Not Dead, but Sleepeth

One of my childhood heroes has passed away.

Dan Curtis, writer and producer, fell victim to a brain tumor, leaving this world today at the age of 78.

If I were to make a list of the ten most influential things in my life, Dan Curtis was responsible for three of them.

Most noteably, he created Dark Shadows. Dark Shadows was my world as a little boy. Its gothic atmosphere and horrific themes spoke to me on so many levels and left their imprint on me some thirty-five years later.

He also gave the world my favorite Dracula adaptation. Starring Jack Palance, Curtis again delved into Gothic Romance to create a tragic Count Dracula unlike any seen before on film.

Curtis, along with Richard Matheson, also created the cult favorite Night Stalker. Carl Kolchak, wonderfully portrayed by the late, great Darrin McGavin, has become an icon of the horror genre. Curtis gave us the first two films that set the tone of what Kolchak was all about.

Thank you, Dan Curtis for helping to enrich my life and to inspire me in more ways than I can fathom. You were one of the greats and you will be missed.