Joel Crothers

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Joel Crothers (January 28, 1941 â?? November 6, 1985) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He was well known for his soap opera roles, among them his 8 year turn as Miles Cavanaugh on The Edge of Night.

Joel first developed an interest in acting at the age of 9. As a joke, he auditioned under a false name for an episode of the religious anthology series Lamp Unto My Feet, for which his father was a production supervisor. By the age of 12 he was appearing on Broadway in The Remarkable Mr. Penny Packer opposite Burgess Meredith.

Joel took on many television roles throughout the 1950s and 60s while also managing to graduate Phi Betta Kappa from Harvard in 1962. He returned to Broadway opposite Joan Van Ark in Barefoot in the Park in 1966, at the same time taking on the role of fisherman Joe Haskell on the new ABC soap opera Dark Shadows.

Joel continued on Dark Shadows in the roles of Joe and Lt. Nathan Forbes until 1969. After both characters had been written out, he moved on to a role on The Secret Storm until 1971, and then a nearly 5-year stint on Somerset.

In 1977 Joel took on his longest running role as Dr. Miles Cavanaugh on The Edge of Night. He would continue the role until the finale of the series in 1984 and was twice nominated for daytime Emmy awards.

In the early 1980s Joel had taken the part of Ed in the ground-breaking off-Broadway show Torch Song Trilogy. He was, at the time, the best known member of the cast, though his co-stars Harvey Fierstein, Estelle Getty, and Matthew Broderick would all go on to great acclaim. Joel left before the show transferred to Broadway.

In 1985 Joel played his last roles, as twin brothers Jerry Cooper and Jack Lee, on Santa Barbara. He was by then growing very ill and, at the age of 44, he succumbed to AIDS-related complications.

Though Joel had been openly gay among co-stars and others in the entertainment industry, he was closeted publicly and was even engaged to his good friend, actress Veleka Gray, at the time of his death.


A newspaper clipping about Joel's
performance in a 1957 production of the
play Easter.


Joel in the 1980s.

[TIMB1967]

Another great actor taken too soon. Loved his role on Dark Shadows as well...He was definately dreamy to look at and not a bad actor. Too bad the play he was in was never filmed...the one with him in it I mean. I know there is a film-version out now on DVD.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Joel was a really talented guy and quite handsome, at first in a clean-cut, all American kinda way, and later in a more rugged, Tom Selleck (to whom he was often compared) kinda way.
According to what I can find on Joel, he actually only ever had one film role, a tiny, technically uncredited part in the 1968 Mary Tyler Moore film What's So Bad About Feeling Good? Too bad he didn't do more films, but maybe it was a career choice.

[TIMB1967]

Wow..never knew he had done any film..Seems he was quite successful in TV. I never got to see any of the soaps he was in except Dark Shadows...He definately had a charm to him and I thought a very sexy voice to go along with the rest of the package.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Here's a clip from Edge of Night with Joel in the role of Dr. Miles Cavanaugh...good old fashioned soap opera fun.

Also, there's this slideshow tribute to Joel...check out this vidmakers channel, as she makes tons of slideshow tributes to all of the DS cast and you'll find lots of the other hotties from the show sprinkled throughout them...

[TIMB1967]

LOl...think I just posted about these tributes in Don Briscoe's thread..glad I'm not the only one enjoying them..and thank you very much for the link of Joel..I will check that out too..

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

LOl...think I just posted about these tributes in Don Briscoe's thread..glad I'm not the only one enjoying them..and thank you very much for the link of Joel..I will check that out too..

Ha, yeah, those are the same tributes! They're great because of all the rare backstage photos, and the ones of the stars meeting the fans outside of the set.

Had to pass on a favorite anecdote about Joel from his DS costar Kathryn Leigh Scott (Maggie Evans):

It was apparently fairly early in the show's run, but after their characters had started dating. She mentioned to Joel one day at the end of a week that she was flying to Europe that afternoon to visit her boyfriend who was working overseas as a photographer.
That evening, as Kay was finishing packing, she answered a knock at her apartment door and found Joel there, suitcase in hand. He had decided to go with her! So they went and they got on the plane. Along comes a stewardess who looks at them, does a double-take, and says "What?! Joe and Maggie running away together?!" Ah, the power of soap operas over the human mind.

Also meant to add this link to footage of the one Dark Shadows convention Joel ever attended in the early 1980s. It's a bit grainy and rough, but it's an interesting look at Joel and the fandom.

[TIMB1967]

That was an excellent clip of Joel at the DS convention...he seemed like a really nice guy..and also love Kathryn Leigh Scott..her character was great and she is a beautiful lady!

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

That was an excellent clip of Joel at the DS convention...he seemed like a really nice guy..and also love Kathryn Leigh Scott..her character was great and she is a beautiful lady!

Every story I've heard points to Joel being an incredibly nice guy. His death (along with that of Grayson Hall around the same time) was actually what inspired Kathryn Leigh Scott to write her first book about her memories of working on Dark Shadows, which in turn led to her starting Pomegranate Press (they publish a ton of books on Dark Shadows, as well as other entertainment related subjects). Kathryn's usually at the conventions every year, and all the fans say she's very gracious and sweet. If I ever get to go, I hope I get to meet her.

[TIMB1967]

I would love to meet her too!

[Linnie]

Here's a clip from Edge of Night with Joel in the role of Dr. Miles Cavanaugh...good old fashioned soap opera fun.

The other actor in this clip, Wade Nichols (who acted and sang professionally as "Dennis Parker" which is why I had a spot of trouble tracking down his IMDB), also died of AIDS, January 28, 1985, nine months before Joel. I remember, one could see the both of them becoming rather more gaunt as the months went by, and of course, being naive in those days, wondering why, until their untimely deaths were reported.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

The other actor in this clip, Wade Nichols (who acted and sang professionally as "Dennis Parker" which is why I had a spot of trouble tracking down his IMDB), also died of AIDS, January 28, 1985, nine months before Joel. I remember, one could see the both of them becoming rather more gaunt as the months went by, and of course, being naive in those days, wondering why, until their untimely deaths were reported.

I knew that Wade (AKA Dennis) had died around the same time as Joel did, but I hadn't realized that it was such a relatively short period of months.
Sad, really...very sad.

[STsFirstmate]

I don't know why but I think he looks a bit like Will Arnett of Arrested Devlopment and 30 Rock if Will had more hair and a porn star mustache.
Hey I lived in Ptown at the height of the Aid's epidemic pre-cocktail and there were Saturdays when I went to as many as four memorial services, one right after the other.
Lots of lovely young people lost to us.

[TIMB1967]

Joel behind-the-scenes at the Dark Shadows studio (another one of those lovely shots the fans snapped)



What's with the tiger? I dunno. I'm not sure I wanna know.

Nvr_sk_to_tll, this photo did not come out or perhaps it's just my computer blocking the image for some reason. Could I trouble you to repost this one please? Tim

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Nvr_sk_to_tll, this photo did not come out or perhaps it's just my computer blocking the image for some reason. Could I trouble you to repost this one please? Tim

I noticed a couple of pix had gone by the wayside, lately...here ya go!

[TIMB1967]

I noticed a couple of pix had gone by the wayside, lately...here ya go!

I like this one of Joel...he was a very handsome man as well. Thank you for reposting it.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

A couple more pictures of Joel...

On the Dark Shadows Collinwood drawing room set and in his later soap opera days looking rather athletic...

[TIMB1967]

RIP Joel...Nov. 6 was the anniversry date..I didn't keep up like I wanted to..

[NewYorkDoll]

The other actor in this clip, Wade Nichols (who acted and sang professionally as "Dennis Parker" which is why I had a spot of trouble tracking down his IMDB), also died of AIDS, January 28, 1985, nine months before Joel. I remember, one could see the both of them becoming rather more gaunt as the months went by, and of course, being naive in those days, wondering why, until their untimely deaths were reported.

dennis parker/wade nichols disco



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN0hlI3zizM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujbSk...eature=related

RIP, loved both these guys on the soaps but these vids of wade/dennis are HILARIOUS.

[VeuveClicquotNJ]

Wade Nichols had an *interesting* early film career

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Nichols


VCNJ~

[Reecy]

I get sad when I see Joel Crothers. He was so handsome on Dark Shadows. So sad he died of Aids.

[TIMB1967]

I get sad when I see Joel Crothers. He was so handsome on Dark Shadows. So sad he died of Aids.

I feel the same way. He was a pretty good fit for that role and he was a most handsome man and something about his voice...very sexy and soft-spoken.

[TIMB1967]

Nothing new to add unfortunately. It just makes me sad when some of the threads sink down several pages. Still trying to watch Dark Shadows all the way through some some new episodes with Joel in them for me..

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Just thought I'd post a bit of ephemera...This is one of the 1968 Dark Shadows bubble gum trading cards...it features Joel as his 1795-era character, Lieutenant Nathan Forbes, with the late Joan Bennett as Naomi Collins. (The card is "autographed" by Joan's character)

[cloudddae]

Here's a clip from Edge of Night with Joel in the role of Dr. Miles Cavanaugh...good old fashioned soap opera fun.

Also, there's this slideshow tribute to Joel...check out this vidmakers channel, as she makes tons of slideshow tributes to all of the DS cast and you'll find lots of the other hotties from the show sprinkled throughout them...

He did look like Tom Selleck in this clip.
Too funny, I saw the wall move when he fell into it... LOL, shades of Dark Shadows.

I loved him best in his Lt. Forbes roll. Dark Shadows is one of my fave old shows.

[ROBERT63]

I remember Joel as Miles Cavanaugh his first wife Denise was played by Holland Taylor who plays the mother of Charlie Sheen [before he was fired]and Jon Cryer on Two and a half Men. Miles fell in love with Nicole one of the soaps heroines Holland Taylor's evil character Denise found out she was dying and tried to frame Miles for her murder so Nicole would never have her husband. I was real young when this show was on. was Veleka Gray Joel's beard? or was he bisexual?

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

It's generally believed today that Joel was gay but extremely conflicted about it, though bisexuality isn't out of the question. Veleka was his only real major acknowledged "romantic" relationship with a woman.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

I loved him best in his Lt. Forbes roll. Dark Shadows is one of my fave old shows.

Hey, cloudddae, these popped up on a Facebook friend's albums today, and since I know how you like Lt. Forbes, thought I'd drop them over for you.

[Shannon]

Just thought I'd post a bit of ephemera...This is one of the 1968 Dark Shadows bubble gum trading cards...it features Joel as his 1795-era character, Lieutenant Nathan Forbes, with the late Joan Bennett as Naomi Collins. (The card is "autographed" by Joan's character)

This is hard for me to look at, I had so many DS cards along with original Wacky Packs all in the same book and the book is missing. Probably over $1000 worth of cards and they could be destroyed.
BTW Joel looks alot like one of my old boyfriends, I don't know how I got such lookers.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

This is hard for me to look at, I had so many DS cards along with original Wacky Packs all in the same book and the book is missing. Probably over $1000 worth of cards and they could be destroyed.
BTW Joel looks alot like one of my old boyfriends, I don't know how I got such lookers.

Hey, I don't know how many times I've heard from people lamenting their lost or stolen collections of the old bubblegum cards. They are indeed worth quite a bit, but that's when anyone's paying attention. It's said that, with care a deliberation, a full set can be got on eBay for $100, give or take a few dollars.
You had a boyfriend who looked like Joel? Lucky! (at least in the looks department, since I don't know what your BF was like as a person)

[cloudddae]

Hey, cloudddae, these popped up on a Facebook friend's albums today, and since I know how you like Lt. Forbes, thought I'd drop them over for you.

Thank you, thats really nice of you! I`ve been watching my DS Vids since the subject came up. Husband wonders how I can watch DS again without getting bored with it.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Thank you, thats really nice of you! I`ve been watching my DS Vids since the subject came up. Husband wonders how I can watch DS again without getting bored with it.

No prob. I'm actually friends with "Lt. Forbes" on Facebook (I am the dork of the WORLD! Friends with a bunch of fictional characters!) and so I get a lot of good screencaps of him coming along the pipe...
I say, if you like a show/movie/whatever enough, you can watch it again and again and again without any problem at all. And Dark Shadows is ALWAYS worth a rewatch.

[cloudddae]

So true! I was thinking of getting a few screen shots... Small world. LOL!

[NOVSTORM]

It's generally believed today that Joel was gay but extremely conflicted about it, though bisexuality isn't out of the question. Veleka was his only real major acknowledged "romantic" relationship with a woman.

Did she ever get AIDS?

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Did she ever get AIDS?

There's no record of Veleka contracting HIV, another count toward her probably simply being a "beard" for Joel. Of course, she's also rarely worked as an actress since 1984; apparently as of a few years ago, she had moved to Louisiana and is teaching acting.

[ROBERT63]

There's no record of Veleka contracting HIV, another count toward her probably simply being a "beard" for Joel. Of course, she's also rarely worked as an actress since 1984; apparently as of a few years ago, she had moved to Louisiana and is teaching acting.

I remember her on As The World Turns' she played the original nurse Lyla Montgomery, her daughter Cricket was played by Lisa Loring who as a child played Wednesday Addams in the original Addams Family in the 60's. then Veleka was suddenly replaced in the role of Lyla [by actress Anne Sward]. Veleka had an advice column in Soap Opera Digest I think . after she left ATWT I never heard anything about her, I recall reading in the late 70's or early 80's that Veleka fell in love with Joel Crothers.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

I remember her on As The World Turns' she played the original nurse Lyla Montgomery, her daughter Cricket was played by Lisa Loring who as a child played Wednesday Addams in the original Addams Family in the 60's. then Veleka was suddenly replaced in the role of Lyla [by actress Anne Sward]. Veleka had an advice column in Soap Opera Digest I think . after she left ATWT I never heard anything about her, I recall reading in the late 70's or early 80's that Veleka fell in love with Joel Crothers.

Great info. Not sure why Veleka left ATWT so abruptly (that was in about 1980, according to records) but I always kind of thought that she stopped working in '84 because of her engagement to, or possibly to care for, Joel. I believe he was already becoming seriously ill then, though he worked for a time in 1985, the year he died. Here's a (French dubbed) clip of "Santa Barbara" from 1985. Joel shows up around 3:50, and to me he looks a bit, well, aged, as if the illness is beginning to take hold. Could be just because of hindsight, though.

[Shannon]

You had a boyfriend who looked like Joel? Lucky! (at least in the looks department, since I don't know what your BF was like as a person)

Ha, we had our fun for one summer. He was nice but we didn't have too much in common. I thoght of him as arm candy and he said in so many words the same of me.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

You had a boyfriend who looked like Joel? Lucky! (at least in the looks department, since I don't know what your BF was like as a person)

Ha, we had our fun for one summer. He was nice but we didn't have too much in common. I thoght of him as arm candy and he said in so many words the same of me.

So Shannon...is honesty the best policy after all?

Anyhow, back to Joel...a few more pix...Joel as Lt. Nathan Forbes on "Dark Shadows", as Joe Haskell on "Dark Shadows" (looking rather unshaven, this was either around the time Maggie was in the asylum after escaping from the vampire or around the time Joe was going crazy after learning his cousin was a werewolf), a nice shot with his shirt off, with Barbara Rodell on "The Secret Storm," and a publicity shot with Harvey Fierstein and Matthew Broderick for the off-Broadway production of "Torch Song Trilogy."

[Shannon]

So Shannon...is honesty the best policy after all?

Anyhow, back to Joel...a few more pix...Joel as Lt. Nathan Forbes on "Dark Shadows", as Joe Haskell on "Dark Shadows" (looking rather unshaven, this was either around the time Maggie was in the asylum after escaping from the vampire or around the time Joe was going crazy after learning his cousin was a werewolf), a nice shot with his shirt off, with Barbara Rodell on "The Secret Storm," and a publicity shot with Harvey Fierstein and Matthew Broderick for the off-Broadway production of "Torch Song Trilogy."

Well, I believe so, not sure what your driving at right there.
Anyway nice pics!

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Well, I believe so, not sure what your driving at right there.
Anyway nice pics!

Knew that comment wouldn't be taken right...I just meant, since the guy outright told you that he thought of you as arm candy...well, at least he was honest, if in one of the least polite ways possible.