Jonathan Frid

Jonathan Frid
Publicity photo of Frid on Dark Shadows, c. 1968
Born
John Herbert Frid

(1924-12-02)December 2, 1924
DiedApril 14, 2012(2012-04-14) (aged 87)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
EducationMcMaster University (BA)
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (PGDip)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active19462012
Known forBarnabas Collins
TelevisionDark Shadows

Jonathan Frid (December 2, 1924 – April 14, 2012) was a Canadian actor, best known for his role as vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows. The introduction in 1967 of Frid's reluctant, guilt-ridden vampire caused the floundering daytime drama to soar to 20 million daily viewers. His watershed portrayal has been cited as a key influence on contemporary genre film and television series such as Twilight, True Blood and The Vampire Diaries.