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"(On DS), I'm kind of a 007 of the underworld. I have the territory east of the Rockies which includes Collinsport, and we're trying to organize all the witches in the area and assorted devils and what have you, and create a master race, which of course Adam will be the father of." -- Humbert Allen Astredo,
on The Ron Barry Show (radio), 1968 | Humbert Allen Astredo
Dark Shadows Characters:
Nicholas Blair, Evan Hanley, Charles Dawson Appeared in: 99 episodes First episode: # 521, June 25, 1968 Last episode: # 1196, January 25, 1971 Biography:
Humbert Allen Astredo's suave manner and polished good looks masked the fact that he played one of the most evil characters on Dark Shadows. His Nicholas Blair was a warlock working in league with Satan to conquer the world. He menaced Maggie and Barnabas, and even kept the powerful Angelique in check. The actor who brought life to this super baddie was born in Pasadena, California, and spent much of his childhood in San Francisco. Part of a family of restaurateurs, Humbert had no interest in joining the family business at the Union Street Astredo's Exchange. Instead, he considered working as either a lawyer or an electrical engineer, but eventually in the early 1960s, he took to the stage, appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in Faust. In 1965 he appeared at the New York Shakespeare Festival, followed in 1966 with roles for the Repertory Theatre of New Orleans. In 1968, he joined the Dark Shadows cast. In 1970, he split his time between DS and Another World, where he played an interior designer. Other soap work included roles on Edge of Night, One Life to Live and For Richer, for Poorer. Humbert's later work was primarily on the stage, including some Broadway roles. His stage appearances include An Evening with Richard Nixon, The Entertainer, Dracula and Les Blancs, and The Little Foxes with Elizabeth Taylor. He retired from acting in the mid-1980s, and now lives in Connecticut, where he pursues his passion for sailing. Career Highlights:
Daytime TV: Loving (James Preston, 1983), Edge of Night (Mayor Finley, 1972, 1980), Texas (hospital administrator, 1980), Guiding Light (European doctor, 1980), Love of Life (Dr. Applegate, 1979), One Life to Live (Bruno Weston, 1979), Another World (Joe Bruno), Somerset (1970). Primetime TV: Hallmark Hall of Fame. TV Commercials: Jergen's Lotion, Favor Furniture Wax, Virginia Slims, Volkswagen, Lux, Coca-Cola, Palmolive, Blatz Beer, Metropolitan Life, Beef-Steak Rye Bread, Static After Shave. Film: House of Dark Shadows (Doctor, 1970). Stage: Hedda Gabler (Judge Brack, Long Island, 1990), Taming of the Shrew (Baptista, Syracuse, NY, 1989), Inherit the Wind (Matt Brady, Salt Lake City, 1989), A Walk in the Woods (Andre, Portland, Mass, 1988), Lulu (Dr. Goll, 1988), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Big Daddy, 1988), Diary of a Scoundrel (Col. Kruitisky, Boston, 1987), The End of the World (Stone, Atlanta, 1987), Epic Proportions (D.W. DeWitt, NYC, 1986), The Orestia (Agamemnon, NJ, 1986), December 7 (NYC, 1986), You Never Know (Herr Baltin, CT, 1984-85), Breakfast Conversations in Miami (1984), The Jail Diary of Albee Sachs (Capt. Rossoun, 1979), Grand Magic (1979), Big and Little (1979), Inherit the Wind (1978), The Entertainer (Archie Rice, 1975), Uncle Vanya (1975, Madison, NJ), The Rehearsal (1969, Boston), A Place For Polly (1969, Philadelphia), Arms and the Man (Major Sergius Saranoff, 1967), Romeo and Juliet (1966-67, New Orleans), The Railroads, The Taming of the Shrew, Fragments (Jax), Cyrano, A Flea in Her Ear. New York Shakespeare Festival, 1965-66: Coriolanus (Patrician), Troilus and Cressida (Paris). Broadway: The Little Foxes (William Marshall-also in London), Murderous Angels (1972), Les Blancs (Dr. Willy DeKoven, 1971), Equus (1975), An Evening with Richard Nixon. Tour: Dracula (Van Helsing, 1984-85), Equus (Frank Strang, 1976). Misc: Most Promising New Actor on Broadway for Les Blancs, Walter Kerr N.Y. Critics Poll (1971). Operated own theatre (Los Angeles Repertory Company, 1963-64). (Note: Career Highlights primarily supplied by The Dark Shadows Festival. See also the Internet Movie Database and The Broadway Database for futher information.) 
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