Other
Characters: Sobbing Voice (uncredited), Abigail Collins
1795, Minerva Trask 1897, Mrs Castle Night
of Dark Shadows
The prim and practical Mrs. Johnson assumed the position of
housekeeper at Collinwood to spy on behalf of Burke Devlin
and out of loyalty to her former employee Bill Malloy, for
whose murder Roger was a strong suspect. Once the truth behind
Malloy's murder surfaced, she continued to serve the Collins
family and developed a loyal rapport and respect greater than
that for her estranged son, Harry. However, the frightening
and supernatural occurrences both inside and outside
the mansion walls tested Mrs. Johnson's loyalty and dedication...
Clarice
Blackburn was born on February 26, 1921 in San Francisco,
California.
Upon
receiving a degree in speech and drama from Texas State College
for Women, she made her acting debut in 1947 on Martha Vinyard
in Circle of Chalk. However, it was that outstanding
performance three years later in the Equity Theatre production
of The Great Big Doorstep that placed her on Broadway
as an understudy for Eva Gabor in Happy Times.
She
shared the spotlight with Shirley Booth in that role and once
again on Broadway in a 1955 production of The Desk Set.
Clarice's other stage stints included a 1953 revival of
The Grass Harp, the critically acclaimed American Gothic,
Juno, The Miracle Worker (with Academy Award winner Patty
Duke), The Queen and the Rebels and Good Day.
Clarice's
small screen credits included Ethan From, starring
Julie Harris and The Crucible with Colleen Dewhurst
and George C. Scott.
Clarice's
first role on Dark Shadows was an uncredited 1966 appearance,
when she voiced the ghostly sobs heard by Victoria in the
show's early episodes. In the fall of 1966, she joined the
regular cast of Dark Shadows in the role of Mrs Johnson
and continued to make regular appearances until 1970. In stark
contrast to the dour Mrs Danvers persona she adopted onscreen,
in real life Clarice had bright red hair, appearing almost
unrecognisable from her television appearances.
Clarice
continued to work extensively in daytime drama with roles
in The Doctors, Secret Storm, Where the Heart Is, Somerset,
As the World Turns and Guiding Light. She later
moved behind the scenes to work as a long-term member of the
writing team for All My Children, winning Emmy awards
for her work in both 1985 and 1988.
Clarice
was unavailable to reprise Mrs Johnson in House of Dark
Shadows, but made a cameo appearance in Night of Dark
Shadows the following year. Her other big screen appearances
were in Pretty Poison and Man on a Swing, starring
Joel Grey.
Clarice
Blackburn died of cancer on August 5, 1995 in New York City.
Biography
written by Vera Marano
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