Johnny Depp pays tribute to Jonathan Frid

London: Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp has paid tribute to his ‘Dark Shadows’ predecessor Jonathan Frid, who died last week. Frid, who played vampire Barnabas Collins in the 1960s supernatural TV series, died from natural causes in Ontario, Canada on April 13.

Depp, who takes over Frid`s role in Tim Burton`s upcoming ‘Dark Shadows’ movie revamp, has hailed the late actor as his childhood hero, reported a leading daily. "Jonathan Frid was the reason I used to run home from school to watch Dark Shadows. His elegance and grace was an inspiration then and will continue to remain one forever more. When I had the honour to finally meet him, as he so generously passed the torch of Barnabas to me, he was as elegant and magical as I had always imagined. My deepest condolences to his family and friends. The world has lost a true original," Depp said. Frid filmed a cameo appearance in Burton`s forthcoming adaptation, marking it his final on-screen role. PTI