Thayer David (March 4, 1927 – July 17, 1978) was born David Thayer Hersey in Medford, Massachusetts. As an actor, he starred in various film and television projects since the 1950's, but is best known for playing the raspy-voiced Professor Stokes on the 1966 ABC television series, Dark Shadows. On Dark Shadows, he engaged in several different roles throughout the span of the show, appearing in a total of 221 episodes (In episode 701, he played two characters - Professor Stokes and Sandor). Thayer David also starred in the two MGM films, House of Dark Shadows and Night of Dark Shadows. Thayer David passed away from a heart attack in New York City aged only fifty-one.