Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray is a fictional character featured on the 1891 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by author Oscar Wilde. The character first appeared in a serialized account of the story in the July, 1890 edition of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine by J.P. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia. This version included a thirteen-chapter story. The story was published again the following year in novel format as a twenty-chapter story. The character of Dorian Gray has been interpreted many times in film and television including the 1945 film The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Hurt Hatfield, the 1976 made-for-TV movie, The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring Peter Firth, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003, with Start Townsend playing the role and the Showtime television series Penny Dreadful where the part of Dorian Gray was played by actor Reeve Carney.

Penny Dreadful
Dorian Gray is featured in the Showtime television series Penny Dreadful. Played by actor Reeve Carney, he was first credited in the pilot episode of the show, "Night Work", but did not make his actual first appearance until the second episode, "Séance".

Biography
Dorian Gray hired Brona Croft to pose for some lurid photographs for him in the gallery of his mansion. The sessions served as a preamble to sexual congress, but Brona warned him that she was ill with consumption. Fascinated by this, Dorian did not hesitate to continue making love to her, admitting that he had "never fucked a dying creature" before. During sex, Brona coughed up a bit of blood that splattered all across Dorian's face. Brona was repulsed, but Gray was turned on.

Later, Dorian Gray attended a social function hosted by Ferdinand Lyle of the British Museum. A medium named Madame Kali had been hired to perform a sance. Dorian sat next to Vanessa Ives, who was likewise a spiritualist. During the sance, a spirit took possession of Vanessa Ives while Dorian was holding her hand.