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{{short description|American film director}}
{{for|the Canadian mayor|Dan Curtis (politician)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Dan Curtis
| image        =Dan Curtis.JPG
| imagesize    =
| caption      =
| birth_name   = Daniel Mayer Cherkoss<ref name="obit">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/arts/television/dan-curtis-producer-of-winds-of-war-tv-series-dies-at-78.html |title=Dan Curtis, Producer of 'Winds of War' TV Series, Dies at 78 |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=2006-03-29 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2017-10-23}}</ref>
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1927|8|12}}
| birth_place  = [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]], U.S.
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2006|3|27|1927|8|12}}
| death_place  = [[Brentwood, California]], U.S.
| years_active =
| occupation = Director, screenwriter, producer
| spouse       = {{marriage|Norma Mae Klein|1952|2006}} (her death)
| children     = 3
| 
}}

'''Daniel Mayer Cherkoss''' (August 12, 1927 – March 27, 2006<ref name="obit"/>), known by his [[pen name]] '''Dan Curtis''', was an American television and film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was best known as the creator of the gothic [[soap opera]] ''[[Dark Shadows]]'' (1966–71), and for directing the epic [[World War II]] [[miniseries]] ''[[The Winds of War (miniseries)|The Winds of War]]'' (1983) and ''[[War and Remembrance (TV miniseries)|War and Remembrance]]'' (1988).<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/arts/television/29curtis.html?_r=0 The New York Times, March 29, 2006: ''Dan Curtis, Producer of 'Winds of War' TV Series, Dies at 78''] Linked 2013-08-27</ref><ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-03-27-dan-curtis-obit_x.htm USA Today, March 27, 2006: ''TV producer Dan Curtis dies at 78''] Linked 2013-08-27</ref><ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=17265555#sthash.Bu0NP8fr.dpbs Los Angeles Times, March 29, 2006: ''Dan Curtis, Obituary''] Linked 2013-08-27</ref><ref>[http://www.emmys.tv/news/2006/director-producer-dan-curtis-passes The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, March 29, 2006: ''Director-Producer Dan Curtis Passes'']{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Linked 2013-08-27</ref>

Curtis’ is also known to [[horror film]] fans for his work on several horror-themed television series and films, including ''[[The Night Stalker (1972 film)|The Night Stalker]]'' (1972) and its sequel  ''[[The Night Strangler (film)|The Night Strangler]]'' (1973), ''[[Bram Stoker's Dracula (1974 film)|Bram Stoker's Dracula]]'' (1974) and ''[[Trilogy of Terror]]'' (1975).<ref>[http://www.collinwood.net/curtis/curtis-obit.htm Dark Shadows Journal Online: ''Remembering Dan Curtis''] Linked 2013-08-27</ref><ref>[http://www.fangirlmag.com/articles/memories-dan-curtis/ Fangirl Magazine: ''Memories: Dan Curtis''] Linked 2013-08-27</ref> He also directed three feature films – the ''Dark Shadows'' spinoffs ''[[House of Dark Shadows]]'' (1970) and ''[[Night of Dark Shadows]]'' (1971), and the supernatural horror ''[[Burnt Offerings (film)|Burnt Offerings]]'' (1976).

Curtis was nominated for five [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], winning [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series|Outstanding Limited Series]] for ''War and Remembrance'' at the [[41st Primetime Emmy Awards]], for which he also won the [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film|Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials]] at the [[42nd Directors Guild of America Awards]].

==Career==
In 1966, Dan Curtis created the [[Gothic fiction|gothic]] [[soap opera]] ''[[Dark Shadows]]'', which became a cult hit and ran until 1971. Curtis's series of macabre films include ''[[House of Dark Shadows]]'', ''[[Night of Dark Shadows]]'', ''[[The Night Stalker (1972 film)|The Night Stalker]]'' (for many years holding the record ratings of the most-watched TV movie—and inspired the series ''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]''), ''[[Intruders (miniseries)|Intruders]]'', ''[[The Night Strangler (film)|The Night Strangler]]'', ''[[Burnt Offerings (film)|Burnt Offerings]]'', ''[[Trilogy of Terror]]'' and its belated sequel ''[[Trilogy of Terror II]]'', ''[[The Norliss Tapes]]'' (a 1973 pilot for an unproduced series starring [[Roy Thinnes]]), ''[[Curse of the Black Widow]]'', ''[[Dead of Night (1977 film)|Dead of Night]]'', and ''[[Scream of the Wolf]]''. He worked frequently with sci-fi/horror writers [[Richard Matheson]] and [[William F. Nolan]]. Curtis was producer and/or director of several television adaptations of classic horror texts including ''[[The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968 film)|The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]]'' (1968), ''[[Frankenstein (1973 film)|Frankenstein]]'' (1973), ''[[Adaptations of The Picture of Dorian Gray#Film and television|The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'' (1973), ''[[Bram Stoker's Dracula (1973 film)|Dracula]]'' (1974), and ''[[The Turn of the Screw (1974 film)|The Turn of the Screw]]'' (1974).

In 1978, Curtis made a departure from his usual macabre offerings, when he wrote, produced, and directed the sentimental [[NBC]] television film ''[[When Every Day Was the Fourth of July]]''.  Although fictionalized, the film was semi-autobiographical, based on his childhood growing up in [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]], in the 1930s.  The film was originally intended to be a pilot for a potential series, but when the series was not picked up by the NBC network, Curtis produced and directed the 1980 television movie sequel ''[[The Long Days of Summer]]'', this time airing on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network. His 1983 miniseries ''[[The Winds of War (miniseries)|The Winds of War]]'', the most watched miniseries in American television history, was nominated for four [[Emmy Awards]] at the [[35th Primetime Emmy Awards]].  

Curtis also directed the ''[[War and Remembrance (TV miniseries)|War and Remembrance]]'' miniseries, which was the continuation of ''The Winds of War''. The program was 30 hours in length, split into two segments. Chapters I-VII aired in November 1988. The remaining five parts, Chapters VIII-XII, were billed as "The Final Chapter", and aired in May 1989. The miniseries received 15 Emmy Award nominations at the [[41st Primetime Emmy Awards]], including for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Best Actor]] ([[John Gielgud]]), [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Best Actress]] ([[Jane Seymour (British actress)|Jane Seymour]]), [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Supporting Actor]] ([[Barry Bostwick]]), and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Supporting Actress]] ([[Polly Bergen]]). The show won Emmys for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series|Best Miniseries]], [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects|Special Effects]], and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Single-Camera Production Editing]]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' profiled Curtis while in post-production on ''War and Remembrance''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/06/arts/television-waging-wouk-s-war-and-remembrance.html?login=email&pagewanted=all |title=TELEVISION; Waging Wouk's 'War and Remembrance' |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |date=1988-11-06 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2017-10-23}}</ref>

Curtis's rights to ''Dark Shadows'' remain with his estate, which signed a deal with [[Warner Bros.]] for a new ''[[Dark Shadows (film)|Dark Shadows]]'' movie. The film stars [[Johnny Depp]] as [[Barnabas Collins]], was directed by [[Tim Burton]], and was released in May 2012. After the film's end credits, there is a dedication to Dan Curtis. In 2023, he was inducted into the [[Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards]]' Monster Kid Hall of Fame.<ref name="21st Annual Rondos">{{cite web|url=https://rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/?p=1509|title=Here are the Winners of the (Gasp!) 21st Annual Rondo Hatton Classic Horror awards|website=RondoAward.com|date=May 29, 2023|access-date=May 29, 2023|archive-date=May 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513013610/https://rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/?p=1509|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Born Daniel Cherkoss in [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]], Curtis attended [[Syracuse University]] before becoming a [[syndicated television]] show salesman.<ref name="obit"/>

Curtis died of a brain tumor on March 27, 2006, at his home in [[Brentwood, Los Angeles]], California, twenty days after the death of his wife Norma.
He was survived by two daughters.<ref name="obit"/>

==Filmography==

===As director===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="3" | Functioned as
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-
! width=65 | Director
! width=65 | Writer
! width=65 | Producer
|-
| | 1968-1969
| ''[[Dark Shadows]]''
| yes (20 episodes)
| yes
| yes
| 
|- 
| | 1970
| ''[[House of Dark Shadows]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| | 1971
| ''[[Night of Dark Shadows]]''
| yes
| yes
| yes 
| 
|-
|  rowspan="3"| 1973
| ''[[The Night Strangler (film)|The Night Strangler]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[The Norliss Tapes]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''The Invasion of Carol Enders''
| yes
| no
| yes
| Uncredited
|-
|  rowspan="6"| 1974
| ''[[Scream of the Wolf]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[Bram Stoker's Dracula (1973 film)|Bram Stoker's Dracula]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[Melvin Purvis: G-Man]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[The Turn of the Screw (1974 film)|The Turn of the Screw]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
|-
| ''[[The Wide World of Mystery]]''
| yes (episode: “Nightmare at 43 Hillcrest”)
| yes (2 episodes)
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[The Great Ice Rip-Off]]''
| yes
| no 
| yes
| 
|-
|  rowspan="2"| 1975
| ''[[Trilogy of Terror]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[The Kansas City Massacre]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| | 1976
| ''[[Burnt Offerings (film)|Burnt Offerings]]''
| yes
| yes
| yes
| 
|-
|  rowspan="2"| 1977
| ''[[Dead of Night (1977 film)|Dead of Night]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
| 
|-
| ''[[Curse of the Black Widow]]''
| yes
| no
| yes 
| 
|-
| | 1978
| ''[[When Every Day Was the Fourth of July]]''
| yes
| yes
| yes 
| 
|-
| | 1979
| ''[[The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang]]''
| yes
| no
| no
| 
|-
| | 1980
| ''[[The Long Days of Summer]]''
| yes
| no
| no
| Executive Producer
|-
| | 1983
| ''[[The Winds of War (miniseries)|The Winds of War]]''
| yes
| no
| yes
|
|-
| | 1988
| ''[[War and Remembrance (miniseries)|War and Remembrance]]''
| yes
| yes
| no
| Executive Producer
|-
| | 1992
| ''[[Intruders (miniseries)|Intruders]]''
| yes
| no
| no
| Executive Producer
|-
| | 1993
| ''[[Me and the Kid]]''
| yes
| no
| no
| 
|-
| | 1996
| ''[[Trilogy of Terror II]]''
| yes
| yes
| no
| 
|-
|1998
|''[[The Love Letter (1998 film)|The Love Letter]]''
|yes
|no
|no
|
|-
|  rowspan="2"| 2005
| ''[[Saving Milly]]''
| yes
| no
| no
| 
|-
| ''[[Our Fathers (film)|Our Fathers]]''
| yes
| no
| no
| 
|}

===As producer===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Notes
|-
| 1968 || ''[[The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968 film)|The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]]''||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[The Night Stalker (1972 film)|The Night Stalker]]'' || first [[Kolchak: The Night Stalker|Kolchak]] film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1973 || ''[[Frankenstein (1973 film)|Frankenstein]]'' || also co-writer
|-
| ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'' || an entry in [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s series ''[[ABC Movie of the Week|The Movie of the Week]]''
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Dark Shadows (1991 TV series)|Dark Shadows]]'' ||  re-imagining of the 1966–71 series
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|193303}}

{{Dan Curtis}}
{{Dark Shadows}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardMiniseriesorTVFilm}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Director}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curtis, Dan}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:American television producers]]
[[Category:American television show creators]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:Directors Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain cancer in California]]
[[Category:Artists from Bridgeport, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Film directors from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Film producers from Connecticut]]