This article contains House of Dark Shadows spoilers.
In 1970 House of Dark Shadows flipped the vampire subgenre on its head. While certainly a B-horror in the Hammer mold, this chiller wasn’t satisfied with one bloodsucker, or even two. Instead Dark Shadows would turn nearly its whole cast into the ravenous undead, indiscriminately slaughtering beloved heroes and heroines, not caring for a second that they were also the stars of a daytime soap opera—one that was appointment TV for millions of kids across America.
Clearly it was a different time. And therein lies its charm.
When the television series Dark Shadows premiered in 1966, it wasn’t an instant pop culture phenomenon. Creator Dan Curtis was savvy enough to see the appeal in a daytime melodrama draped in a Gothic aesthetic, but he didn’t yet have the necessary hook for his central character as she stepped off a train in New England.
In 1970 House of Dark Shadows flipped the vampire subgenre on its head. While certainly a B-horror in the Hammer mold, this chiller wasn’t satisfied with one bloodsucker, or even two. Instead Dark Shadows would turn nearly its whole cast into the ravenous undead, indiscriminately slaughtering beloved heroes and heroines, not caring for a second that they were also the stars of a daytime soap opera—one that was appointment TV for millions of kids across America.
Clearly it was a different time. And therein lies its charm.
When the television series Dark Shadows premiered in 1966, it wasn’t an instant pop culture phenomenon. Creator Dan Curtis was savvy enough to see the appeal in a daytime melodrama draped in a Gothic aesthetic, but he didn’t yet have the necessary hook for his central character as she stepped off a train in New England.
- 10/30/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
John Karlen, an actor who appeared in “Dark Shadows” and “Cagney & Lacey,” died of congestive heart failure on Wednesday. He was 86.
His death was reported on Twitter by the Dark Shadows News account: “We are sad to report the death of #DarkShadows actor John Karlen, who played Willie Loomis, the unforgettable foil to Barnabas Collins. John died on January 22 in hospice care in Burbank, California. He was 86 had suffered a number of health setbacks over the past decade…”
Karlen is best known for playing Willie Loomis on “Dark Shadows,” a supernatural-themed soap opera from the 1960s. He ended up playing the character over 179 episodes. He is also known for his role as Harvey Lacey in the CBS sitcom, “Cagney & Lacey,” which ran from 1982 to 1988, where he played the husband of Tyne Daly’s Mary Beth Lacey.
Also Read: Former 'Bachelorette' Contestant Tyler Gwozdz Dies at 29
Karlen was nominated...
His death was reported on Twitter by the Dark Shadows News account: “We are sad to report the death of #DarkShadows actor John Karlen, who played Willie Loomis, the unforgettable foil to Barnabas Collins. John died on January 22 in hospice care in Burbank, California. He was 86 had suffered a number of health setbacks over the past decade…”
Karlen is best known for playing Willie Loomis on “Dark Shadows,” a supernatural-themed soap opera from the 1960s. He ended up playing the character over 179 episodes. He is also known for his role as Harvey Lacey in the CBS sitcom, “Cagney & Lacey,” which ran from 1982 to 1988, where he played the husband of Tyne Daly’s Mary Beth Lacey.
Also Read: Former 'Bachelorette' Contestant Tyler Gwozdz Dies at 29
Karlen was nominated...
- 1/23/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
John Karlen, the Dark Shadows actor who loosed a 200-year-old vampire from a chained coffin and two decades later won an Emmy Award for playing a detective’s husband on Cagney & Lacey, died yesterday of congestive heart failure in hospice in Burbank, California. He was 86.
Karlen’s death was announced via Twitter on the Dark Shadows News page. The actor had been in declining health for a decade. Last March, the ShadowGram Dark Shadows newsletter posted that Karlen had suffered a stroke.
Kathryn Leigh Scott, the actress-turned-author who played Dark Shadows‘ heroine (and frequent victim) Maggie Evans, has written books about the show and participated in the show’s many annual fan festivals, wrote on her blog, “Memories, memories… this morning I’m awash in memories of darling John Karlen, who left us yesterday. I’m told he passed peacefully, for which I’m grateful, but hardly seems in character for our Johnny.
Karlen’s death was announced via Twitter on the Dark Shadows News page. The actor had been in declining health for a decade. Last March, the ShadowGram Dark Shadows newsletter posted that Karlen had suffered a stroke.
Kathryn Leigh Scott, the actress-turned-author who played Dark Shadows‘ heroine (and frequent victim) Maggie Evans, has written books about the show and participated in the show’s many annual fan festivals, wrote on her blog, “Memories, memories… this morning I’m awash in memories of darling John Karlen, who left us yesterday. I’m told he passed peacefully, for which I’m grateful, but hardly seems in character for our Johnny.
- 1/23/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Emmy-winning actor John Karlen, best known for his work on the television series “Dark Shadows” and “Cagney & Lacey,” has died. He was 86.
Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at a hospice in Burbank, Calif., his friend and spokesperson Jim Pierson told the Associated Press.
The actor played conman and scoundrel Willie Loomis on “Dark Shadows,” replacing James Hall, who had abruptly left the show after five episodes. He later played several other roles for the horror soap series that aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971. The Dark Shadows News posted about the news on Twitter.
We are sad to report the death of #DarkShadows actor John Karlen, who played Willie Loomis, the unforgettable foil to Barnabas Collins. John died on January 22 in hospice care in Burbank, California. He was 86 had suffered a number of health setbacks over the past decade… pic.twitter.com/MR0cgzvINc
— Dark Shadows News (@DarkShadowsNews...
Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure at a hospice in Burbank, Calif., his friend and spokesperson Jim Pierson told the Associated Press.
The actor played conman and scoundrel Willie Loomis on “Dark Shadows,” replacing James Hall, who had abruptly left the show after five episodes. He later played several other roles for the horror soap series that aired on ABC from 1966 to 1971. The Dark Shadows News posted about the news on Twitter.
We are sad to report the death of #DarkShadows actor John Karlen, who played Willie Loomis, the unforgettable foil to Barnabas Collins. John died on January 22 in hospice care in Burbank, California. He was 86 had suffered a number of health setbacks over the past decade… pic.twitter.com/MR0cgzvINc
— Dark Shadows News (@DarkShadowsNews...
- 1/23/2020
- by Klaritza Rico
- Variety Film + TV
John Karlen, the Emmy-winning actor known for his work on the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the CBS police drama Cagney & Lacey, has died. He was 86.
Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure while in hospice care in Burbank, according to Shadowgram, a Dark Shadows newsletter.
After several turns on Broadway and on television, Karlen in 1967 was hired by the new ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows to play the trashy, soon-to-be tortured Willie Loomis, replacing James Hall, who had left abruptly after five episodes.
His character arrives in the town of Collinsport, breaks into the Collins family mausoleum and unwittingly releases ...
Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure while in hospice care in Burbank, according to Shadowgram, a Dark Shadows newsletter.
After several turns on Broadway and on television, Karlen in 1967 was hired by the new ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows to play the trashy, soon-to-be tortured Willie Loomis, replacing James Hall, who had left abruptly after five episodes.
His character arrives in the town of Collinsport, breaks into the Collins family mausoleum and unwittingly releases ...
- 1/23/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
John Karlen, the Emmy-winning actor known for his work on the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the CBS police drama Cagney & Lacey, has died. He was 86.
Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure while in hospice care in Burbank, according to Shadowgram, a Dark Shadows newsletter.
After several turns on Broadway and on television, Karlen in 1967 was hired by the new ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows to play the trashy, soon-to-be tortured Willie Loomis, replacing James Hall, who had left abruptly after five episodes.
His character arrives in the town of Collinsport, breaks into the Collins family mausoleum and unwittingly releases ...
Karlen died Wednesday of congestive heart failure while in hospice care in Burbank, according to Shadowgram, a Dark Shadows newsletter.
After several turns on Broadway and on television, Karlen in 1967 was hired by the new ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows to play the trashy, soon-to-be tortured Willie Loomis, replacing James Hall, who had left abruptly after five episodes.
His character arrives in the town of Collinsport, breaks into the Collins family mausoleum and unwittingly releases ...
- 1/23/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor party.
1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.
1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything,...
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor party.
1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.
1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything,...
- 9/26/2019
- by Unknown
- We Love Soaps
1968: The Doctors' Mike returned home.
1991: Wayne Northrop returned to Days of our Lives as Roman.
2004: General Hospital debuted a new opening.
2010: Atwt's Bob revealed Nancy Hughes had passed away."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1968: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell in his debut) returned home, much to the delight of his father, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett).
1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Willie Loomis (John Karlen) went to the crypt where Tom Jennings (Donald Briscoe) kept his coffin,...
1991: Wayne Northrop returned to Days of our Lives as Roman.
2004: General Hospital debuted a new opening.
2010: Atwt's Bob revealed Nancy Hughes had passed away."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1968: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell in his debut) returned home, much to the delight of his father, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett).
1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Willie Loomis (John Karlen) went to the crypt where Tom Jennings (Donald Briscoe) kept his coffin,...
- 9/1/2019
- by Unknown
- We Love Soaps
Documentary Master of Dark Shadows lovingly tells how Dan Curtis's cult hit changed TV horror.
Culture
Dark Shadows was an original. The first of its kind, there was nothing on TV like it when it first aired, and nothing on TV like it for a long time after the final stake pierced its ABC network heart. This is because the man at its center, Dan Curtis, was a madman, in the best possible way. Called the “King of TV Horror,” he also made Trilogy of Terror, Burnt Offerings, television adaptations of Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula, as well as the series Kolchack: The Night Stalker. Curtis defined TV horror for a generation.
Narrated by Ian McShane (Deadwood), the new documentary Master of Dark Shadows is more a tribute to the man who went on to make his mark with the ultra-expensive but super-successful Winds of War than the series itself.
Culture
Dark Shadows was an original. The first of its kind, there was nothing on TV like it when it first aired, and nothing on TV like it for a long time after the final stake pierced its ABC network heart. This is because the man at its center, Dan Curtis, was a madman, in the best possible way. Called the “King of TV Horror,” he also made Trilogy of Terror, Burnt Offerings, television adaptations of Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula, as well as the series Kolchack: The Night Stalker. Curtis defined TV horror for a generation.
Narrated by Ian McShane (Deadwood), the new documentary Master of Dark Shadows is more a tribute to the man who went on to make his mark with the ultra-expensive but super-successful Winds of War than the series itself.
- 4/17/2019
- Den of Geek
1967: Dark Shadows' Jason asked patience from Willie.
1979: Guiding Light's Rita had a nightmare about Roger.
1985: As the World Turns' Bob and Kim were married.
1994: Another World's Carl planned on proposing to Rachel."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) implored Willie Loomis (John Karlen) to wait on getting revenge against Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) until after they got their money.
1979: On Guiding Light, Rita Bauer (Lenore Kasdorf) had a nightmare about Roger Thorpe (Michael Zaslow...
1979: Guiding Light's Rita had a nightmare about Roger.
1985: As the World Turns' Bob and Kim were married.
1994: Another World's Carl planned on proposing to Rachel."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) implored Willie Loomis (John Karlen) to wait on getting revenge against Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) until after they got their money.
1979: On Guiding Light, Rita Bauer (Lenore Kasdorf) had a nightmare about Roger Thorpe (Michael Zaslow...
- 4/12/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything.
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor
party. 1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.
1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything, a short-lived ABC daytime soap opera that had only...
1984: All My Children's Tad was celebrated at his bachelor
party. 1996: Days of our Lives' Sami and Austin married.
1998: One Life to Live's Bo grieved his son, Drew."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, while Willie Loomis remained in a coma, Julia Hoffman (Grayson Hall) attempted to hypnotize David Collins (David Henesy) to stop his prying into Barnabas' (Jonathan Frid) affairs.
1970: ABC aired the final episode of The Best of Everything, a short-lived ABC daytime soap opera that had only...
- 9/25/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1968: The Doctors' Mike returned home.
1991: Wayne Northrop returned to Days of our Lives as Roman.
2004: General Hospital debuted a new opening.
2010: Atwt's Bob revealed Nancy Hughes had passed away."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1968: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell in his debut) returned home, much to the delight of his father, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett).
1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Willie Loomis (John Karlen) went to the crypt where Tom Jennings (Donald Briscoe) kept his coffin, but when Barnabas opened the coffin, it was empty. Jennings...
1991: Wayne Northrop returned to Days of our Lives as Roman.
2004: General Hospital debuted a new opening.
2010: Atwt's Bob revealed Nancy Hughes had passed away."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1968: On The Doctors, Mike Powers (Peter Burnell in his debut) returned home, much to the delight of his father, Dr. Matt Powers (James Pritchett).
1968: On Dark Shadows, Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and Willie Loomis (John Karlen) went to the crypt where Tom Jennings (Donald Briscoe) kept his coffin, but when Barnabas opened the coffin, it was empty. Jennings...
- 8/30/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1967: Dark Shadows' Jason asked patience from Willie.
1979: Guiding Light's Rita had a nightmare about Roger.
1985: As the World Turns' Bob and Kim were married.
1994: Another World's Carl planned on proposing to Rachel."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) implored Willie Loomis (John Karlen) to wait on getting revenge against Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) until after they got their money.
1979: Guiding Light's Rita had a nightmare about Roger.
1985: As the World Turns' Bob and Kim were married.
1994: Another World's Carl planned on proposing to Rachel."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."
― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1967: On Dark Shadows, Jason McGuire (Dennis Patrick) implored Willie Loomis (John Karlen) to wait on getting revenge against Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) until after they got their money.
- 4/12/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
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