The
dedicated Dr. Dave Woodard is a physician practicing at the
Collinsport Hospital. Upon examination and after treating
local residents Willie Loomis and Maggie Evans, he becomes
deeply puzzled by the same strange marks that appeared on
both individuals. As the result of blood specimens, cryptic
clues from a 18th Century benevolent spirit, and uncovering
information from a notebook of a colleague, Dr Woodard's unscientific
suspicions increase to ignite a critical confrontation...
Robert
Gerringer was born on May 12 1926 in New York, New York.
Born Robert, he was usually credited as such, though sometimes
used the more informal Bob both on and off the screen.
His
career as a professional performer started on the stage with
such productions as Danton's Death, Hamlet, Taming of the
Shrew, Tristram, The Long Voyage Home, Much Ado About Nothing,
Julius Caesar, The Beaux Stratagem, Hedda Gabbler, The Glass
Menagerie and Guest of the Nation, for which Robert
won the Obie Award.
Robert
was the primary actor to play Dr. Dave Woodard on Dark
Shadows, and left the show after refusing to cross picket
lines to tape during a technician's strike. He was hastily
replaced with Peter Turgeon for the character's final episodes.
His other daytime drama credits include Another World,
Love of Life, The Guiding Light, The Edge of Night and
Texas.
Robert's
primetime television guest appearances include Armstrong
Circle Theatre, Omnibus, Philco Theatre, Westinghouse Showcase,
The Defenders, The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, Spencer for
Hire and the miniseries The Adams Chronicles, which
was produced by Dark Shadows producer Robert Costello
and featured Nancy Barrett.
Other
television visibility came from Butterball Turkeys and American
Express commercials and the television movies The Ceremony
of Innocence and Billy Budd.
Robert
took part in the New York Shakespeare Festival as well as
many other theatrical turns in The Birthday Party, The
Act of Dining, Arms and the Man, Catsplay, A Delicate Balance,A
Long Day's Journey Into the Night, Plugged In, Juno and the
Paycock, A Doll's House and The War of Roses.
His
Broadway bows include Hide and Seek, Saint Joan, The Comedians,
A Flea in the Ear, Henry VI, Richard III, Pictures in a Hallway,
Waltz of Toreadors, Under Milk Wood and The Andersonville
Trial.
Robert's
credits on the big screen include The Way We Were, King
of the Gypsies, The Sentinel, The Exorcist, Requiem for a
Heavyweight, The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight, The Beat,
Hide in Plain Sight, A Lovely Way to Die, Black Like Me
and Fail-Safe with Dark Shadows co-star Dana
Elcar.
On
November 8, 1989, Robert Gerringer succumed to complications
caused by a stroke.
Biography
written by Vera Marano
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