Dark Shadows
“Necking in the afternoon.”
Series Overview
Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
12 Seasons • 1225 Episodes
22 min per episode
1966 – 1971
Premiered: Mon, Jun 27, 1966
Dan CurtisLatest Aired Episode
Season 12, Episode 46: “DS-1245”
Catherine and Bramwell survive Brutus’ final attempts to destroy them. Brutus declares that they have won. Morgan shoots Bramwell, then takes Catherine hostage. Melanie’s sanity returns; She and Kendrick make plans to go away. Bramwell and Kendrick to go after Morgan, they fight and Morgan is pushed off the roof of Collinwood and dies. Melanie is found with mysterious bite marks on their neck, it is briefly implied that perhaps a vampire might be loose at Collinwood, however it is confirmed that this time the marks did come from an animal. Melanie and Kendrick move to Boston; Bramwell is invited to be the new master of Collinwood, he and Catherine are married.
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Dark Shadows 1976 TV promo
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-07-31
Cast & Creators
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Jonathan Frid
Barnabas Collins / Bramwell Collins
Grayson Hall
Julia Hoffman
Nancy Barrett
Carolyn Stoddard
David Selby
Quentin Collins
Joan Bennett
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard / Naomi Collins
Lara Parker
Angelique Bouchard Collins
David Henesy
David Collins
Kathryn Leigh Scott
Maggie Evans
Thayer David
Matthew Morgan/Ben Stokes/Dr. Timothy Stokes
Roger Davis
Jeff Clark / Peter Bradford
Louis Edmonds
Roger Collins / Joshua Collins
Jerry Lacy
Reverend Trask/Gregory Trask
John Karlen
Willie Loomis
Clarice Blackburn
Mrs. Sarah Johnson
Dennis Patrick
Paul Stoddard
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Dan Curtis
Bob Cobert
Department Leadership Roster
Bob Cobert
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
TV-PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — Contains material parents may find unsuitable for younger children.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — Contains material parents may find unsuitable for younger children.
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Dark Shadows.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dark Shadows
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is Dark Shadows about?
Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began. The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.
How many seasons does Dark Shadows have?
Dark Shadows comprises 12 seasons available to explore.
Who stars in Dark Shadows?
Key cast members in Dark Shadows include Jonathan Frid, Grayson Hall, Nancy Barrett, David Selby, Joan Bennett.
Who created or directed Dark Shadows?
Dark Shadows was developed and directed by Dan Curtis.