Mitchell Ryan

So, on the CE/A, I see the post about a near Halloween west coast bash (I had read the others prior).

On that post, there's the shot of almost everyone in DS.

How/when/why was Mitch Ryan replaced as Burke?

I just went to IMDb; I hadn't noticed how prolific he has been.

I watched "West Wing", certainly "North & South", plus alot of 'other' stuff he has been in (Dallas). I guess I just didn't 'notice' him.

Also, regarding said photo, why isn't David in the shot? I really is a nice picture with everyone in it.

Patti

David is in the photo, Patti - it just that there's a lot more to that photo than may be appearing on your monitor.

As for Mitch Ryan, he had personal issues he was dealing with and when one day he just didn't show up for taping (and his lines had to be given to Joel Crothers' Joe), he was fired and replaced by Anthony George. I believe Ryan's last ep is Ep #248, and then George takes over in Ep #262.

If you've never seen George's take on Burke, it'll be fascinating to hear what you think about it...

I've seen A. George. Eh.

I really like when M.R. smiles; some are devious, other's 'mirth'. The happy ones are delightful to look at; his whole faces lights up!

Patti

Ryan was the definitive Burke. the original badass...

George wasn't as bad as some seem to think but he was a pale pretender. and obviously by the time he joined the series there was a new antagonist in town and the character's original function no longer necessary.

Anthony George was a decent actor who was probably miscast as Burke. He was apparently not happy with the show and refused all attempts at appearing at DS events. He had far more success on his other daytime roles on Search for Tomorrow and One Life to Live.

I'm pretty sure one of Jonathan Frid's favorite scenes was the one in the Blue Whale where Barnabas and Burke are crossing swords and Barnabas has his speech where he says, "I thrust, you parry."  I remember hearing that that was included in the BEST OF BARNABAS compilation (when the VHS tapes began coming out) because Frid like it so much.  Of course, my memory could be playing tricks on me again.

I know Sam and Grayson were very friendly with Anthony George and I think Frid found him much easier to act with than had been the case with Mitchell Ryan. 

All of this is to say that although Ryan was undoubtedly the stronger screen presence, Tony George may have been an improvement in the eyes of at least some of the cast members.  Don't know what Mrs. Isles thought of him.

Best, G.

Sadly for Alexandra, little did she know who would be coming her way in a bit more than six months after AG joined the cast...

Ugh.  Yeah.

I've wondered how much a part he played in her decision to leave the series.

G.

I'm sure this has been mentioned, but I'm not certain.

Did/does M. Ryan attend festivals?

Patti

He came once to the Hollywood California festival. He didn't stick around very long. After the cast reunion Q & A, he signed a few autographs and left. Maybe 20 minutes tops. He was announced for Tarrytown this summer but the appearance was canceled.

Mitch Ryan did participate in the Dark Shadows retrospective at the Museum of Broadcasting in California back in 2001. This is the only public DS function of any kind that Dan Curtis ever attended. It is also the only event to date that either Alexandra Moltke or Kate Jackson has attended.