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John Herbert Frid (born December 2, 1924) is a theater, television, and film actor, best known for playing the role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows. Born of Scottish ancestry in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Frid was the son of Herbert "H.P." Frid, a construction company executive, and the former Flora McGregor, a homemaker. He had two brothers, named Douglas and David (Kenneth), and a sister named Margaret. David followed their father into the construction business, while Douglas ran a ski lodge. Frid served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World... MORE

John Herbert Frid (born December 2, 1924) is a theater, television, and film actor, best known for playing the role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows. Born of Scottish ancestry in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Frid was the son of Herbert "H.P." Frid, a construction company executive, and the former Flora McGregor, a homemaker. He had two brothers, named Douglas and David (Kenneth), and a sister named Margaret. David followed their father into the construction business, while Douglas ran a ski lodge. Frid served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. He graduated from McMaster University in 1948, and the following year was accepted at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He moved to the United States in 1954, and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing from the Yale School of Drama in 1957. He began using the stage name Jonathan Frid in 1962. As a student at Yale, Frid starred in the premiere of William Snyder's play A True And Special Friend. Classically trained, Frid spent thirty years in live theater, starring in the first productions at the Williamstown Theater and stage productions in Canada, England and the LESS