We are sad to report the death of #DarkShadows actor John Karlen, who played Willie Loomis, the unforgettable foil to Barnabas Collins. John died on January 22 in hospice care in Burbank, California. He was 86 had suffered a number of health setbacks over the past decade… 
As the tortured criminalturned vampire slave Willie Loomis, John Karlen created one of #DarkShadows’ most conflicted, nuanced characters, and the conflict between Barnabas and Willie delivered many powerful scenes…
Away from #DarkShadows, John Karlen worked extensively in television, including his Emmy-winning role as Harvey on Cagney & Lacey. He was also an enthusiastic guest at the Dark Shadows Festivals, happy to celebrate his time on the show and sharing many a tale tale along the way.
John Karlen was a brilliant, instinctive actor, who thrived in the arena of live TV in a way that few managed. While other performers on #DarkShadows betrayed nervous tics and hurried rehearsal time, John inhabited his characters effortlessly and was simply electric…
Where other actors stumbled and halted, John Karlen simply soared. We salute you sir. He is survived by his son Adam and ex-wife Betty.
