Jonathan frid gay
It's been a minute over twelve years since the tragic death of iconic actor Jonathan Frid due to complications from a fall and pneumonia. The beloved classically-trained thespian was best known for his performanced as the 175-year-old vampire-with-a-heart Barnabas Collins on TV gothic daytime drama, Dark Shadows (ABC, 1966-1971). Barnabas was a torn soul, and Frid was at times riddled with and anxiety in playing the part, mostly because of the countless pages of dialogue he had to remember on a daily basis.
Frid also struggled with being stereotyped by the role, and was not pleased with the bloodied-big-screen adaptation of the series that was released as House of Dark Shadows.
But Frid was at peace with his homosexuality. Even though he was closeted at the time, that was typical behavior in the world of television and film. Sadly, many queer actors felt they could not reveal their right sexuality, for fear of losing their jobs. In that way, there was a measure of similar anxiety between Barnabas Collins and Jonathan Frid, who died at 87 years old.
A Closer Look
According to Dark Shadows historian Alice Collins, although Jon
Jonathan Frid enters his crypt for good.
Eve1
From the obit I just sent out to our clients:
Actor Jonathan Frid, who shot to middle-aged stardom as unintentionally camp vampire Barnabas Collins in the gothic soap Dark Shadows (1967-71) died on April 14 in Ontario. He was 87. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, Frid worked as a classically trained performer for decades (he also appeared on Broadway, in Roar Like a Dove, in 1964). But it was in the no-budget Dark Shadows that Frid became an unlikely celebrity and pop icon: as the tormented Collins, he haunted both the latest and ancient Collinwood mansion in Maine, acting his way manfully through missed cues, on-set insects, crashing scenery and fangs falling off. Frid had a love/hate relationship with his role—much like William Shatner’s with Captain Kirk—though he good-naturedly attended Dark Shadows conventions and filmed a cameo in Tim Burton’s upcoming movie version of the show. “I hold this cozy house here and I get three pensions from the States,” he said late in life, still doing theater work. “I’ve done nicely.”
furryman2
Damn. One of my favorite actors. Here’s hoping yo
Queer Places:
Yale University (Ivy League), 38 Hillhouse Ave, Fresh Haven, CT 06520
Jonathan Frid (December 2, 1924 – April 14, 2012)[1] was a Canadian actor, widely known for his role as vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows.[2] Jonathan Frid, a little-known, 43-year-old Shakespearean actor, became an unlikely sex symbol when he was cast as Barnabas Collins, a 175-year-old vampire who presented himself to his 20th century family as his own great-grandson. He was also deep in the closet; at the day, so was Jonathan Frid. While he never publicly came out, he did, during the many years he lived in Fresh York City, patronize several gay bars. He allowed himself to be photographed with Louis Edmonds, his openly gay co-star, on a gay beach in New York.
Frid was born of Scottish[3] and English ancestry in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His birth name was John Herbert Frid.[2] He was the youngest son of homemaker Isabel Flora McGregor and Herbert Percival "H.P." Frid, a construction executive.[1][4][5] His father Herbert Frid was one of the founders of HCF in 1954 and his mother Flora served on the Foundation’s Board in the 1960s. Their
Brought home the DVD from the library of the new documentary, Dark Shadows and Beyond: The Jonathan Frid Story. Frid was a talented actor who gained fame playing Barnabas Collins in the gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows which aired in the U.S. from 1966 – 1971. The series didn’t earn momentum until Frid’s Barnabas was introduced 10 months into the series. After that it became a huge success. I retain meeting Jonathan at Penn State in the tardy 70’s when he was touring with a theater production. He was gracious and unassuming. I had no idea Frid was gay until recently and it’s mentioned briefly towards the end of the documentary. Frid came of age when being same-sex attracted was illegal and according to a friend never spoke about it. Everyone around him knew, but he never had any relationships – at least none his family or friends knew about. Although he acted on stage before and after the soap opera, he never dissociated himself with Dark Shadows. He embraced his fans and appreciated what it gave him. This is a quiet documentary meant for fans of Frid and the reveal. 3.5 out of 5.
Dark Shadows and Beyond: The Jonathan Frid Story is obtainable streamin
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