Dan Curtis's net worth is best estimated in the several-million-dollar range at the time of his death in 2006, not the flat $40 million figure some automated biography sites repeat without sourcing. The realistic estimate comes from more than three decades running his own production company, Dan Curtis Productions, and holding creator/executive-producer credit on long-running, heavily syndicated properties -- most notably the gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" and the Emmy-winning World War II miniseries "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance."
Curtis was a television producer, director, and writer, not an actor -- some aggregator sites mislabel him as an actor or confuse him with other people named Curtis. His exact estate value and financial records were never made public.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Daniel Mayer Cherkoss |
| Born | August 12, 1927, Bridgeport, Connecticut |
| Died | March 27, 2006, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California (age 78) |
| Known For | Creator of "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971); director/producer of "The Winds of War" (1983) and "War and Remembrance" (1988-1989); "Trilogy of Terror" (1975) |
| Spouse | Norma Mae Klein, married 1952 until her death in March 2006 |
| Estimated Net Worth | Several million dollars (at death) |
Early Life
Curtis was born Daniel Mayer Cherkoss on August 12, 1927, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He studied sociology at Syracuse University, graduating in 1950, and it was there that he met Norma Mae Klein, whom he married in 1952. After college he worked as a syndicated television show salesman before moving into production, eventually forming his own company. His early break came with the golf program "CBS Match Play Classic," which brought him an Emmy for sports programming years before "Dark Shadows" made him a household name in the industry.
Dark Shadows and TV Career
In 1966, Curtis created "Dark Shadows" for ABC, a daytime gothic soap opera built around vampires, witches, and time travel that became a cult phenomenon and ran until 1971. Its popularity led Curtis to produce two theatrical spin-off films, "House of Dark Shadows" (1970) and "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971), and the show has stayed in syndication and home-video release for decades since. Curtis followed it with a run of well-regarded made-for-TV horror films he produced and directed, including "The Night Stalker" (1972), "Trilogy of Terror" (1975), and "Burnt Offerings" (1976), the last of which won him a Saturn Award for Best Director.
Winds of War and War and Remembrance
Curtis's biggest commercial and creative achievement came with two epic World War II miniseries based on Herman Wouk's novels. "The Winds of War" (1983) became one of the most-watched miniseries in American television history, and Curtis followed it with the 30-hour sequel "War and Remembrance" (1988-1989), reportedly one of the most expensive productions ever made for television at the time. "War and Remembrance" won Curtis a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series and a Directors Guild of America Award for his direction, capping a career that drew five Emmy nominations in total.
His Death in 2006
Curtis died on March 27, 2006, at his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, following a four-month battle with a brain tumor. He was 78. His death came just weeks after that of his wife of 54 years, Norma Mae Klein, who died of heart failure on March 7, 2006. He was survived by daughters Cathy and Tracy; a third daughter, Linda, died in 1975. His final produced work was a pair of 2005 television movies, "Saving Milly" and "Our Fathers."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dan Curtis's net worth?
Best estimated in the several-million-dollar range at the time of his 2006 death, based on decades running his own production company and creator/producer credit on "Dark Shadows" and the "Winds of War" miniseries -- not the unsourced $40 million figure some sites repeat.
Was Dan Curtis an actor?
No. He was a television producer, director, and writer. He did not act in the projects he is known for; some older biography pages incorrectly label him an actor.
What is Dan Curtis best known for?
Creating the gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" (1966-1971) and directing the Emmy-winning World War II miniseries "The Winds of War" (1983) and "War and Remembrance" (1988-1989), plus the classic TV movie "Trilogy of Terror" (1975).
How did Dan Curtis die?
He died of a brain tumor on March 27, 2006, at age 78, after a four-month illness.
Was Dan Curtis married?
Yes, to Norma Mae Klein from 1952 until her death in March 2006, just weeks before his own death.