James Karen
(1923 - )Although James Karen looked similar to Dana Elcar and especially Barry Corbin, it was mostly the face and the similarity of the voices. Karen was slightly leaner than both Elcar and Corbin. He was more suited to playing executive types where Corbin was at home in westerns and Elcar could play both comfortably. Karen was tall, only slightly hefty and had a very round face with dark hair and bulgy eyes. His tenor voice is memorable and easily recognized. Karen was most often cast in authoritative roles as businessmen, executive types, military officers, doctors, psychiatrists but he was versatile enough to play "everyman" types also. He is probably best remembered as Craig T. Nelson's boss in "Poltergeist" who sold homes built over graveyards and as Charlie Sheen's boss in "Wall Street." He was born Jacob Karnofsky on November 28, 1923 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, very little is known of his early years. He was urged to enter the acting profession by U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood who was an amateur actor himself. As with many other actors he started out in repertoire or stock theatre and continued in it for over 20 years often partnering with his friend, actor Barry Nelson. The theatre seems to be the ultimate training ground for any aspiring actor or actress. He made his Broadway debut in "Streetcar Named Desire" in 1947 and appeared in over 20 Broadway productions. Karen made his film debut in "Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster" (1965) as Dr. Adam Steele. His other film credits include: "I Never Sang for My Father" (1970) with Gene Hackman and Melvyn Douglas, as Mr. Tucker, Old Age Home Director; "Hercules in New York" (1970) which has the dubious distinction of being Arnold Schwarzenegger's acting debut, as The Professor; "Rivals" (1972) as Child Psychiatrist; "Amazing Grace" (1974) as Annenberg; "All the President's Men" (1976) as Hugh Sloan's Lawyer; "F.I.S.T." (1978) as Andrews; "Capricorn One" (1978) as Vice President Price; "The China Syndrome" (1979) as Mac Churchill; "The Jazz Singer" (1980) with Neil Diamond, as Barney Callahan; "Take This Job and Shove It" (1981) as Loomis; "Poltergeist" (1982) as Mr. Teague, one of his best roles; "Frances" (1982) with Jessica Lange, as Judge; "Sam's Son" (1982) as Mr. Collins; "Return of the Living Dead" (1985) as Frank; "Jagged Edge" (1985) as Andrew Hardesty; "Invaders from Mars" (1986) as Gen. Climet Wilson; "Wall Street" (1987) as Lynch, another fine role; "Return of the Living Dead Part II" (1988) as Ed; "Vital Signs" (1990) as Dean of Students; "The Unborn" (1991) as Dr. Richard Meyerling; "The Closer" (1991) as Ned Randall; "Future Shock" (1993) as Kefka; "Congo" (1995) as College President; "Nixon" (1995) with Anthony Hopkins, as Bill Rogers; "Up Close and Personal" (1996) as Tom Orr; "Behind Enemy Lines" (1996) as TV Reporter; "Shadow of Doubt" (1998) as Norman Calloway; "Freedom Strike" (1998) as President Mitchell; "Apt Pupil" (1998) as Victor Bowden; "Any Given Sunday" (1999) as Ed Phillips; "Thirteen Days" (2000) with Kevin Costner, as George Ball, Undersecretary of State; "Mulholland Drive" (2001) as Wally Brown; "Jane Bond" (2001) as Z and "A House on a Hill" (2003) as Sy. His TV debut came in 1948 on "Philco Playhouse." On TV he was quite prolific appearing as a regular on the series: "All My Children" (1970-present) as Lincoln 'Linc' Tyler in 1970; "Eight is Enough" (1977-81) as Eliot Randolph; "Blind Ambition" (1979) a mini-series, as Earl Silbert; "The Powers of Matthew Starr" (1983) as Major Wymore; "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story" (1990) a mini-series, as Aide and "First Monday" (2002) as Justice Michael Bancroft. He also appeared in such TV movies as: "Something for Joey" (1977); "The Ordeal of Patty Hearst" (1979); "Portrait of a Rebel: Margaret Sanger" (1980); "Little House: The Last Farewell" (1984); "Moonlighting" (1985); "The Billionaire Boys Club" (1987); "The Companion" (1994) and "Fatal Kiss" (2002). He has guested on many TV series including: "Starsky and Hutch"; "The Waltons"; "The Streets of San Francisco"; "The Bionic Woman"; "The Rockford Files"; "Lou Grant"; "Dynasty"; "Knots Landing"; "M*A*S*H"; "Simon and Simon"; "Cheers"; "Amazing Stories"; "Magnum, P.I."; "The Golden Girls"; "Sledge Hammer"; "MacGyver"; "Murphy Brown"; "Highway to Heaven"; "Matlock"; "L.A. Law"; "The Larry Sanders Show"; "Coach"; "Designing Women"; "The Commish"; "Ned and Stacey"; "The Practice"; "Seinfeld"; "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "JAG." He was a close personal friend of legendary comedian and film star Buster Keaton and had toured on stage with Keaton in "Merton of the Movies" and appeared in Samuel Beckett's film entitled "Film." He also appeared in the TV production "Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow" (1987) as himself. He was married twice: to Susan Reed and at present to Alba Francesca. He is also a nephew of the great actor Morris Carnovsky. For a time he operated his own antique shop and he also enjoys vintage and classic cars.
From Great Character Actors, Page 8.
|
