Born: November 28, 1923 – Died: October 23, 2018
James Karen was a veteran Broadway, TV, and film actor, known for his memorable role in "The Return of the Living Dead." Born on November 28, 1923, he was encouraged to pursue acting by U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood, himself an amateur actor. James made his Broadway debut in "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1947, which led him to appear in numerous Broadway productions. His television career began in 1948, and he went on to star in over 100 TV shows, including his noteworthy role as Chief Justice Michael Bancroft on "First Monday." With a career spanning over 80 movies and award recognition from the Academy of science fiction, fantasy, and horror films, James Karen left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Career
James Karen's had a prolific career in Broadway, television, and film. His Broadway debut in "A Streetcar Named Desire" in 1947 marked the beginning of his successful stage career.
James Karen gained recognition for his role in "The Return of the Living Dead," which became a cult classic and solidified his status as a memorable actor in the horror genre. He appeared in over 80 movies throughout his career, showcasing his versatility and talent. He was honored with awards including the Saturn Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films.
James Karen had a significant impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry. His extensive body of work, spanning Broadway, television, and film, solidified his reputation as a respected actor. While he may not be widely considered an icon or legend, James Karen left his mark through his memorable performances and contributions to the industry.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Cynthia | Frank Teague |
| 2017 | Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk | Interviewee #1 |
| 1996–2017 | Ned and Stacey (TV Series) | Patrick Kirkland |
| 2016 | Humanity (Short) | Allen |
| 2016 | Bender | Old Man Bender |
| 2013 | Rain from Stars | Spencer |
| 2013 | Green Briefs (Video) | Anthony |
| 2013 | America's Most Haunted | Ralph George |
| 2012 | Ambush at Dark Canyon | Seymour Redfield |
| 2012 | American Dad! (TV Series) | Larry Herman (voice) |
| 2012 | The Butterfly Room | Taxidermist |
| 2012 | Drew Peterson: Untouchable (TV Movie) | Pastor Tom Keller |
| 2011 | Pride (Short) | Anthony |
| 2011 | The Cleveland Show (TV Series) | (voice) |
| 2010 | Sympathy for Delicious | Father Rohn |
| 2009 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Verri Saddius |
| 2009 | Dark and Stormy Night | Seyton Ethelquake |
| 2008 | Cold Case (TV Series) | Steve Pratt '08 |
| 2007 | Heart Medicine (Short) | Mac |
| 2007 | Trail of the Screaming Forehead | Reverend Beaks |
| 2006 | The Pursuit of Happyness | Martin Frohm |
| 2006 | Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy | Leroy Parker |
| 2006 | Superman Returns | Ben Hubbard (scenes deleted) |
| 2005 | Office Court (Short) | Judge Jimmy |
| 2005 | Unscripted (TV Series) | Dante's Friend |
| 2004 | Flickering Blue (Short) | Al |
| 2003 | Judging Amy (TV Series) | Dr. Irwin Garner |
| 2000–2002 | JAG (TV Series) | Former COMSUBPAC | Senator Barrington |
| 2002 | Fatal Kiss (TV Movie) | Larry Jacobs |
| 2002 | First Monday (TV Series) | Justice Michael Bancroft |
| 2001 | The Nightmare Room (TV Series) | Tobias Langley (uncredited) |
| 2001 | Mulholland Drive | Wally Brown |
| 2001 | A House on a Hill | Sy |
| 1998–2001 | The Practice (TV Series) | Judge Knapp | Judge M. Knapp |
| 2000 | Thirteen Days | George Ball |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger (TV Series) | Senator |
| 2000 | The Parkers (TV Series) | Rupert Van Lowe |
| 2000 | Jane Bond (Short) | Z |
| 1999 | Mulholland Dr. (TV Movie) | Wally Brown |
| 1999 | Any Given Sunday | Christina's Advisor |
| 1999 | One Last Flight | Gramps |
| 1999 | My Last Love (TV Movie) | Phil Morton |
| 1998 | Apt Pupil | Victor Bowden |
| 1998 | The Cowboy and the Movie Star (TV Movie) | Brad Peters |
| 1998 | Beverly Hills, 90210 (TV Series) | Minister |
| 1998 | Girl | Dad |
| 1998 | Seinfeld (TV Series) | Mr. Canterman |
| 1998 | Shadow of Doubt | Norman Calloway |
| 1998 | Freedom Strike | President Mitchell |
| 1997 | NightMan (TV Movie) | Secretary of Defense Laughton |
| 1997 | Joyride | The Client |
| 1997 | River Made to Drown In | Ray |
| 1997 | NightMan (TV Series) | Secretary of Defense Laughton |
| 1997 | Always Say Goodbye | William Tager |
| 1997 | Behind Enemy Lines | TV Reporter |
| 1997 | Dark Skies (TV Series) | Harry Carruthers |
| 1996 | The Adventures of Pinocchio (Video Game) | Gregorio |
| 1996 | Goosebumps Audiobook - Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes (Video) | Dad (voice) |
| 1996 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) | Mark Abernathy |
| 1996 | Up Close & Personal | Tom Orr |
| 1996 | Spycraft: The Great Game (Video Game) | DDO Gene Warhurst |
| 1996 | Sisters (TV Series) | Judge |
| 1995 | Nixon | Bill Rogers |
| 1995 | Piranha (TV Movie) | Governor |
| 1995 | Congo | College President | Elliot's Boss |
| 1995 | Tough and Deadly (Video) | Winston Briggers |
| 1995 | The Commish (TV Series) | Jimmy Malloy |
| 1995 | Bonanza: Under Attack (TV Movie) | Mr. Stewart |
| 1994 | Tick, Tick, Tick (Short) | Unknown |
| 1994 | A Kiss Goodnight (TV Movie) | Sam Mosbach |
| 1994 | Hearts Afire (TV Series) | Norman Lynch |
| 1994 | The Companion (TV Movie) | Peter Franklin |
| 1994 | Melrose Place (TV Series) | Judge Mike Thomas |
| 1992–1994 | Coach (TV Series) | James Armstrong |
| 1994 | Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love (TV Movie) | Mylan Whitfield |
| 1994 | Future Shock | Kafka |
| 1993 | Stone Soup | Paul |
| 1993 | Staying Afloat (TV Movie) | George |
| 1993 | A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (TV Movie) | Assistant District Attorney Al Sampson |
| 1992–1993 | The Larry Sanders Show (TV Series) | Sheldon Davidoff |
| 1993 | Class of '96 (TV Series) | Prof. Drake |
| 1993 | Designing Women (TV Series) | Mr. Kearney |
| 1993 | Bodies of Evidence (TV Series) | Gil Murphy |
| 1989–1992 | The New Lassie (TV Series) | Keith | Officer Stanley |
| 1991 | Heart of the Deal (Short) | Victor Dantsik |
| 1991 | Spirit of the Eagle | Adult Little Eli (Narrator) (voice) |
| 1991 | Absolute Strangers (TV Movie) | Dr. X |
| 1991 | The Unborn | Dr. Richard Meyerling |
| 1991 | L.A. Law (TV Series) | Dr. Everett Kyle |
| 1991 | Lies Before Kisses (TV Movie) | Arthur |
| 1991 | Matlock (TV Series) | Ed Billings |
| 1990 | The Willies (Video) | Uncle Harry | Mr. Jenkins |
| 1990 | The Closer | Ned Randall |
| 1990 | Thanksgiving Day (TV Movie) | Averill Crandall |
| 1990 | Road Lawyers and Other Briefs | Judge Bowelmore (segment "Road Lawyers") |
| 1987–1990 | Charles in Charge (TV Series) | Austin Miller | Mr. Bartlett |
| 1990 | Shattered Dreams (TV Movie) | Charles O'Donnell |
| 1990 | Vital Signs | Dean of Students |
| 1990 | Rich Men, Single Women (TV Movie) | Unknown |
| 1990 | Drug Wars: The Camarena Story (TV Mini Series) | Aide |
| 1989 | The Roommate (Short) | Kafka |
| 1989 | Mancuso, FBI (TV Series) | Nagan |
| 1989 | Booker (TV Series) | Jack Wingate |
| 1989 | Highway to Heaven (TV Series) | Mr. Simenton |
| 1989 | Murphy Brown (TV Series) | Arvin |
| 1989 | Girlfriend from Hell | Carl's Dad |
| 1987–1989 | Jake and the Fatman (TV Series) | Lyle Vandegrift | The Mayor |
| 1989 | MacGyver (TV Series) | Robert Sanborn | Papillon |
| 1988 | Space Invaders (Video) | Alien 1 |
| 1988 | The Golden Girls (TV Series) | Raymond |
| 1988 | Sledge Hammer! (TV Series) | Governor Fritz La Chatte |
| 1988 | Return of the Living Dead II | Ed |
| 1987 | Wall Street | Lynch |
| 1987 | Billionaire Boys Club (TV Mini Series) | Mr. Fairmont Sr. |
| 1987 | Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) | Dr. Hightower |
| 1987 | Who's the Boss? (TV Series) | Jerry |
| 1987 | Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion (TV Movie) | Eliot Randolph |
| 1987 | Amazing Stories (TV Series) | Richard Whelan |
| 1987 | Square One Television (TV Series) | Prosecutor |
| 1987 | Mathnet (TV Series) | Prosecutor |
| 1986 | Hardbodies 2 | Logan |
| 1986 | Melba (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1986 | Invaders from Mars | Gen. Climet Wilson |
| 1985 | 227 (TV Series) | Lawyer |
| 1985 | Jagged Edge | Andrew Hardesty |
| 1985 | The Return of the Living Dead | Frank |
| 1985 | Webster (TV Series) | Dr. Farraday |
| 1985 | Moonlighting (TV Series) | Alan |
| 1985 | Cheers (TV Series) | Dr. Ludlow |
| 1984 | Three's a Crowd (TV Series) | Dr. Richard Kimberly |
| 1984 | The Boy Who Loved Trolls (TV Movie) | Richman |
| 1984 | Dynasty (TV Series) | Avril Dawson |
| 1984 | Sam's Son | Mr. Collins |
| 1984 | The Paper Chase (TV Series) | Mr. Pearson |
| 1983–1984 | Emerald Point N.A.S. (TV Series) | Admiral Lovell |
| 1984 | Little House: The Last Farewell (TV Movie) | Nathan Lassiter |
| 1984 | Family Ties (TV Series) | Philip |
| 1984 | Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) | C. Calvin Moore |
| 1983 | Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series) | Krewitt |
| 1983 | Simon & Simon (TV Series) | Insurance Agent |
| 1983 | The Powers of Matthew Star (TV Series) | Major Wymore |
| 1983 | Tucker's Witch (TV Series) | Earl Crayton |
| 1983 | ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) | Mr. Fairchild |
| 1977–1983 | Quincy M.E. (TV Series) | Maszek | Dr. Daniel Pierce | Dr. Chet Rawlings ... |
| 1983 | M*A*S*H (TV Series) | Dr. Stephen Chesler |
| 1982–1983 | Dallas (TV Series) | Elton Lawrence |
| 1982 | Kiss Me Goodbye | Lawyer (uncredited) |
| 1982 | Frances | Judge Hillier |
| 1982 | Time Walker | Dr. Wendell J. Rossmore |
| 1982 | Poltergeist | Mr. Teague |
| 1982 | Knots Landing (TV Series) | Max Craig |
| 1982 | Herbie, the Love Bug (TV Series) | Minister |
| 1982 | The Day the Bubble Burst (TV Movie) | Unknown |
| 1981 | The Violation of Sarah McDavid (TV Movie) | Dr. Spandler |
| 1981 | Take This Job and Shove It | Loomis |
| 1978–1981 | Eight Is Enough (TV Series) | Elliott Randolph | Elliot Randolph |
| 1981 | The Jeffersons (TV Series) | Herbert Purcell |
| 1980 | The Jazz Singer | Barney Callahan |
| 1980 | Portrait of a Rebel: The Remarkable Mrs. Sanger (TV Movie) | Untermeyer |
| 1980 | F.D.R.: The Last Year (TV Movie) | Adm. McIntire |
| 1980 | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (TV Series) | Charles Lovel |
| 1980 | Once Upon a Family (TV Movie) | Alvin Heller |
| 1979 | Topper (TV Movie) | Fred Korbell |
| 1979 | Blind Ambition (TV Mini Series) | Earl Silbert |
| 1979 | The China Syndrome | Mac Churchill |
| 1979 | The Ordeal of Patty Hearst (TV Movie) | Psychologist |
| 1977–1979 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) | Martin Horvath | John LaPointe |
| 1979 | Institute for Revenge (TV Movie) | Power Broker |
| 1978 | One Day at a Time (TV Series) | Fred Emerson |
| 1978 | F.I.S.T. | Andrews |
| 1978 | Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1978 | Lou Grant (TV Series) | Tyler Armitage |
| 1978 | Lucan (TV Series) | Murdoch |
| 1977 | Opening Night | Bellboy |
| 1977 | Family (TV Series) | Dr. Addison |
| 1977 | Capricorn One | Vice President Price |
| 1977 | The Gathering (TV Movie) | Bob Block |
| 1977 | Rafferty (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Mr. Rixie |
| 1977 | Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night (TV Movie) | Dr. Sutterman |
| 1977 | The Kallikaks (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1977 | Something for Joey (TV Movie) | Dr. Wingreen |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight (TV Series) | Talford |
| 1976 | Delvecchio (TV Series) | Porter |
| 1976 | Gibbsville (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1976 | Serpico (TV Series) | Ed Demarest |
| 1976 | Executive Suite (TV Series) | Carter |
| 1976 | All the President's Men | Hugh Sloan's Lawyer |
| 1976 | Police Woman (TV Series) | Driver |
| 1976 | McMillan & Wife (TV Series) | George Pauling |
| 1976 | Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) | Dale Wingfield |
| 1976 | The Bionic Woman (TV Series) | George Morehouse |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) | Frank Batz |
| 1975 | The Waltons (TV Series) | Martin Walters |
| 1975 | Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) | Carter |
| 1975 | The Invisible Man (TV Series) | Hotel Manager |
| 1974 | Amazing Grace | Annenberg |
| 1972 | Rivals | Child Psychiatrist |
| 1970 | I Never Sang for My Father | Old Age Home Director |
| 1970 | All My Children (TV Series) | Lincoln Tyler |
| 1970 | Hercules in New York | Professor Camden |
| 1968 | The Effective Executive: Managing Time (Short) | Charlie Fisher |
| 1966 | Directions (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1965 | Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster | Dr. Adam Steele (as Jim Karen) |
| 1965 | Film (Short) | Passerby |
| 1964 | The Defenders (TV Series) | Rabbi Fine | Paul Damon |
| 1962 | Car 54, Where Are You? (TV Series) | Bird Owner (uncredited) |
| 1956 | As the World Turns (TV Series) | Dr. Burke (1967-1970) |
| 1951 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Llewellyn |
| 1948 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) | Unknown |
