David Ford (born David Conant Ford; October 30, 1925 – August 7, 1983) was a TV, film and stage actor. He was known for roles on TV's ''
Dark Shadows
''Dark Shadows'' is an American gothic soap opera that aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show depicted the lives, loves, trials, and tribulations of the wealthy Collins family of Collinspor ...
'' (1966–1971) and ''
Search for Tomorrow
''Search for Tomorrow'' is an American television soap opera. It began its run on CBS on September 3, 1951, and concluded on NBC, 35 years later, on December 26, 1986.
Set in the fictional town of Henderson in an unspecified state, the show foc ...
'' (1951), and as John Hancock in both the ''
1776'' Broadway musical and its
film adaptation.
Career
He appeared in the role of Sam Evans, the alcoholic widower, artist, and father of
Maggie Evans
The following is a list of characters from the ''Dark Shadows'' franchise. The list distinguishes characters from the original ABC daytime soap opera series, the 1970s films, the 1991 NBC remake series, the 2004 WB pilot, and the 2012 film.
1966 ...
(
Kathryn Leigh Scott
Kathryn Leigh Scott (born Marlene Kringstad;Biography:Kathryn Leigh Scott". Retrieved on September 28, 2010 January 26, 1943) is an American television and film actress and writer who is best remembered for playing several roles on ''Dark Shadows ...
) on the
ABC-TV serial ''
Dark Shadows
''Dark Shadows'' is an American gothic soap opera that aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show depicted the lives, loves, trials, and tribulations of the wealthy Collins family of Collinspor ...
'' from 1966 to 1968. He assumed the role when Mark Allen, who originated the role, departed following episode 22 of the first year. He also played Andre du Pres, the father of
Josette du Pres
Josette du Pres (or Josette Collins) is a character played primarily by Kathryn Leigh Scott during the 1795 flashback on the TV serial ''Dark Shadows''.
Story
Josette and Barnabas
Born in 1774 in France, her widowed father was Andre du Pres (Da ...
, in the show's 1795 storyline.
He later played the contract role of Karl Devlin on the CBS soap opera ''
Search for Tomorrow
''Search for Tomorrow'' is an American television soap opera. It began its run on CBS on September 3, 1951, and concluded on NBC, 35 years later, on December 26, 1986.
Set in the fictional town of Henderson in an unspecified state, the show foc ...
''.
He made his Broadway debut as O'Kelly in the 1957 revival of
Mary Stuart Mary Stuart or Mary Stewart may refer to:
People
*Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan (before 1428–1465), fifth daughter of James I of Scotland, 1st Countess of Buchan
*Mary of Guelders (c. 1434–1463), queen to James II of Scotland
* Mary Stewart, ...
, and later took over as the Duke of Norfolk in the original production of ''
A Man For All Seasons''. On stage, his best known role was
John Hancock
John Hancock ( – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of ...
in the musical ''1776'' and the 1972 film adaptation.
Personal life
Ford was born in
La Jolla, California
La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood within the city of San Diego, California, United States, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781.
La Jolla is surrounded on ...
. He was a graduate of
Arizona State College and the
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota (USD) is a public research university in Vermillion, South Dakota. Established by the Dakota Territory legislature in 1862, 27 years before the establishment of the state of South Dakota, USD is the flagship univ ...
. He studied at the
Dramatic Workshop Dramatic Workshop was the name of a drama and acting school associated with the New School for Social Research in New York City. It was launched in 1940 by German expatriate stage director Erwin Piscator. Among the faculty were Lee Strasberg and St ...
of the
New School for Social Research.
In 1967, he married his ''Dark Shadows'' co-star,
Nancy Barrett; they divorced in 1969.
Death
Ford suffered from alcoholism the better part of his life, and on August 7, 1983, he died of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...
in
New York, New York
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
. He was 57 years old. He was buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Filmography
References
External links
*
*
David Fordat
Internet Off-Broadway Database
The Internet Off-Broadway Database (IOBDB), also formerly known as the Lortel Archives, is an online database that catalogues theatre productions shown off-Broadway.
The IOBDB was funded and developed by the non-profit Lucille Lortel Foundation ...
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, David
1925 births
1983 deaths
Male actors from San Diego
20th-century American male actors