LOS ANGELES, March 27 (UPI) -- The Emmy Award-winning director and creator of ABC's hit soap "Dark Shadows," Dan Curtis, died in Los Angeles Monday at age 78.
The cause of death was cancer, Daily Variety reported.
In addition to the gothic afternoon soap, "Dark Shadows," Curtis produced and directed the Emmy-winning TV miniseries "War and Remembrance" and the Golden Globe-winning "The Winds of War."
"Dark Shadows" ran for 1,225 episodes from 1966 to 1971, spawned two feature spinoffs and a 1991 TV remake, Variety said.
The Bridgeport, Conn., native also created ABC's "Challenge Golf" show and "The CBS Match Play Golf Classic."
Curtis produced and directed several TV movies including "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde," "The Night Stalker," "Trilogy of Terror," "The Turn of the Screw" and "Dracula." "Bridgeport: When Every Day Was the Fourth of July" and "The Long Days of Summer" were loosely based on his life, Variety said.
His film credits include "Burnt Offerings," a 1996 horror film starring Karen Black, Oliver Reed and Bette Davis.
He is survived by two daughters.
