons.

Now I just heard that another big part of my childhood passed away on the 14th and we’re just now getting word. Jonathan Frid. He was Barnabas Collins in the 1960′s and 1970′s daily gothic soap opera Dark Shadows. I remember loving that show from the earliest. A group of us, back when we were 9 and 10 (1966/67) in 4th grade, used to play Dark Shadows at recess. A wet red grading pencil would make great vampire marks and we had a kid who, when he combed his hair in those forehead curls like Barnabas wore, looked like a very young Barnabas (Larry Owens, I wonder how you’re doing nowdays?).

I used to run home from school and hurry my homework (or pretend I did it) so I could watch it (and do my homework right after. I watched it daily, I mourned when it got cancelled after the 1971 season. I watched re-runs. I watched the movies. I had, at one time, all the books and the comics. I owned a black onyx ring like Barnabas wore and I read up on witchcraft because of Angelique. I fell in love with vampires because of Barnabas and that love has lasted until this day when I can’t get enough of them.

Jonathan Frid, the original and the best Barnabas Collins, has passed away, joining many of the cast of the show that was both a blessing and a curse to him. And he takes away another little piece of my heart and my childhood with him.

I think I’ll go listen to Josette’s Theme (linked here) and maybe see if Netflix has the original movies or see if I can dig up the show somewhere. And sit and cry a bit.

Goodbye, dear Barnabas. Sleep the final sleep. Jonathan, thank you for the dream.

Like so many have said, I too ran home after school to watch Dark Shadows. My friends and I absolutely adored the show and always will. I had such a big crush on Barnabas and Quentin. I also remember thinking what beautiful women Josette and Angelique were….and still are! Thank you Kathryn, for your wonderful tribute to Jonathan and for your great talent as well. You and and the Dark Shadows cast will always have a special place in my heart. RIP dear Jonathan…

[...] http://www.kathrynleighscott.com/?p=2190 [...]

I’m so saddened to know Jonathan Frid is no longer with us. As I told him in a message once, his vampiric influence greatly enriched my childhood and I now find his spirit in every stroke of my brush, in every note of my music, in everything I create. I’m glad I had the chance to tell him thanks.
And thank you, Kathryn, for providing me the opportunity to say a few words.

Kathryn,

Dark Shadows was a major part of my youth. It was a precious time with my mother, who got me interested in horror. I’m a published horror author and screenwriter and I acknowledge that Dark Shadows provided me with the groundwork for my later writings…
The passing of Johnathan Frid was a crushing event for me. I feel the innocense of my youth passed with him. I’m so angry at the way the media has treated this great man’s death. I didn’t hear until the Tuesday. It seemed like rather than talk about Johnathan reporters would rather plug Tim Burton and Johnny Depp’s lampoon of fans precious drama. I only hope these filmmakers will give Johnathan the respect he is due…

a very nice tribute and thank you for sharing your photos.

I too am saddened by Jonathan’s passing. Without Barnabas, there was no Dark Shadows. That’s why the 1897 story line disappointed so many fans. I watched DS, during my college years, and am now spending my retirement watching it again on dvd. What a treat to be able to watch the best show ever, whenever I want. Kathryn, thank you so very much for allowing all of us DS fans to able to publicly mourn for Jonathan. May he rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him.

JOSETTE. ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES.WHEN JOSETTE FELL OFF THE HILL AT WIDOWS HILL I COULD FAIL BARNABAS’S HEART BREAK. YOU A TEARFUL COUPLE THAT COULD NEVER BE TOGETHER. WHEN BARNABAS FOUND MAGGIE EVANS THINKING THAT SHE WAS HIS ONE ONLY LOVE JOSETTE I COULD FAIL THE GLADNESS IN HIS HEART AGAIN.THANK YOU FOR BIENG A PART OF MY CHIDHOOD AND OF AS NOW.GOING TO THE FESTIVAL IN TARRYTOWN IT IS GOING TO BREAK MY HEART NOT SEEING JONATHAN THERE I HAVE SEEN HIM IN FESTIVALS BUT HE WIILL BE THERE IN SPIRIT. R.I.P. JONATHANl

Jonathan Frid was just a hero to me. I carried his picture with me from a newspaper cut out to school every day. I WAS one of those who ran home to see him. I remember when he went on the Carson Show in the last week of 1969 to tell fans the show was ending the weird storyline and making Barnabas Barnabas again as we the fans liked him.

I never dreamed I would own the show thanks to MPI and efforts of Jim Pierson. Jonathan will live for many generations to come and I am very happy about that.

Mark Henderson

Dear Kathryn,

I only just discovered your blog and this sweet tribute to Mr. Frid. Your kind words made me smile as your sincere affection comes through.Having fallen in love with the show in 1980′s syndication, I had the good fortune to travel from Atlanta to attend the 2007 DS convention in Burbank (my only one…so far!). I was thrilled to meet you, Mr. Frid, and so many others associated with the show! It was simultaneously sad to know that too much time had passed for me to meet Joan Bennett, Louis Edmonds, Joel Haskell, Grayson Hall, Thayer David, and so many others who have passed on.

Seeing Mr. Frid interact live onstage with John Karlen, asking him a question about his directorial work at the panel, and seeing him perform his reader’s theater (for which he clearly cared so much) are memories I shall cherish. As a sometimes actor and full time high school theatre teacher, he especially struck me as a deeply intellegent performer and craftsman with a rich sense of humor and, though he did not suffer fools gladly, a generous spirit.

Please know how much I appreciate this blog and your affection for all of us who support your work then and now. Merci, dame belle et talentueuse!

[...] their friend and co-star on their personal websites, including Marie Wallace, Selby, Parker, and Scott, who’s new book on Dark Shadows features a foreward by Frid. Frid passed away in his sleep [...]

There are many people with Confirmation names of Josette, Barnabas, Joshua, and Angellic etc… in Phildelphia because of Dark Shadows.

The sun may have risen on Dark Shadows like a Phoenix but the sun has never set on it . . . the lore lives on…

I enjoyed the show originally, and still continue to do so. I too was greatly saddened by the passing of Mr. Frid, he contributed so much to the series and the rest of the theatre world. Thank you too Kathryn for your work in the series and your continued presence. I’m going to watch the new movie when it comes out and just enjoy it for what it is, instead of being disappointed by the new treatment. That will not spoil the original for me at all!

Another childhood icon of mine is now gone. Dick Clark, Levon Helm and Barnabas within a week of each other. I regret and now am sad that I never attended a DS convention as I always wanted to meet and shake Mr Frid’s hand along with so many others.

To this day, I feel Barnanbas Collins was the most amazing and complex television character in history. I began watching DS in 1967 at the age of 8 right before the 1795 story line. My friends had told me about this scary show on at 3:30 PM every day and about this vampire named Barnabas. Of course as a child my concept of the vampire was Christopher Lee and Bella Lugosi and I expected an evil character who seeked only blood.

At first, when I began to watch and when watching the re-runs when I was older, I concluded that Barnabas sunk to his lowest and most cold hearted point when he murdered Dr Woodard after Woodard had discovered what Barnabas was. I will never forget Barnabas’ quote to Woodard after Woodad had said, “My God, my worst nightmare” Barnabas said back “think of it not as a night mare, but as a dream, one in which you’ll never wake up”

However, this low point and throughout the 1795 story line, one sees that Barnbas was a good man and your heart went out to him and I always found myself rooting for him. I was glad that when the series ended in 1971 that Barnabas was no longer cursed.

I will miss him and I hope one day I can meet you Maggie and the rest of the cast, oops I meant Ms Scott

I am so sorry to hear about Jonathan’s passing. I just loved Barnabas & all the shady, horrid (!), mean, characters on Dark Shadows!! I don’t mean that in a bad way either!! I watched it faithfully!! Was sorry to see it go off the air!!

Dark Sadows was being played on Sci Fi in the 80′s. I had bout 14 kiddies in my appartment every day , shades down, cool aid, popcorn and on the tv Dark Shadows. One day my daughter disappears and suddenly coming down the hall is Jossette Collins in my wedding gown and veil. Flash light shinning up on her face from a satin hanky. 14 kiddies were killing each other to get to the door screaming dont get me Josette! I swear I have the best memories from that show hahaha. My daughter never slept with out the blanket around her throat hahahaha. For better or worse DS Jonathon Frid Kathryn and cast made television history. God bless Jonathon his adventure is just beginning!

Kathyrn will be my guest on May 29, 2011 gameconradio.com 10 pm eastern

Such kind words & remembrances..as did my mother before; I too rushed home from school to watch re-runs of Dark Shadows on the Sci Fi Channel! It stired my imagination & from there grew my love of this wonderful & yet Campy show! I became a life-long fan and Thank You for sharing your memories with us!
Forever In Our Hearts~Jonathan & Barnabus!

How sad! I loved Dark Shadows and still have the entire set of trading cards. They do not make TV like that anymore. It was so much fun! Jonathan will be missed and not forgotten.

Ah, Jonathan! Too soon, too young you have left us! Nothing ever could get in the way of my watching Dark Shadows in my youth, and Jonathan Frid/Barnabas Collins was my first and forever love….I’m please that Johnny Depp has portrayed him so respectfully in the new Tim Burton Dark Shadows movie…Would that Jonathan could be as immortal as our beloved Barnabas….Rest in Peace, John Herbert Frid: you will live forever in our memories and our hearts! <3 <3 <3

HI JOSETTE.I SAW THE MOVIE DARK SHADOWS WITH JOHNNY DEPP. IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME. BUT IT WAS NOT LIKE THE DARK SHADOWS THAT I KNOW IT. KIND OF BOTHERD ME. I REMEMBER YOU AND BARNABAS WERE GREAT TOGETHER IN YOUR ROLES. RIGHT NOW I’AM WATCHING THE FIRST TIME YOU MET BARNABAS. I’AM A BIG D.S. FAN. GOING TO THE FESTIVAL IN TARRYTOWN N.Y. GOING TO MSS JONATHAN WITH ALL MY HEART.IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY 3RD TIME SEEING HIM. R.I.P BARNABAS

MAGGIE. YOU WERE TOTALLY AWESOME AS JOSETTE ON D.S..I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD BRING MORE EPSODES ON NETFLIX NOW SINCE BARNABAS PASSED AWAY. FANS HAS BEEN ASKING FOR THIS. I WILL SEE AT THE TARRYTOWN FESTIVAL IN JULY. IT IS GOING TO BE SAD NOT SEEING JONATHAN THERE. HE WILL BE THERE IN SPIRIT WITH US I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE LYNDHURST THE MANISION THAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF.R.PI.P. JONATHAN

I wish to express my sincere condolences to the great cast of Dark Shadows. As a member of SAG-AFTRA, I am so sorry to hear of Jonathan’s passing. My God Bless him and remember him always. I only wish I could have met him. He was such an incredible, inspiring actor.

All the best to all of you, the fantastic cast of Dark Shadows.
I have been a fan since the beginning, and I always will be.

Regards,

Tom M. Marcellino BFA

All the cast of Dark Shadows are amazing!!! I love the series!!!
He is wonderful!! Forever!!! Unique!!!

Thanks for the series =)

i am still in love with a 200 year old dead vampire—-madly!!!

i have every one of his tape i would tape them all befor dvd came out i love him too

Ms. Scott, thank you so very much for your heartwarming memories of Mr. Frid. I just found out about his passing. He was a remarkable and multiple-talented man.

DS was popular when I attended uni during the early 70′s. I had a part time job when the show was televised, but I had a blind friend who watched the show daily and I would get a synopsis from her.

She found out that I had a complete set of DS books and she asked me to read them to her. We sat in her dormitory room at 7 pm every Friday night after that. I would read the book out loud in one long sitting and scooted back to my dorm just before curfew.

During simmers, I worked daytime hours and did not see much of the show even then. The few times that I saw the show, when not at work, I thought it was a unique and interesting show

I probably do not sound much like a DS fan, but I still enjoyed what I saw of the show.

I am glad to see the complete series out on DVD. A deaf DS fan would read the actors’ lips and watch the action to understand what was happening. It would be too difficult to subtitle or close caption the series.