David Selby, a 6'3" tall, darkly handsome, and seriously-looking individual, is renowned for his villainous roles on both daytime and nighttime soap operas. Born on February 5, 1941, in Morgantown, West Virginia, he pursued higher education at West Virginia University, earning both B.S. and M.A. degrees, and later a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Selby began his stage career in his hometown in 1961, appearing in productions such as "Brigadoon," "Oklahoma!," "Tiger at the Gates," and "Romeo and Juliet" as Mercutio. He went on to perform in repertory and stock productions throughout the decade, including "The Last Days of Lincoln" as Abraham Lincoln, the title role in "Oedipus Rex," "Inherit the Wind," and "The Tempest."
In New York, he appeared in "The Impossible Years" and "Sticks and Bones" in 1967. His breakthrough role came when he was cast as Quentin Collins, a werewolf, on the gothic daytime drama "Dark Shadows" in 1966, earning him heartthrob status and recording two songs during the show's run.
After the series ended, Selby made his film debut in "Night of Dark Shadows" (1971),the second film based on the cult series. He continued to work in film, co-starring with Barbra Streisand in "Up the Sandbox" (1972),and appearing in "The Girl in Blue" (1973) and "The Super Cops" (1974). When his film career didn't take off, he focused on television, appearing in guest roles on "The Waltons," "Police Woman," "Kojak," and "Family," as well as in the acclaimed mini-series "Washington: Behind Closed Doors" (1977).
Selby continued to work in television, appearing in TV movies and series, including "The Playboy of the Western World," "The Heiress," and "Eccentricities of a Nightingale." He also returned to the stage, performing in productions of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "The Crucible."
In the 1980s, Selby co-starred in films such as "Rich Kids" (1979),"Raise the Titanic" (1980),and "Rich and Famous" (1981). He joined the cast of the nighttime soap opera "Flamingo Road" in 1981 and later starred in the long-running series "Falcon Crest" (1981-1990),winning a Soap Opera Digest award.
After "Falcon Crest" ended, Selby continued to work in film, appearing in "Dying Young" (1991),"Intersection" (1994),"White Squall" (1996),"Shadow of Fear" (2004),"Surviving Christmas" (2004),"End Game" (2006),"The Social Network" (2010),and "Equals" (2015). He also made guest appearances on TV shows such as "Touched by an Angel," "Ally McBeal," "Cold Case," "Castle Rock," "Chicago Fire," and "NCIS: New Orleans."
Throughout his career, Selby has remained committed to his love of the live stage, appearing in productions of "The Night of the Iguana," "Much Ado About Nothing," and "A Long Day's Journey Into Night." He has also written several plays, including "Final Assault," which premiered in 2003, and novels such as "Promises of Love" and "A Casualty of Indifference."
In his personal life, Selby is married to Chip and has three children. The couple ran a summer children's musical theatre in New York for ten years before moving to Los Angeles.
