Actor David Selby, highly regarded for his villainous work on both daytime and nighttime soap classics, was born in Morgantown, West Virginia. He attended West Virginia University and graduated with both B.S. and M.A. degrees from West Virginia University, then earned a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Following many years on the stock stage to his credit. David continues to perform on stage as well. He portrayed Abraham Lincoln in his own play "Lincoln and James" in 1997 and 1998, and penned the play "Final Assault" which premiered in 2003. He is a staple player in radio drama with the L.A. Theatre Works these days. David and longtime wife Chip have three children.
Named his son, Jamison Selby , after a character on Dark Shadows.
David Selby holds a PhD. in Theater from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Acted for Theatre West Virginias Honey in the Rock in 1961.
Played the only man, other than her husband, to kiss Olivia Walton during the entire run of The Waltons.
He has written two volumes of poetry "My Mothers Autumn" and "Happenstance." His first book "In and Out of the Shadows" is a career photo retrospective featuring a few of his poems.
Long married (over forty years) to wife Chip, who is also a native West Virginian, they have two daughters and a son, Jamison Selby, who is also an actor. He directed Davids play "Final Assault" in Charleston, West Virginia in 2003. David and Chip ran a summer childrens musical theatre in New York for ten years before moving to Los Angeles.
He is an honorary member of the West Virginia University Creative Arts Centers Advisory Board, has worked with the Governors Honor Academy, and has made many guest appearances around the state of West Virginia. In 1989, he was honored as a distinguished alumnus of West Virginia University, and, in May 1992, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the College of Communications and Fine Arts at Southern Illinois University. He was given the first Life Achievement Award from the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts in 1998, and he received an honorary doctorate from West Virginia University in 2004.
Quentin Collins, his Dark Shadows character, had his own theme song, "Quentins Theme (Shadows of the Night)." Selby provided a spoken recitation of the lyrics on the original Dark Shadows soundtrack album. In the 1980s, he sang the lyrics during an appearance on Joan Rivers late night talk show. On Dark Shadows, the instrumental version was played repeatedly on Quentin Collins gramophone. The song is often played to introduce David Selby during television and radio interviews and during public appearances.
He is among the 2007 inductees into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame, located in the Museum of Radio and Technology in Huntington, West Virginia.
Best known by the public for his roles as Quentin Collins on "Dark Shadows" and as Richard Channing on "Falcon Crest" .
Had turned down the role of Gary Ewing on "Knots Landing" .
His acting mentors were the late Joan Bennett and the late Jane Wyman.
(July 2005) Appeared at the Dark Shadows Hollywood Weekend held at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on July 29-31.
(April 2008) Recording the radio drama "The Highest Tide" in Los Angeles for BBC Radio.
(April 2010) Participating in panel discussion at Smithsonians National Museum of American History - "From Man to Myth: Abraham Lincoln Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow"
(May 2004) Delivering the commencement address and receiving an honorary doctorate from West Virginia University.
(February 2003) Helping cast in the play he wrote - Final Assault.
(August 2006) Appeared at the "Dark Shadows" 40th Anniversary Celebration held at the Brooklyn Marriott.
(September 2008) Made several appearances at bookstores on the East Coast to promote his novel, Lincolns Better Angel.
(February 2009) Portraying Abraham Lincoln at Fords Theatre in "The Heavens Are Hung in Black"
A Celebration of Stories presented by Speaking of Stories at the Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, California.
(October 2005) Making appearances in West Virginia to promote his latest book, A Better Place.
(February 2005) Begins filming End Game in late February in Spokane, Washington. Will be appearing in Spokane at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers Eastside on March 3.
(September 2007) Photographed arriving at HBOs Emmy after-party with wife Chip.
(October 2007) Making personal appearances in Canton, Ohio to promote a production of Final Assault, a play he wrote, at the Players Guild Theatre.
Appearing at the "Dark Shadows" Festival at the Burbank Airport Marriott to present his novel, "Lincolns Better Angel."
(November 2004) Filming scenes for the SCI FI Channel movie Black Hole on location in St. Louis, Missouri.
(September 2006) Filming a recurring role as Arthur on the upcoming HBO series "Tell Me You Love Me."
(January 2010) Filming scenes for "Social Network" in Los Angeles.
(July 2010) Dark Shadows Festivals Dark Shadows in the Sun cast reunion and fan convention at the Burbank Airport Marriott in California.
(November 2003) On location in Springfield, Missouri, filming role in upcoming film with working title "Larva."
(June 2005) Appeared at Barnes & Noble bookstores in North Miami and Orlando to read from and sign copies of My Mothers Autumn, his collection of poems dealing with the loss of his mother.
(June 2008) Appearing in the LA Theatre Works presentation of Tennessee Williams "Summer and Smoke."
(May 2006) Reprised his Dark Shadows role of Quentin Collins in four new CD Dark Shadows audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions.
(June 2010) FestivALL, a 10-day-long annual event held in the city of Charleston, West Virginia, featuring music, theater, dance, visual art and family entertainment. David Selby was among the West Virginia writers presenting readings at an event titled In Our Own Words. The Charleston Stage Company presented a staged reading of David Selbys latest play, An Appalachia Tragedy.
(October 2006) Appeared in costume as Quentin Collins to recite the words to "Quentins Theme" at the Dark Shadows 40th Anniversary Haunted Halloween Party at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.
(April 2005) Filming scenes for motion picture "Unknown."
(June 2011) Washington, DC, USA: Participating in Fords Theatre Society Gala
Credits both Joan Bennett and Jane Wyman as his favorite acting mentors/best friends.
Second to Lorenzo Lamas for total on-screen appearances in "Falcon Crest", appearing in 209 episodes (Jane Wymans actual on-screen appearances was 208 episodes).
I think family is very important in West Virginia and has long been so,because the mountains made travel difficult in the past, and family,members had to depend on each other.
[When "Tell Me You Love Me" (2007) was expecting to be canceled]:,But I had no idea that they were going to pull the plug so quickly.
I did a lot of personal appearances because I was under contract to ABC.
[on his "Falcon Crest" (1981) character]: Richard Channing is a,wonderful character. He was a strong character. He could go out of,various situations.
[When responded about how he got along well with the,"Falcon Crest" (1981) cast, esp. Jane Wyman, who played Angela,Channing]: All of the people. I enjoyed working with all of them. Jane,Wyman, Jane was wonderful,. . . Susan Sullivan, so many of the people. . .
and I got to play with so many, like Kim Novak, some of the old stars,Lana Turner, Gina Lollobrigida, Leslie Caron. It was quite wonderful.
[Of his on- and off-screen chemistry with the,"Falcon Crest" (1981) stars]: My memories of that, you know, I,loved Jane Wyman, Susan Sullivan, Margaret Ladd. I talked to Lorenzo,Lamas about three months ago on the phone; he was getting ready to do,another series, as I recall.
