Jonathan Frid: Johnny Depp pays tribute to Dark Shadows actor When I had the honor to finally meet him, as he so generously passed the torch of Barnabas to me, he was as elegant and magical as I had always imagined. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. The world has lost a true original. Frid has a cameo role in the new movie, which also stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller and Helena Bonham Carter. Frid meets Depp's character in a party scene with two other original actors from the show. Jim Pierson, a friend and spokesman for Dan Curtis Productions, the creator of the original Dark Shadows, announced the actor's death. Twenty million people saw the show at its peak in 1969. Kids ran home from school and housewives watched it. It had a huge pop culture impact," he said. Frid had been an accomplished stage actor before Dark Shadows made him famous. The show has lived on in reruns.