People Magazine have published a statement from Johnny Depp commenting on the death of Jonathan Frid. As we reported earlier today, Jonathan passed away peacefully last week. Depp has spoken before of his childhood fascination for Jonathan's portrayal of Barnabas, and the pair met last summer on the set of the new Dark Shadows movie, in which Jonathan has makes a cameo appearance:
"Jonathan Frid was the reason I used to run home from school to watch Dark Shadows," says Depp.
"His elegance and grace was an inspiration then and will
continue to remain one forever more. When I had the honour to finally
meet him, as he so generously passed the torch of Barnabas to me, he was
as elegant and magical as i had always imagined. My deepest condolences
to his family and friends. The world has lost a true original."
Kathryn echoed these thoughts in on her own blog: "I am so grateful to have worked with Jonathan, and to have known him as
the charismatic, entertaining, complex and plain spoken man that he was," she comments in a blog post.
"What fun we had working together! He was irascible, irreverent, funny,
caring, loveable and thoroughly professional... the
whole reason why kids ran home from school to watch Dark Shadows.”
11 comments:
I love how Depp says that when he finally had the honor to meet Jonathan Frid, that he was as "elegant and magical as he had always imagined".
I,too, used to run,literally, to see Dark Shadows when school was over. I saw the movie when it came to the theater up the hill.I hope Mr. Frid rests in Peace and his friends and family don't suffer too much from their grief.
Selby's tribute brought tears to my eyes. RIP, Mr. Frid. You will be remembered.
What a remarkable tribute from David Selby, indeed a letter of love to a dear gentlemanly friend of old. In those dim Shadows of the Night, the love and legacy lives on...
Indeed, David Selby wrote an amazingly beautiful and poignant tribute to the late, great Jonathan Frid. I hope that Mr Frid died knowing that so many people loved him just as much. True, he had a love-hate relationship with the character of Barnabas Collins. He may also have thought that people loved the character, but not the man who played him. To many though the two were the same. We couldn't have loved Barnabas Collins without the depth or the life that Mr Frid brought to the role. And for that we love Jonathan Frid. The wonderful thing is that we can enjoy him as Barnabas Collins now & forever.
It is a shame that my best friend past away. No one will fill his shoes. I use to come home and watch this also. I even attended the movie and I do have the Dark Shadows series books around here someplace. Rest easy my friend in the quiet dark and rest peacefully for the last time.
A characteristically well-thought and poetic tribute from David Selby! (I had no idea Frid initally resented his appearance on DS.)
As a long-time DS fan Loved reading all the tributes for Mr Frid from all his DS friends. David Selby's is very eloquent and poignant and Ms Parker's was indeed emotionally moving. So glad Mr Frid's Barnabas was part of our Boomer culture and his style will remain forever treasured.
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.
How wonderful that decades later, the surviving original DS characters hold such deep respect and love for Mr. Frid. I think that his portrayal of Barnabas was the epitome of what the reluctant vampire really is. He feared being found out, yet he learned for all the things humans want; acceptance, love, family. In many ways, Mr. Frid's performance of Barnabas can be likened to the Phantom of the Opera/Erik the Opera Ghost. He was considered loathsome solely because of his physicality, but underneath, he had a beautfiul soul. As did Mr. Frid. He made vampires sympathetic creatures. I respected his ability, and the world has lost a treasure.
Beautiful and deeply sincere messages from Actor Johnny Depp and Mr. FRID's Dark Shadows family & colleagues Kathryn Leigh Scott, Lara Parker and David Selby (looking forward to seeing their cameos in the new DARK SHADOWS Movie). All their Heartfelt messages regarding Jonathin Frid's passing moved me. The Classic DARK SHADOWS is definately a treasure dark-Gothic & haunting keepsake and for those that were fortunate to have seen it during it's start in the mid 60's through early 70's...'boy we were lucky!! DARK SHADOWS legendary Cast & Crew are timeless and FRID's our much beloved Vampiere Barnabas Collins will always be cherished to heart. Much respects! Godbless.
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