Dan Curtis

Creator

Dan Curtis

Born August 12, 1927 · Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA

Died March 27, 2006 · aged 78

Daniel Mayer Cherkoss (August 12, 1927 – March 27, 2006), known by his pen name Dan Curtis, was an American director and producer of television and film, best known for creating the horror soap Dark Shadows. Dark Shadows ran from 1966 to 1971 for a record-setting 1,225 episodes. Curtis also produced the 1991 revival, which was canceled after twelve episodes due to low ratings. He also served as ex…

Known For

The Night StalkerThe Night Stalker · 1972
The Night Stalker
6.91972
MovieMysteryHorror
Wisecracking reporter Carl Kolchak investigates a string of murders in Las Vegas and suspects the culprit is a vampire. His editor thinks he's crazy and the police think he's a nuisance, so Kolchak takes matters into his own hands.
Burnt OfferingsBurnt Offerings · 1976
Burnt Offerings
6.51976
MovieHorrorThriller
A family moves into a large old mansion in the countryside which seems to have a mysterious and sinister power over its new residents.
Trilogy of Terror IITrilogy of Terror II · 1996
Trilogy of Terror II
5.11996
MovieHorrorThriller
Three tales of terror: in "The Graveyard Rats" lovers murder the woman's older husband and encounter horror when they attempt to rob his grave; "Bobby" is the story of a woman who summons her son back from the dead; and in "He Who Kills" an African doll goes on a murderous rampage.
Trilogy of TerrorTrilogy of Terror · 1975
Trilogy of Terror
6.21975
MovieHorrorThriller
A horror anthology containing three stories: a female college professor is aggressively pursued by one of her students; a prudish brunette determines that her free-spirited blonde sister is evil; and a woman's night turns upside down after she purchases an ancient Zuni fetish doll.
The Love LetterThe Love Letter · 1998
The Love Letter
6.61998
MovieRomanceFantasy
20th century computer games designer Scott, Civil War buff, buys an antique desk from that era and, while polishing it, he discovers a secret compartment in which sits an unmailed letter--a letter written by a young poet named Lizzie over a century earlier. Touched by her yearning for passion, he writes her back, egged on by his mystically inclined mother. Magically, his letter reaches Lizzie and they begin a correspondence that threatens Scott's impending marriage but promises to bring fulfilment to Lizzie. Spanning the Civil War to the present, the perils of Lizzie's war-torn situation threaten her safe passage into the future. Will their love endure the test of time?
Our FathersOur Fathers · 2005
Our Fathers
6.52005
MovieDramaHistory
In the '80s, priests and especially the Father Geoghan arrested for sexual abuse of minors. Cardinal Law, also indicted, and the diocese was aware of the actions of these men of the church and was kept secret for years, until the victims decide to seek redress.
Night of Dark ShadowsNight of Dark Shadows · 1971
Night of Dark Shadows
6.61971
MovieDramaHorror
Recently married, Quentin and Tracy Collins have just moved into Collinwood, a New England estate that has long been in the Collins family and which Quentin has just inherited. They soon find themselves plagued by spirits of past residents.
DraculaDracula · 1974
Dracula
6.31974
MovieDramaHorror
Dracula is searching for a woman who looks like his long dead wife.

Filmography

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Dark ShadowsDark Shadows · 1966
Dark Shadows
7.31966
SeriesDramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
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.

Director