Joe Caldwell, a writer for the original 1960s daytime television series “Dark Shadows,” dies at age 97. Multiple outlets report that Caldwell dies on Monday, July 13, after suffering a stroke. The cause of death is described as a massive stroke, though details beyond that are not provided in the reports. Caldwell is credited as a writer on the show and as a co-creator of its best-known vampire character, Barnabas Collins, who becomes central to the series’ gothic storyline.
The news is confirmed by Bob Issel, a friend of Caldwell and a frequent host of “Dark Shadows” fan events. Issel also shares that Caldwell had recently signed memoirs for him in late June, about three weeks before Caldwell’s death, according to one report. The articles do not add further information about surviving family members or specific memorial arrangements.
