Other
Characters:
Joshua
Collins
1795, Edward
Collins
1897 (pictured), Roger
Collins
1970 Parallel Time, Daniel
Collins
1840, Amadeus
Collins
1692, The
Ghost of Brutus Collins
1841 Parallel Time, Brutus
Collins
1692 Parallel Time, Roger
Collins
House of Dark Shadows
Acerbic and vain, the dapper Roger Collins displays both snobbery
and selfishness, demonstrated in his remote relationship with
his son David. An uneasy long-term guest at Collinwood, engaged
in strained relations with his sister Elizabeth, he works
within the Collins family businesses. Capable of manipulation
and blackmail, his involvement in Burke Devlin's manslaughter
charge remains shrouded in mystery, along with the mysterious
hold he exerts over Sam Evans. Neither villain nor hero, Roger's
is a flawed character driven by personal desire, greed, and
a misplaced desire to maintain the virtues of the Collins
family…
Louis
Edmonds was born on
24 September 1923, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Following college,
and a period serving in the US Navy during World War II, he
moved to New York, where he began acting professionally. After
appearing in a series of acclaimed roles in off-Broadway plays,
he eventually made it to Broadway, starring in productions
of A Passage to India, Candide and Maybe Tuesday.
During this time, he also established himself as a capable
television performer, appearing in many live productions.
His early small screen roles included parts in Studio One
and The Goodyear Television Playhouse. This experience
was to serve him well for his four-year stint on Dark Shadows,
before which he completed the film Come Spy with Me.
Louis was one of the most sociable members of the Dark
Shadows cast, regularly hosting weekend parties at his
beloved Long Island home, the Rookery. This unique property
remained a constant for much of his adult life, with its beautiful
gardens and secluded location, which overlooked an 18th Century
cemetery.
Following Dark Shadows, Louis successfully overcame
depression and problems with alcohol before landing the role
of Langley Wallingford on All My Children in 1979,
for which he was twice nominated for an Emmy. Probably the
role for which he is best remembered, Louis played the character
periodically until 1995. He recorded a spin-off CD based around
the character, titled No One Cares About Langley, which
incorporated material from his successful cabaret act.
In 1993, Louis Edmonds underwent successful treatment for
throat cancer, entering retirement soon afterwards. Thereafter
he continued to make appearances at the annual Dark Shadows
Festivals, along with occasional appearances on All My
Children. In 1997, he appeared in the independent film
Next Year in Jerusalem, which would be his final role.
Despite of bouts of pneumonia and illness, he continued to
lead an active life at his beloved Rookery, devoting himself
to his garden. He also collaborated with writer Craig Hamrick
on a 1996 biography, Big Lou.
Louis Edmonds died of respiratory failure on March 3, 2001.
Dark Shadows cast members Jonathan
Frid, Marie Wallace and Diana
Millay attended his funeral. His ashes are buried in
the gardens of the Rookery where he spent so much of his
life.
Visit
the Articles
and Features section to read an exclusive interview with
Louis Edmonds
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