R.I.P.: Ben Cross of Dark Shadows and The Unholy has passed away at 72

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

English actor Ben Cross got into acting early, starting off with roles in grammar school plays, and he kept acting right up until the very end of his life: just ten days after completing his work on the Lionsgate horror film THE DEVIL'S LIGHT, Cross passed away yesterday "after a short illness" at the age of 72.

A graduate of London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he won the Vanbrugh Prize for performance of the year, Cross began working in film and television in the '70s. He made his feature film acting debut in 1977's A BRIDGE TOO FAR, and may be best known for playing Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film CHARIOTS OF FIRE, which won Best Picture. He earned over 100 screen acting credits over the course of his career, and genre fans may recognize him from his roles in episodes of The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, Poltergeist: The Legacy, and 12 Monkeys; and films including THE UNHOLY, NIGHTLIFE, HELLFIRE, TEMPTRESS, TURBULENCE, THE INVADER, EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, S.S. DOOMTROOPER, WICKED LITTLE THINGS, SPECIES: THE AWAKENING, and the 2009 STAR TREK.

There's also the time Cross played a genre icon. When NBC attempted to revive the TV show Dark Shadows in 1991, Cross took over the role of vampire Barnabas Collins, who had been played by Jonathan Frid during the show's 1966 – 1971 run. Unfortunately, due to mismarketing and bad timing (the heavily televised Gulf War was going on at the same time), Cross's run as the iconic character only lasted twelve episodes before the new Dark Shadows was cancelled.

Cross is survived by his wife, his two children, and three grandchildren. When confirming his passing to Deadline, his family released the following statement: 

Today the world has lost a talent, but our family has lost a beloved husband, dad, and grandpa. He was a born showman and entertainer, a walking encyclopedia of music who could sing anything. He was a man who taught us to embrace our feelings, whatever they may be. We are grateful for the time we had with him. His spirit lives on in our hearts through his words, his music, and the love that we still feel. If you would like to remember him, please make a donation to Save the Children. As he would say, support musicians, love each other, do only good."

Our sincere condolences go out to Cross's family, friends, and fans.