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Karlen Hospitalized

For all you DARK SHADOWS fans out there, I’m afraid I have some bad news to impart. Beloved actor John Karlen has suffered a stroke and is currently hospitalized. I don’t know how severe the stroke was, but at Mr. Karlen’s age (he is 85) even a less severe incident can still be plenty severe enough. If you would like to send Mr. Karlen a get-well card, you may do so by writing to John Karlen – Patient at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center 501 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, California 91505.

Karlen is best known for playing Willie Loomis, the Renfield character to Jonathan Frid’s vampire Barnabas Collins, but like all the actors on DARK SHADOWS he appeared in a number of roles, including Carl Collins, Desmond Collins, Alex Jenkins, Kendrick Young, and a parallel time version of Willie. He also starred in the movies HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS, NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS, DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS, and TRILOGY OF TERROR and has reprised the role of Willie for the Big Finish DARK SHADOWS audio dramas. He starred in CAGNEY AND LACEY back in the 80s, a role for which he won a long overdue Emmy.

We wish you a full and speedy recovery, John!