DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Topic started by: ProfStokes on January 23, 2020, 04:46:53 PM
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Shadow Gram reported on Facebook yesterday that John Karlen has died. I'm having trouble copying and pasting the bulletin, but maybe someone else with access will be able to do so.
Karlen was one of the greats, as an actor and as a personable guy who was kind to his fans and respected by his colleagues. I'm sad to hear he's gone. [snow_cry]
ProfStokes
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I saw this on Facebook as well. He was in my thoughts through his health troubles over the course of this last year and I was hoping he would continue to pull through.
I remember meeting Karlen at my first fest. I was probably 18ish, just out of high school, and still pretty reserved compared to now. His outgoing personality and friendliness was a treat to experience for someone like me who, admittedly, was a little intimidated to be in the presence of people I'd been watching on TV for years at that point. He truly was a special person and we were all lucky enough to have experienced his gift through the characters he played on Dark Shadows.
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Requiem aeternam, Mr. Karlen.
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RIP to an incredible man.
Gerard
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Sad news, indeed...
But one thing is now he and Dennis Patrick, and he and Frid are reunited in the afterlife, and once again they can share all the hysterical stories that they used to share with us at the Fests. Those were always some of the best moments at the Fests...
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Johnny boy, you will be sorely missed.Thanks for the memories.
Someone on FB has a wonderful pic of J. Frid, Grayson & J. Karlen, saying, Together Again.
Patti
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This article is accompanied by a nice photo of Karlen with Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless, his Cagney and Lacy co-stars, as well as a photo of a classic Willie moment and a NoDS still:
John Karlen Dies: Emmy-Winning ‘Cagney & Lacey,’ ‘Dark Shadows’ Actor Was 86 (https://deadline.com/2020/01/john-karlen-dead-dark-shadows-cagney-lacey-emmy-award-obituary-1202839383/)
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So sad to hear this, although his recent health problems seemed to indicate the day was approaching. While I saw him at a DS Festival 29 years ago (!), I never had the pleasure of actually meeting Mr. Karlen. I wish I could have, because everything I've ever heard about him (and what I've seen in his panel appearances) makes him seem to have been a truly remarkable man.
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How sad he will be missed.
May his soul rest in the peace of heaven
Love, Anne 😢
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Bless his heart. ♥
SHADOWGRAM UPDATE # 431
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
REMEMBERING JOHN KARLEN
It is with profound personal sadness that ShadowGram reports that beloved friend JOHN KARLEN passed away earlier today at age 86 of congestive heart failure in hospice care in Burbank, California.
Of course, John is best-known among "Dark Shadows" fans as the scheming drifter Willie Loomis, who becomes an unwitting servant to vampire Barnabas Collins, eventually becoming a confidant as well as a character with empathy and a moral compass.
John also was a longtime, generous supporter of DS fan efforts, readily helping the show enjoy a cult-classic afterlife by attending numerous DS Festivals as well as earlier DS-themed events, dating back to 1971 with John's participation in the "Miss American Ghost" contest to promote the release of the film "Night of Dark Shadows."
Indeed, John continued to be a lively, willing, and warm presence across nearly 50 years of the original DS series' afterlife.
When KHJ Television in Los Angeles began airing DS reruns in the mid-1970s, John joined a promotional blood drive. In 1977 he appeared as the first – and only - DS guest for the first-ever DS fan convention gathering, ShadowCon I, as part of the overall science fiction / fantasy / horror fan programming at StarCon in San Diego.
This soon was followed by annual DS-focused ShadowCon fan conventions held in Los Angeles through 1984. Along with other original DS cast members, John was a regular guest.
Subsequently, John participated in the annual Dark Shadows Festivals on the west coast starting in 1987 and he began attending the New York area DS Fests a decade later. At every DS event he attended, John was always a delight to be with, very open, outspoken, often teasing and yet also interested in individual people and shared experiences and ideas.
Despite escalating health issues, John last traveled to New York to reunite with DS cast members in celebration of the show's 50th Anniversary in Tarrytown, NY in 2016. He also entertained fans at the DS Halloween Party in Hollywood, CA that same year. He made his last public appearance at the October 2018 Los Angeles sneak-preview of "Master of Dark Shadows" documentary in which he was interviewed.
John always enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow cast/crew members and interacting with fans of all ages from across the U.S, and beyond, including Canada, England, Australia, Mexico, and elsewhere.
John loved acting and telling stories of his early days growing up in Brooklyn, his Polish ancestry, his early work on the stage, favorite actors and movies, and his love of sports, the race track, and a good meal.
A veteran of the Korean war, John was a passionate man with a long life of adventures and accomplishments. His contributions both in front of and behind the camera will long be remembered by the countless friends and fans he touched along the way.
We thank you, John, for bringing so much into our lives.
***** BIOGRAPHY: JOHN KARLEN
Born John Adam Karlewicz on May 28, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, actor John Karlen attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
He is best-known for portraying Willie Loomis on the original 1966-71 ABC-TV daytime drama Dark Shadows. As part of the show's repertory company approach, he also played Carl Collins, William H. Loomis, Desmond Collins and Kendrick Collins.
From 1982-1988, Karlen portrayed Harvey Lacey, husband of actress Tyne Daly's female police officer Mary Beth Lacey, earning him a Best Supporting Actor Emmy Award in 1986. He reprised the role in a series of 1990s Cagney & Lacey television movies.
Karlen appeared as a guest actor in dozens of television series and movies from the 1950s through the 1990s including Kraft Television Theatre, Naked City, N.Y.P.D., Kojak, Trapper John M.D., Fame, Hill Street Blues and Murder She Wrote.
John made his motion picture debut in House Of Dark Shadows in 1970, followed by Night Of Dark Shadows, Daughters Of Darkness, A Small Town In Texas, Pennies from Heaven, Impulse, Native Son and Dark Wind.
His stage career began in 1959 with the Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird Of Youth followed by Invitation To A March and The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore. Other stage credits include Marat/Sade, Caligula, and Prometheus Bound.
Survivors include son Adam and ex-wife Betty Karlen.
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John Karlen ...: Emmy-Winning ‘Cagney & Lacey,’
I was thinking earlier this evening how interesting it is that all three main stars of ‘Cagney & Lacey’ won Emmys for their roles. I don't think too many shows can say that. And in fact, Karlen is the only DS star who went on to win an Emmy. (Kate Jackson was nominated 3 times (for guest starring in the James at 15 movie pilot and for the first 2 seasons of Charlie's Angels) but she didn't win.)
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ShadowGram
"Subsequently, John participated in the annual Dark Shadows Festivals on the west coast starting in 1987 and he began attending the New York area DS Fests a decade later. At every DS event he attended, John was always a delight to be with, very open, outspoken, often teasing and yet also interested in individual people and shared experiences and ideas."
Yes, yes, and yes. He was wonderful. I had a lot of fun with John, walking through his old digs in Brooklyn, his offering me a drink from a water fountain and releasing his foot from the peddle every time I bent down to take a drink. Real funny, John. I'll miss you!
He will be missed, but at least we can be with him through his many tv appearances and movies.
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May his spirit fly free. And may those he left behind be comforted.
G.
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“DARK SHADOWS” STAR JOHN KARLEN RECALLS IN LOST INTERVIEW (https://magviral.com/dark-shadows-star-john-karlen-recalls-in-lost-interview/)
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This one has a nice photo from the night Karlen won his Emmy:
John Karlen of 'Dark Shadows,' 'Cagney & Lacey' fame dead at 86 (https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/john-karlen-dark-shadows-cagney-lacey-actor-dead)
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The attached image was shown during today's broadcast of Cagney & Lacey. That it was a sad episode (the death and funeral of Cagney's dad) added to its emotional impact.
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Very sad to have heard the news. We all knew his health had been failing for several years - but like Jonathan Frid, you just kind of expect them to be around forever. He was always a pleasure to be around every time I met him at the fests. He was also one who attended fests out of kinship to his fellow actors and appreciation for the fans and had no interest in selling photos or merchandise. A fine actor who deserves his share of credit for the success of Dark Shadows. Will definitely be missed.
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R. I. P.
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Another obit featuring a photo of a great Willie moment:
Dark Shadows Star Passes Away At 86 Years Old (https://celebratingthesoaps.com/classic-soap-operas/dark-shadows-star-passes-away-at-86-years-old/)
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It's being reported on Facebook that the memorial for John Karlen will take place April 25th from 12:30 to 3:30 at the Vista Theater in Los Angeles where the DS movies have previously screened.
ProfStokes
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An obit that was jusr posted yesterday in Sxotland:
Obituary: John Karlen, actor who played a supportive husband in the US TV hit, Cagney & Lacey (https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/18300024.obituary-john-karlen-actor-played-supportive-husband-us-tv-hit-cagney-lacey/)
Most likely Karlen is best know there for Cagney & Lacey, which is likely why the obit focuses so heavily on it. Though when it comes to DS, I suspect most of us would argue that he played four other characters on the daytime series besides Willie: Carl Collins, William H. Loomis, Desmond Collins and Kendrick Young...
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Though when it comes to DS, I suspect most of us would argue that he played four other characters on the daytime series besides Willie: Carl Collins, William H. Loomis, Desmond Collins and Kendrick Young...
A versatile actor ... how fitting that he was recognized with the Emmy.