‘Dark Shadows’ Actor Was 76 – Deadline

Christopher Pennock, whose lengthy profession in daytime drama is greatest remembered for his portrayal of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde character on ABC’s supernatural cleaning soap Dark Shadows, died Feb. 12 following a short hospitalization in California. Pennock, who was recognized with melanoma final summer season, was 76.

His loss of life was introduced on the Dark Shadows News Fb web page. Pennock’s spouse, Lynn Dunn Pennock, advised the positioning that her husband, a lifelong Buddhist, “has transitioned into the pure land of Dewachen with full enlightenment leaving solely a rainbow physique behind.”

Darkish Shadows actor David Selby, a pal of Pennock’s since their days on the Sixties-’70s present, wrote on his blog, “Chris was essentially the most enjoyable loving, beneficiant and type man with an ideal smile. He was the form of particular person this world wants extra of…His spirit and pleasure of life will probably be with me and all those that have been fortunate to cross his path.”

Kathryn Leigh Scott, who performed governess Maggie Evans on Darkish Shadows, wrote on Fb, “Such a stated day for all of us who cherished Chris Pennock. Celebrating his superb life and spirt whereas grieving his loss is difficult . . . and I’m afraid grief in dropping a beloved colleague and pricey pal is the dominant sentiment for me at the moment. Chris, you’ll at all times be in my coronary heart.”

A graduate of New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Pennock started his profession on stage, performing as an understudy in a 1966 Broadway manufacturing of Tennessee Williams’ The Rose Tattoo. A longstanding member of The Actors Studio, Pennock would seem on Broadway in 1969’s A Patriot for Me and 1971’s Abelard and Heloise, amongst different stage roles.

It was throughout his run in A Patriot for Me that Pennock was employed by Darkish Shadows creator Dan Curtis to play a central position in what would show a disappointing storyline for the spooky present, with Pennock taking part in an H.P. Lovecraft-inspired character referred to as a Leviathan.

Though that convoluted plot was largely rejected by the present’s fanbase, contributing to a declining viewership, Pennock survived unscathed, and was subsequently solid within the central, flashy new position of Cyrus Longworth, the Darkish Shadows model of Dr. Jekyll and, with a not-entirely-convincing faux nostril, his Hyde alter ego John Yaeger.

Pennock remained with Darkish Shadows, in numerous roles (as was the present’s observe), till the collection resulted in 1971. He additionally costarred within the franchise’s second function movie spinoff, 1971’s Night time of Darkish Shadows. A fan favourite, Pennock took half in annual Darkish Shadows conventions for many years after the collection ended, and created a collection of standard comedian books primarily based on his Darkish Shadows experiences.

Following Darkish Shadows, Pennock carried out on numerous primetime episodic reveals (Cannon, The Love Boat, Cagney & Lacey, Melrose Place, Simon & Simon, Dynasty, The A-Workforce, Silk Stalkings, Baywatch, amongst others) and in such movies as Savages (1972), California Suite (1978) and Frances (1982). He remained lively in daytime TV with roles on Basic Hospital, The Younger & The Stressed, Guiding Mild and Days of Our Lives.

Extra not too long ago, Pennock appeared in Brandon Riley Miller’s streaming collection Excessive, along with his ultimate episode to be aired later this 12 months.

Along with his spouse, Pennock is survived by daughter Tara and different members of the family.