Dan Curtis

Dan Curtis (born Daniel Mayer Cherkoss; August 12, 1927 – March 27, 2006[1]) was an American director, writer, and producer of television and film, known among fans of horror films for his afternoon TV series Dark Shadows (1966–1971) and its 1991 remake, and TV films such as The Night Stalker (1972), The Night Strangler (1973), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1974) and Trilogy of Terror (1975).[2][3] He also directed three feature films – the Dark Shadows spinoffs House of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night of Dark Shadows (1971), and the supernatural horror Burnt Offerings (1976).

For the Canadian mayor, see Dan Curtis (politician).

Dan Curtis
Born
Daniel Mayer Cherkoss[1]

(1927-08-12)August 12, 1927
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMarch 27, 2006(2006-03-27) (aged 78)
Brentwood, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film director, television director, television producer
Spouse
Norma Mae Klein
​
​
(m. 1952⁠–⁠2006)​
(her death)
Children3

For general audiences, Curtis is also known as the director and producer of the highly-rated miniseries The Winds of War (1983) and its sequel War and Remembrance (1988), based on two novels by Herman Wouk, which follow the lives of two American families through World War II.[4][5][6][7]

Career

Curtis's series of macabre films includes House of Dark Shadows, Night of Dark Shadows, The Night Stalker (for many years holding the record ratings of the most-watched TV movie—and inspired the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker), Intruders, The Night Strangler, Burnt Offerings, Trilogy of Terror and its belated sequel Trilogy of Terror II, The Norliss Tapes (a 1973 pilot for an unproduced series starring Roy Thinnes), Curse of the Black Widow, Dead of Night, and Scream of the Wolf. He worked frequently with sci-fi/horror writers Richard Matheson and William F. Nolan. Curtis was producer and/or director of a number of television adaptations of classic horror texts including The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968), Frankenstein (1973), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1973), Dracula (1974), and The Turn of the Screw (1974).

In 1978, Curtis made a departure from his usual macabre offerings, when he wrote, produced, and directed the sentimental NBC television film When Every Day Was the Fourth of July. Although fictionalized, the film was semi-autobiographical, based on his childhood growing up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the 1930s. The film was originally intended to be a pilot for a potential series, but when the series was not picked up by the NBC network, Curtis produced and directed the 1980 television movie sequel The Long Days of Summer, this time airing on the ABC network.

His 1983 miniseries The Winds of War, the most watched miniseries in American television history, was nominated for four Emmy Awards.

Curtis also directed the War and Remembrance miniseries, which was the continuation of The Winds of War. The program was 30 hours in length, split into two segments. Chapters I-VII aired in November 1988. The remaining five parts, Chapters VIII-XII, were billed as "The Final Chapter", and aired in May 1989. The miniseries received 15 Emmy Award nominations, including for best actor (John Gielgud), actress (Jane Seymour), supporting actor (Barry Bostwick), and supporting actress (Polly Bergen). The show won Emmys for best miniseries, special effects, and single-camera production editing.

The New York Times profiled Curtis while in post-production on War and Remembrance.[8]

Curtis's rights to Dark Shadows remain with his estate, which signed a deal with Warner Bros. for a new Dark Shadows movie. The film stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, was directed by Tim Burton, and was released in May 2012. After the film's end credits, there is a dedication to Dan Curtis.

In 2023, he was inducted into the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.[9]

Personal life

Born Daniel Cherkoss in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Curtis attended Syracuse University before becoming a syndicated television show salesman.[1]

Curtis died on March 27, 2006, at his home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, twenty days after the death of his wife Norma. He was survived by two daughters.[1]

Filmography

As director
Year Title Functioned as Notes
Director Writer Producer
1968-1969 Dark Shadows yes (20 episodes) yes yes
1970 House of Dark Shadows yes no yes
1971 Night of Dark Shadows yes yes yes
1973 The Night Strangler yes no yes
1973 The Norliss Tapes yes no yes
1973 The Invasion of Carol Enders yes no yes uncredited
1974 Scream of the Wolf yes no yes
1974 Bram Stoker's Dracula yes no yes
1974 Melvin Purvis: G-Man yes no yes
1974 The Turn of the Screw yes no yes
1974 The Wide World of Mystery yes (episode: “Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest”) yes (2 episodes) yes
1974 The Great Ice Rip-Off yes no yes
1975 Trilogy of Terror yes no yes
1975 The Kansas City Massacre yes no yes
1976 Burnt Offerings yes yes yes
1977 Dead of Night yes no yes
1977 Curse of the Black Widow yes no yes
1978 When Every Day Was the Fourth of July yes yes yes
1979 The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang yes no no
1980 The Long Days of Summer yes no no Executive Producer
1983 The Winds of War (miniseries) yes no yes
1988 War and Remembrance yes yes no Executive Produder
1992 Intruders (miniseries) yes no no Executive Producer
1993 Me and the Kid yes no no
1996 Trilogy of Terror II yes yes no
1998 The Love Letter yes no no
2005 Saving Milly yes no no
2005 Our Fathers yes no no

As producer
YearTitleNotes
1968The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1972The Night Stalkerfirst Kolchak film
1973Frankensteinalso co-writer
1973The Picture of Dorian Grayan entry in ABC's series The Movie of the Week
1991Dark Shadowsre-imagining of the 1966–71 series

References
  1. Carter, Bill (March 29, 2006). "Dan Curtis, Producer of 'Winds of War' TV Series, Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  2. Dark Shadows Journal Online: Remembering Dan Curtis Linked 2013-08-27
  3. Fangirl Magazine: Memories: Dan Curtis Linked 2013-08-27
  4. The New York Times, March 29, 2006: Dan Curtis, Producer of 'Winds of War' TV Series, Dies at 78 Linked 2013-08-27
  5. USA Today, March 27, 2006: TV producer Dan Curtis dies at 78 Linked 2013-08-27
  6. Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2006: Dan Curtis, Obituary Linked 2013-08-27
  7. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, March 29, 2006: Director-Producer Dan Curtis Passes Linked 2013-08-27
  8. Harmetz, Aljean (November 6, 1988). "TELEVISION; Waging Wouk's 'War and Remembrance'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  9. "Here are the Winners of the (Gasp!) 21st Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards". RondoAward.com. May 29, 2023. Archive link
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