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Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '04 II => Topic started by: Stuart on November 03, 2004, 05:41:30 PM

Title: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Stuart on November 03, 2004, 05:41:30 PM: Sad news I received this morning:

"C. Donald Briscoe, 64, of Memphis, retired actor, died Sunday at his home. Services will be at 1 p.m. today at Memorial Park Funeral Home with burial in Memorial Park. He was a member of Coleman Avenue Church of Christ. He leaves a sister, Bonny Jenkins of Memphis."
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Angelina on November 03, 2004, 06:28:56 PM: That is so sad. He was ever so handsome, wasn't he? I just watched him House of Dark Shadows this past week too.

I'd heard he had it rough after leaving DS, but now he can be at peace.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Midnite on November 03, 2004, 06:35:50 PM: Oh dear god.

Thanks for letting us know, Stuart. (http://www.dsboards.com/dsb05/Smileys/sadb.gif)
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Gothick on November 03, 2004, 06:50:38 PM: Black crape all round today.

I don't drink, but if I did, I would pour myself a very stiff whiskey right now, no chaser.

I pray that our beloved Don is at peace. As the late Denton Welch used to comment, "life is a raw deal" and Don deserved better than he got.

At least we have his beautiful work on Dark Shadows to remember him by.

Requiescat in Pace Don,

Steve
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: ClaudeNorth on November 03, 2004, 07:10:59 PM: How terribly, terribly sad...

From what I've heard (in interviews with other DS cast members), DB was a deeply sensitive person -- perhaps too sensitive for this world. I truly hope that he is at peace.

John
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Julia99 on November 03, 2004, 08:15:49 PM: What a day .. first Kerry concedes and now this . .. ::deep sigh::. I do hope he's sailing in someplace bright, warm and wonderful . . . .
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Raineypark on November 03, 2004, 08:26:49 PM: Didn't he just have the most wonderful voice?......such sad news.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Stuart on November 03, 2004, 08:38:31 PM: I echo everyone's sentiments - a very sad case of someone who just didn't get dealt the cards he deserved.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Heather on November 03, 2004, 09:14:51 PM: I'll have that drink for you, Steve. :'( I just want to echo *everyone's* sentiments. What a week. This is truly a sad, sad, terrible day all around... ::sob:: :'(

Being a sensitive sort doesn't get you much in the world the way it is. It's hard, it's tough and as someone in my family likes to say...sensitive souls die a thousand deaths. Rest in peace, Don. May you have everything that you were denied in this world.. :-*
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on November 03, 2004, 09:42:10 PM: If there was ever a day when every bit of news proved that "Life Sucks!", today is that day... :'(

It's completely impossible to imagine the original DS without Don Briscoe - but as others have said, his performances will certainly live on for all of us to enjoy.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: TERRY308 on November 03, 2004, 11:18:50 PM: This is a sad, terrible day. First Kerry concedes and then this beautiful person dies. Life, it big times sucked. Don, I know you are at a glorious place. Sometimes I just want to scream...like now. He was gorgeous. And he's still gorgeous. See you later Don. :'(
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Stuart on November 04, 2004, 12:07:56 AM: DS fan Ed Shoulta, who broke the news of Don's passing to me, attended the funeral service this afternoon and has written a very moving piece about it, which I've added to my site. Scant consolation, but I'm really glad that DS fans had such a fine representative for Don's farewell.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Annie on November 04, 2004, 12:12:19 AM: Hi Stuart thanks for sharing. Yes it is very sad news about Don.
God Rest His Soul Love Anne :(
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: CastleBee on November 04, 2004, 12:33:09 AM: I'm so sad to hear that. Sixty four is realatively young by today's standards. I had read that he had become somewhat reclusive over the years due to some health problems. I hope he's resting in peace now. He was not only handsome, but he also had a kind face I thought.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Gerard on November 04, 2004, 01:35:36 AM: How tragic! I really feel sad at the word of his passing. I hope he knew that, especially from his many Dark Shadows fans, that his work was so appreciated and brought so much happiness.

Gerard
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: MsCriseyde on November 04, 2004, 01:53:50 AM: Was talking with someone who noted that Don's parents were not listed in the newspaper death notice and wondered why since it has often been reported that he lived with his parents.

Don's mother passed away about five years ago. His father passed away just this summer. That is why they are not mentioned.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: David on November 04, 2004, 02:04:06 AM: RIP.....
a good actor, a handsome man.

More & more cast members & fans are passing on.
The show is off the air & attempts to revive
it keep failing.

The Dark Shadows of Collinwood are indeed a memory of the distant past........
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Connie on November 04, 2004, 02:05:53 AM: Quote from: ClaudeNorth on November 03, 2004, 07:10:59 PM
...From what I've heard (in interviews with other DS cast members), DB was a deeply sensitive person -- perhaps too sensitive for this world...

Too GOOD for this world.

It's a shame we didn't find out about his passing 'till after the service. I know there are so many of us who would have liked to have paid our respects, either in person, with flowers, or what-have-you. Hopefully if he didn't know before, he knows now, how much he's been loved and appreciated for all the pleasure and happiness his work on DS has brought us over the years.

(http://home.earthlink.net/~lightdance/images/Don.jpg)
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: David on November 04, 2004, 03:49:19 AM: I'd love to send a card if anyone has contact info for the church or his sister.

In the meantime, please email Bob Issell,
Bobubas@aol.com
and order his superb CD
Dark Shadows: The Ron Barry Interviews,
which includes a 1968 interview with six DS cast members, including Don--the only available
audio of Don speaking as himself.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Miranda on November 04, 2004, 04:19:08 AM: This is indeed so sad....I enjoyed Don on DS, too...
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: victoriawinters on November 04, 2004, 04:23:37 AM: I know what you all mean concerning this being a bad day with all the bad news. "When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions."

I'm in dire need of some tranquilizers and some time at Windcliff.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Birdie on November 04, 2004, 04:26:12 AM: Far too young. Words just don't seem to come freely. May he be at peace in God's arms.

Birdie
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Sandor on November 04, 2004, 05:43:02 AM: Sandor will be wearing black for the remainder of the week.
Sad to hear that my favorite DS player has left us. Always handsome, earnest, and sensitive, Don Briscoe will live on in the hearts of his fans. I'm looking at a candid fan photo from '68, taken outside the DS studios, where Don is playfully biting Grayson Hall's neck. So when Don reached those pearly gates of heaven, I've no doubt Grayson teasingly greeted him in Julia-voice: "Tom Jennings! Noooooo!!!" - whereupon they hugged, and Grayson took his hand, assuring him, "I'll take care of you, kid. No full moons up here. Just peace."
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: scottd on November 04, 2004, 05:48:34 AM: I've been away from this board for awhile and just logged on and read this news--very sad!! Don has always been one of my favorites on DS too. Aside from the obvious reasons, he had something special about him and, of course, that wonderful voice! He will be greatly missed but, as others have said, always remembered!
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Josette on November 04, 2004, 09:28:22 AM: Oh my! That is such a shame. But, thank you for letting us know.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Philippe Cordier on November 04, 2004, 11:36:07 AM: I see that Don Briscoe was in "Come Back, Little Sheba." For anyone familiar with that play, one immediately knows which character he played!

(I agree, it has been a depressing day overall ...)
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: EmeraldRose on November 04, 2004, 12:53:26 PM: I just read my ShadowGram Update E-Mail and HAD to come here! I was shocked and saddened to hear of Don Briscoe's death at such a young age. :'( He was GREAT in DS! :) He was very handsome and I loved his sexy voice. This is indeed another sad start to the day - yesterday, it was hearing of John Kerry's loss in the election, and today it was hearing of Don Briscoe's loss to this world. :'( I regret that I never got to meet Don Briscoe. I hope he will rest in peace in a happier place. At least his parents did not have to endure his passing before they did. Does anybody know what he died of? ???

----- Sally ----- [/size]
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Raineypark on November 04, 2004, 03:31:53 PM: Perhaps out of respect for the very private way he lived his life, we might refrain from speculating about his death.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: CastleBee on November 04, 2004, 04:45:12 PM: Quote from: ClaudeNorth on November 03, 2004, 07:10:59 PM
...From what I've heard (in interviews with other DS cast members), DB was a deeply sensitive person -- perhaps too sensitive for this world...

Quote from: Connie on November 04, 2004, 02:05:53 AM
Too GOOD for this world.

I agree he did seem like that kind of person. It reminds me of the lyrics to Vincent - Don McLean's tribute to VanGogh that I'm sure some of you will remember...

But I could have told you, (Vincent),
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you .
[/size]

Quote
It's a shame we didn't find out about his passing 'till after the service. I know there are so many of us who would have liked to have paid our respects, either in person, with flowers, or what-have-you.

Since he apparently lived a very private life after leaving show business it might be difficult to find out, but maybe there is a cause or charity that people might donate to in his name. Just a thought.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Bobubas on November 04, 2004, 06:56:50 PM: Sometime in the mid 1990's a few lucky Dark Shadows fans made arrangements to meet with, and interview Don in is hometown. Below is a photo from that encounter. Rest in peace Mr. Briscoe.

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: CastleBee on November 04, 2004, 07:24:10 PM: Thanks for posting that Bobubas.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Patti Feinberg on November 04, 2004, 10:49:11 PM: Quote from: Sandor on November 04, 2004, 05:43:02 AM
So when Don reached those pearly gates of heaven, I've no doubt Grayson teasingly greeted him in Julia-voice: "Tom Jennings! Noooooo!!!" - whereupon they hugged, and Grayson took his hand, assuring him, "I'll take care of you, kid. No full moons up here. Just peace."

Sandor, thank you. You made this slightly more bearable...you brought a slight smile.

Patti
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Mark Rainey on November 04, 2004, 11:25:27 PM: Oh, how sad. Don was always one of my favorite people on the show. I trust he's found peace.

Time doesn't stop for nobody...

--M
http://home.triad.rr.com/smrainey
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Cassandra on November 05, 2004, 11:04:06 AM: Wow, this is really sad news!! If he didn't know it then just how many fans he had then he surely knows it now. My prayers go out to him in that he is at peace now.

Thanks Bobubas for the photo!

Cassandra
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: LdyAnne on November 05, 2004, 06:40:40 PM: With every new post to this message I tear up at our loss and his family's. My Prayers are with his loved ones. I send a big hug to all of Don's Fans ( I count myself as one). RIP Don Briscoe may what eluded you in life be found on the other side.

On a side note wasn't Oct 31 a full Moon?

LdyAnne
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Raineypark on November 05, 2004, 07:08:46 PM: Quote from: LdyAnne on November 05, 2004, 06:40:40 PM
On a side note wasn't Oct 31 a full Moon?
LdyAnne

No. The full moon was on the 29th.
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: jennifer on November 05, 2004, 09:40:07 PM: OMG this has been an awfully depressing week as i have been tending too my
sick father(pancreatic cancer) and the horrible election which has devastated
him i just came on to see this news. i wish to thank Don if he is looking
down and say i hope he has gone to a better place ( i want to believe there is
a better place with less hate and more tolerance but this last election
has shaken my inner core ) i know you are at peace dear don and god bless you!
may you join the other departed DS actors once again

pattiv :'( (aka jennifer)
and steve i may have a rare drink tonight
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Gerard on November 06, 2004, 04:32:18 AM: Jennifer, as you mourn with us over the loss of Don Briscoe, my thoughts are also with you as you tend to your father - and my thoughts are with your dad, too.

Gerard
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: CyrusL on November 06, 2004, 06:35:03 AM: :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
My first opportunity to hit the board in a few weeks and such sad news for the DS world, with both Don and Dean passing. The last interview with Don I am aware of was in the Helen Samaras edited volume called "Fangs for the Memories" which I highly recommend to all DS fans. It was done in the early 90's I believe.
I think Don like the late Joel Crothers is sometimes one of the more "unsung" cast members who added so much to the show. In many ways, Don's character of Chris Jennings was inspired by the Lon Chaney Jr. character of Larry Talbot the Wolfman who appreaed in no less than five films from the old Universal classics. Like Larry, Chris was a victim of fate and always the most sympathetic of the classic monster characters. Like his great grandfather Quentin, all Chris really wanted was to be free of his curse and live quietly with the woman he loved. Don like Chaney was often better than he has been given credit for and you can see his range especially when you compare the Jennings brothers to Tim Shaw. During his
DS era Don was often in the teen hearthrob magazines like 16 and Flip, but I have for some reason never forgotten Don's soap commercial, although I in my dim recollection thought it was for Dial, and for some reason I can hear Don saying the old adline, "Aren't you glad you use Dial. Don't you wish...everbody did?"

The imdb also lists an appearence on "I Dream of Jeannie" so Don will be on TV Land for years to come as well. (One other note of film history, the moonflower subplot on DS was derived from the earlier "Werewolf of London" fim of 1932 with Henry Hull, included on the recent Wolfman legeacy DVD set.)
I would echo the comments of many who have put it so well that Don has gone on the the next world where no shows are ever canceled and he knows just how many fans he always had.

RIP Don, we miss you already

Michael
Your cousin from Virginia
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: jennifer on November 07, 2004, 02:42:15 AM: Quote from: Gerard on November 06, 2004, 04:32:18 AM
Jennifer, as you mourn with us over the loss of Don Briscoe, my thoughts are also with you as you tend to your father - and my thoughts are with your dad, too.

you know Gerard i know you have been through it too and it is a part of life that
we just don't want to deal with but everyone's kind words help. i just have to believe
there is a better place on the other side.
much love to everyone
jennifer(aka pattiv)
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Devlin66 on November 08, 2004, 08:41:44 PM: I thought Mr. Briscoe played the reluctant werewolf with as much realism as Mr Frid did Barnabas the vampire. He let his character show the real fear of something he coulld not control. I do so hope he had some measured peace within himself in his last years. At peace now I am sure.........
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Charles_Ellis on November 09, 2004, 12:01:34 AM: Once again we are united in sorrow over losing a beloved DS cast member. This one is especially poignant considering how much promise Don had early on his career. Here's a bit of info that may brighten things a bit: a few months ago I discovered at the Musuem of TV & Radio a 1966 Days of our Lives episode starring Don Briscoe!! This is a B/W kinescope with Don playing the role of "Tony Merritt" .

With "Days" now on SoapNet, I'm hoping that the network will be able to go deep in the Columbia Television tape vaults for vintage episodes dating back to show#1 from November 8, 1965. And here's the main reason why ALL DS fans should be interested in this: all of the "Days" episodes in the Columbia vaults are in color, including Don's! I have heard that there are plans for SoapNet to spin-off a "Classic SoapNet" channel that would air vintage soaps from years gone by. If it comes to pass, I think that Columbia would supply the early episodes of "Days". Y&R, and possibly B&B. Of course, DS would be a must for this proposed channel. Who knows, maybe within the next few years we can see Don's "Days" episodes rerun on TV, along with his work on DS!
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Cassandra Blair on November 09, 2004, 07:50:41 PM: Oh dear, this is just too sad for words. Don was definitely one of my favorites on DS. Here's hoping his sensitive soul finds the peace it deserves...

Love,

Cassandra Blair
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Afan on November 10, 2004, 03:15:31 AM: I have been away from the Board for many months due to my husband's illness. He is recovering, thank you. And I am very sad at the news that Don Briscoe has passed away. Thank you for
letting us know this. Also, someone mentioned "Dean". Was Dean someone connected with the show, because I can't remember a Dean. So glad to be back.
Love to all
:-* Afan
Title: Re: Don Briscoe Passes Away
Post by: Taeylor Collins on September 04, 2008, 05:49:18 AM: Don, as long as I have been in fandon hearing of ones passing never touched me like yours. I cried like a baby for a couple days. I thankfully am not as sensitive as you however I know what it is like to be sensitive~~the world is cruel indeed. It can be an extreme curse at times. I have often thought about you and imagined you young, healthy and smiling that undeniable smile that lit up the every picture or scene I witnessed you in. Now seeing that image in my head....a smile passes across my face....wherever you are beauty is filling that space.

Love and Light!

PS. Does anyone know how to get a copy of HELLEN SAMARAS 'Fangs For The Memories'