David Selby
A versatile actor who brought brooding intensity to iconic roles in daytime soaps and prime-time dramas, defining an era of television.
Born 1941 (age 85)·American actor·Birthday: February 5·The Silent Generation
Biography
Born in West Virginia coal country, David Selby's path to acting was unconventional, beginning with a doctorate in theatre before he ever stepped onto a professional set. His breakthrough came not on stage but in the gothic halls of 'Dark Shadows,' where his portrayal of the tormented Quentin Collins made him a household name and a pin-up for a generation. Selby deftly avoided being pigeonholed by that early fame, transitioning to the sun-drenched vineyards of 'Falcon Crest' as the cunning Richard Channing, a role he inhabited for nearly a decade. Beyond the world of soaps, he maintained a steady presence in film and, most passionately, in theatre, often writing his own plays that drew from his Appalachian roots. Selby’s career is a masterclass in longevity, built on a foundation of quiet charisma and a willingness to explore characters with complex, often dark, interior lives.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
David was born in 1941, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1941
#1 Movie
Sergeant York
Best Picture
How Green Was My Valley
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1941Born
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1946Started school
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1954Became a teenager
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Could drive
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1959Could vote
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Turned 21
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1971Turned 30
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 40
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 50
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 60
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 70
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 80
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 85 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the fan-favorite role of Quentin Collins on the cult daytime gothic soap 'Dark Shadows' from 1968 to 1971.
- Starred as the scheming Richard Channing on the prime-time drama 'Falcon Crest' for eight seasons, from 1982 to 1990.
- Authored and performed in multiple stage plays, including 'Lincoln and James' and 'In the Sweet By and By.'
- Had a notable film role as Dr. Gene Seagram in the adventure film 'Raise the Titanic' (1980).
Did You Know?
He holds a Ph.D. in theatre from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Before acting, he worked as a high school teacher and basketball coach.
He is an accomplished playwright, with his work often focusing on historical and regional themes.
His 'Dark Shadows' character, Quentin, inspired a hit song, 'Quentin's Theme,' which became a top-20 single.
“Theatre is about revealing the human condition, not just performing a part.”
