I think you should create another character and give me a run for my money.’ Curtis] said, ‘You don’t want that,’ and I said, ‘I’d rather have anything than work these hours. Frid explained: In 1968, I went to Dan Curtis and said, ‘You’re overworking me. And Barnabas was neither hero nor villain.įilming five episodes a week non-stop for a few years is sure to make anyone feel overwhelmed, which is why Jonathan Frid suggested the addition of a character who could fill up time on the show and play opposite of Barnabas. There are no such things as heroes and villains, you know. He needed blood in his system all the time. He had everything… He had a medical problem. He was sometimes evil, too, but everybody’s got evil in them. Frid explained how he approached the character: He was not just a vampire, not just a romancer. Even when he was in black and white it was as if this character was operating on a full spectrum of color, it’s obvious that he’s the star of the show. Played by Canadian actor Jonathan Frid, Barnabas had a quality that jumped off screen. If it didn’t work, I figured we could always drive a stake into his heart I wanted to see how far I could go on the show into the supernatural, and I figured there was nothing more bizarre than a vampire.

never intending that he would be anything more than a vampire that I kill.

Barnabas finally appeared on episode 211 of the series, and according to series creator Dan Curtis, the vampire was only meant as an experiment: Barnabas was brought in because I wanted to see exactly how much I could get away with.

Barnabas was meant to be staked through the heart three weeks after his initial appearance, but he was such a fan favorite that he was kept on as they show’s lead. However, he wasn’t meant to be a long term character. Even if you aren’t a dedicated Dark Shadows fan you know who Barnabas Collins is, the rakish vampire who dates back to the earliest days of the family.

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