David Selby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Selby
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Selby in 2011
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| Born |
David Lynn Selby
February 5, 1941 |
| Education | West Virginia University (Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts) Southern Illinois University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Actor, writer |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Claudeis “Chip” Newman
(m. 1963) |
| Children | 3 |
David Lynn Selby (born February 5, 1941) is an American actor and writer who has appeared in movies, on television, and in stage plays. He is famous for playing the werewolf Quentin Collins in the classic TV soap opera Dark Shadows and the powerful Richard Channing in the popular nighttime drama Falcon Crest.
Selby has also acted in many other shows and movies. Some of his well-known roles were in the TV series Flamingo Road and the movie Raise the Titanic.
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Early Life and Education
David Selby was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. His father, Clyde, was a carpenter, and his mother was Sarah. Selby has said he had a happy childhood in West Virginia and still has friends there from his school days. He enjoyed growing up in a place he described as "nurturing and positive."
He went to West Virginia University, where he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree. He later earned a PhD from Southern Illinois University. While still in college, he acted in a play about the Civil War called Honey in the Rock.
Acting Career
Selby has always loved acting on stage the most. His career took off when he joined a national tour of the play The Impossible Years.
Becoming a TV Star in the 1960s and 70s
In 1968, Selby got the role of the werewolf Quentin Collins on the TV show Dark Shadows. He didn't know much about the show at first, but an agent saw him in a play and suggested he audition. The role made him a huge star, especially with teenagers. Fans would wait for him outside the studio, and his picture was on many magazine covers.
After Dark Shadows ended in 1971, he played Quentin again in the movie Night of Dark Shadows. He has also returned to the role in a series of Dark Shadows audio plays that started in 2004.
Throughout the 1970s, Selby acted in many other movies and TV shows. He appeared with the famous singer and actress Barbra Streisand in the 1972 movie Up the Sandbox. He also had roles in TV shows like The Waltons, Police Woman, and Kojak.
Success in the 1980s
In 1981, Selby played a villain on the TV show Flamingo Road. When that show ended, he immediately joined the cast of another hit series, Falcon Crest, in 1982. He played Richard Channing, the secret son of one of the main characters.
His character, Richard, started as a villain but slowly became a hero. By the end of the show, he was the main character. Selby was on Falcon Crest for 209 episodes, from 1982 until it ended in 1990.
Later Career Highlights
Selby has continued to act in movies and on TV. In the 1990s and 2000s, he appeared in films like Dying Young (1991), White Squall (1996), and Surviving Christmas (2004).
He has also played President Abraham Lincoln twice. In 2009, he performed a scene as Lincoln on stage at the famous Ford's Theatre for an event attended by President Barack Obama. He had also played Lincoln in an episode of the TV show Touched by an Angel in 1998.
In 2012, he had a small part in the movie version of Dark Shadows, along with other actors from the original show. That same year, he provided the voice for Commissioner James Gordon in the animated Batman movie, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. More recently, he had a recurring role in the TV series Legion.
Writing
Besides acting, David Selby is also a talented writer. He has written plays, books of poetry, and novels. His book My Shadowed Past is about his experiences working on the show Dark Shadows. Another book, A Better Place, is a memoir about his childhood.
Selected Film and TV Roles
Selby has had a long and successful career with many roles. Here are some of his most notable appearances.
Notable Films
- Night of Dark Shadows (1971) - as Quentin Collins/Charles Collins
- Up the Sandbox (1972) - as Paul Reynolds
- The Super Cops (1974) - as Robert Hantz
- Raise the Titanic (1980) - as Dr. Gene Seagram
- Rich and Famous (1981) - as Doug Blake
- Dying Young (1991) - as Richard Geddes
- White Squall (1996) - as Francis Beaumont
- D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996) - as Dean Buckley
- Surviving Christmas (2004) - as Horace Vangilder
- The Social Network (2010) - as Gage
- Dark Shadows (2012) - as a Party Guest
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2012-2013) - as the voice of Commissioner James Gordon
Notable Television Shows
- Dark Shadows (1968-1971) - as Quentin Collins
- Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977) - as Roger Castle
- Flamingo Road (1981-1982) - as Michael Tyrone
- Falcon Crest (1982-1990) - as Richard Channing
- Touched by an Angel (1998) - as Abraham Lincoln
- Tell Me You Love Me (2007) - as Arthur Foster
- Mad Men (2009) - as Horace Cook, Sr.
- Legion (2017-2018) - as Brubaker
See also
In Spanish: David Selby para niños
