Daniel Collins (fictional character)

Infobox soap character
name = Daniel Collins
series = Dark Shadows
portrayer = David Henesy (1796),
Louis Edmonds (1840)
first = February 1968
last = January 1971
cause = Died, but returned as a ghost
creator = Dan Curtis and Sam Hall


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nickname =
alias =
gender = Male
born = 1786
death = 1840
age = 10(in 1796), 54 (in 1840)
occupation = Master of Collinwood (1820's-1840)
title =
residence = Unknown New York residence (1786-1795),),
Old House(former Collins Manor) (1795),),
Collinwood (1795-1840)
parents = Theodore (father in original series, deceased),
Constance (mother in original series, deceased)Joshua Collins (father in primetime revival),
Naomi Collins (mother in primetime revival)
siblings = Millicent Collins-Forbes (sister in original series, deceased),
Barnabas Collins (brother in primetime revival, deceased)
Jeremiah Collins (brother in primetime revival, deceased)
Sarah Collins (sister in primetime revival, deceased),
Josette du Pres (sister-in-law in primetime revival, deceased)
spouse = Harriett (1800s- 1830, dissolved by her death)
romances =
children = Quentin Collins (son with Harriett),
Gabriel Collins(son with Harriett, deceased),
Samantha Drew (daughter-in-law, deceased),
Edith(daughter-in-law, deceased)
grandchildren = Tad Collins (grandson, via Quentin),
Geoffrey Collins (grandson, via Gabriel)
grandparents =
aunts/uncles = Abigail Collins (aunt in primetime revival, deceased)
cousins = Joshua Collins (cousin in original series),
Abigail Collins (cousin in original series, deceased),
Naomi Collins (cousin in-law in original series, deceased),
Jeremiah Collins (cousin in original series, deceased)
relatives = Barnabas Collins (first cousin once removed in original series, deceased)
Sarah Collins (first cousin once removed in original series, deceased)),
Millicent Collins (first cousin once removed in primetime revival, deceased),
Josette du Pres (first cousin once removed -in-law in original series, deceased),
Angelique Bouchard(first cousin once removed in-law in original series, deceased)
color = #D8BFD8
color text =

Daniel Collins was the name of a fictional character that appeared on the 1960s ABC daytime soap opera "Dark Shadows". Initially the character was played by child actor David Henesy during a storyline that has become informally known as the "1795 Flashback". In 1970, the character returned (now an adult) for the "1840 Flashback" storyline, this time played by stage actor Louis Edmonds.

Biography

Daniel Collins was born during the latter half of the 18th century in the fictional New England fishing village of Collinsport, Maine. In 1795, his sister Millicent and he arrived at the venerable mansion known as Collinwood where they lived with their extended family. As a child, Daniel developed a close bond with his cousin, Sarah Collins, but was devastated when the young girl died from Pneumonia (In truth, Sarah's illness was actually the result of a spiteful witch known as Angelique (Lara Parker).

As an adult, Daniel married a woman named Harriet and became the patriarch of Collinwood. He had two sons, Quentin and Gabriel. Some time prior to 1840, Harriet died under mysterious circumstances and it was later revealed that Daniel had murdered her.

In late 1840, the Collins family was set upon by the spirit of centuries old warlock named Judah Zachery. Although dead, the head of Judah Zachery contained the warlock's malevolent spirit, and whomever took possession of the head became Judah's unwilling slave. The head passed through several hands but ultimately came into the possession of a seaman named Gerard Stiles (a friend of Quentin Collins). Zachery took complete possession of Stiles and used the younger man’s personality and charm to insinuate his way into the Collins family fortune.

Gerard framed Quentin for two murders and various acts of Satanism and convinced Daniel to alter his will leaving the Collins estate to Gerard rather than Quentin. Daniel's mental stability was greatly traumatized by the event and his health took a turn for the worse. Compounding the ailing Daniel's stress was the appearance of a woman named Valerie Collins. Valerie was in fact the reincarnated witch Angelique who terrorized Collinsport nearly fifty years earlier. Daniel recalled Angelique from his childhood memories and the shock of seeing her still alive and youthful drove him over the edge of sanity.

In the end, it was actually Daniel's second son, Gabriel, who ended his life. Upon learning that the family fortune was to be left to Gerard Stiles, Gabriel assaulted his father inducing a seizure which ultimately claimed his life.

Parallel Time

In 1970, the series writers began a storyline which focused on alternate realities. The character of Barnabas Collins discovered that the entranceway to a specific room at Collinwood led into a parallel dimension where characters and events played out in similar form to their mainstream counterparts. In this parallel time, David Henesy played another character named Daniel Collins.

Revival Series

In 1991 Dan Curtis Productions revived the "Dark Shadows" series as a one-hour night time soap opera for NBC. The series re-imagined the "1795 Flashback" storyline and cast child actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the role of Daniel Collins. Levitt also played Daniel's modern day descendant David Collins throughout the series. This version of Daniel Collins also made cameo appearances in Dark Shadows comic book limited series by Innovation Comics.

ee also

* List of Collins family members

External links

* [http://darkshadows.wikia.com/wiki/Dark_Shadows_Wiki CollinWiki]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0376973/ David Henesy biography at IMDB]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0249500/ Louis Edmonds biography at IMDB]

References

* [http://www.darkshadows.com/main.html Dark Shadows website]