James Karen

Acting

James Karen

Born November 28, 1923 · Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA

Died October 23, 2018 · aged 94

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. James Karen (November 28, 1923 - October 23, 2018) was an American character actor of Broadway, film and television. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Karen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Known For

The Pursuit of HappynessThe Pursuit of Happyness · 2006
The Pursuit of Happyness
7.92006
MovieDrama
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Mulholland DriveMulholland Drive · 2001
Mulholland Drive
7.82001
MovieThrillerDrama
Blonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia. Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman's identity, filmmaker Adam Kesher runs into ominous trouble while casting his latest project.
Superman ReturnsSuperman Returns · 2006
Superman Returns
5.82006
MovieScience FictionAction
Superman returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
PoltergeistPoltergeist · 1982
Poltergeist
7.21982
MovieHorror
The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
The Return of the Living DeadThe Return of the Living Dead · 1985
The Return of the Living Dead
7.21985
MovieComedyHorror
Two employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a toxic gas from a misplaced top-secret U.S. Army shipment, causing the dead to rise from a nearby cemetery with an insatiable hunger for human brains.
Wall StreetWall Street · 1987
Wall Street
7.21987
MovieCrimeDrama
A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider, whom takes the youth under his wing.
Vital SignsVital Signs · 1990
Vital Signs
4.61990
MovieDramaRomance
As they enter their third year of medical school, a group of young students must prepare to decide what they intend to specialize in. Somehow, they must impress the Chief of Surgery while learning how to survive the life-and-death area of medicine and the complexity of their everyday lives.
All the President's MenAll the President's Men · 1976
All the President's Men
7.71976
MovieDramaMystery
During the 1972 elections, two reporters' investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.

Movies

The Pursuit of HappynessThe Pursuit of Happyness · 2006
The Pursuit of Happyness
7.92006
MovieDrama
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career.
Mulholland DriveMulholland Drive · 2001
Mulholland Drive
7.82001
MovieThrillerDrama
Blonde Betty Elms has only just arrived in Hollywood to become a movie star when she meets an enigmatic brunette with amnesia. Meanwhile, as the two set off to solve the second woman's identity, filmmaker Adam Kesher runs into ominous trouble while casting his latest project.
Superman ReturnsSuperman Returns · 2006
Superman Returns
5.82006
MovieScience FictionAction
Superman returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
PoltergeistPoltergeist · 1982
Poltergeist
7.21982
MovieHorror
The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
The Return of the Living DeadThe Return of the Living Dead · 1985
The Return of the Living Dead
7.21985
MovieComedyHorror
Two employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a toxic gas from a misplaced top-secret U.S. Army shipment, causing the dead to rise from a nearby cemetery with an insatiable hunger for human brains.
Wall StreetWall Street · 1987
Wall Street
7.21987
MovieCrimeDrama
A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider, whom takes the youth under his wing.
Vital SignsVital Signs · 1990
Vital Signs
4.61990
MovieDramaRomance
As they enter their third year of medical school, a group of young students must prepare to decide what they intend to specialize in. Somehow, they must impress the Chief of Surgery while learning how to survive the life-and-death area of medicine and the complexity of their everyday lives.
All the President's MenAll the President's Men · 1976
All the President's Men
7.71976
MovieDramaMystery
During the 1972 elections, two reporters' investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.
Thirteen DaysThirteen Days · 2000
Thirteen Days
7.02000
MovieHistoryThriller
The story of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962—the nuclear standoff with the USSR sparked by the discovery by the Americans of missile bases established on the Soviet-allied island of Cuba.
Any Given SundayAny Given Sunday · 1999
Any Given Sunday
6.81999
MovieDrama
A star quarterback gets knocked out of the game and an unknown third stringer is called in to replace him. The unknown gives a stunning performance and forces the aging coach to reevaluate his game plans and life. A new co-owner/president adds to the pressure of winning. The new owner must prove herself in a male dominated world.
CongoCongo · 1995
Congo
5.61995
MovieActionAdventure
Eight people embark on an expedition into the Congo, a mysterious expanse of unexplored Africa, where human greed and the laws of nature have gone berserk.
Capricorn OneCapricorn One · 1977
Capricorn One
6.81977
MovieDramaAction
In order to protect the reputation of the American space program, a team of NASA administrators turn the first Mars mission into a phony Mars landing. Under threat of harm to their families the astronauts play their part in the deception on a staged set in a deserted military base. But once the real ship returns to Earth and burns up on re-entry, the astronauts become liabilities. Now, with the help of a crusading reporter, they must battle a sinister conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden.
Apt PupilApt Pupil · 1998
Apt Pupil
6.61998
MovieDramaThriller
One day in 1984, Todd Bowden, a brilliant high school boy fascinated by the history of Nazism, stumbles across an old man whose appearance resembles that of Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal. A month later, Todd decides to knock on his door.
NixonNixon · 1995
Nixon
6.81995
MovieDramaHistory
A look at President Richard M. Nixon—a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.
Return of the Living Dead Part IIReturn of the Living Dead Part II · 1988
Return of the Living Dead Part II
6.41988
MovieHorrorComedy
A group of kids discover one of the drums containing a rotting corpse and release the 2-4-5 Trioxin gas into the air, causing the dead to once again rise from the grave and seek out brains.
The China SyndromeThe China Syndrome · 1979
The China Syndrome
7.11979
MovieDramaThriller
While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicize the incident, but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret.
Kiss Me GoodbyeKiss Me Goodbye · 1982
Kiss Me Goodbye
5.91982
MovieComedyFantasy
Not until three years after the death of her husband Jolly, Kay dares to move back into their former home, persuaded by her new fiancée Rupert. But soon her worst expectations come true, when not only her old memories haunt her, but also Jolly's ghost, who doesn't approve of her new mate. Invisible to anyone but Kay, he tries to prevent the wedding.
The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer · 1980
The Jazz Singer
5.91980
MovieDramaMusic
A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer.
Jack and the BeanstalkJack and the Beanstalk · 2009
Jack and the Beanstalk
5.22009
MovieAdventureComedy
A fairy tale character who is about to flunk out of fairy tale school, Jack must perform a heroic deed by Monday or fail miserably, just like his father before him. Anxious to make good, Jack sells his C.O.W. (Computer of Wonder) for a handful of magic beans and a mysterious book that records his adventures as he's having them. Accompanied by his sidekick Grayson -- a goose who ate a bean and underwent an amazing transformation -- Jack climbs the magic beanstalk to recover the fabled Harp of Destiny from the evil Giant who lives in the sky. Helping Jack on his perilous quest is the spunky Jillian, a fearless young girl whom Jack meets on his journey -- and who just may have a hidden agenda...
Cult PeopleCult People · 1989
Cult People
7.01989
MovieDocumentary
In interviews, various actors and directors discuss their careers and their involvement in the making of what has come to be known as "cult" films. Included are such well-known genre figures as Russ Meyer, Curtis Harrington, Cameron Mitchell and James Karen.
Hercules in New YorkHercules in New York · 1970
Hercules in New York
4.11970
MovieComedyAdventure
Hercules is sent from Mount Olympus to modern-day Manhattan, where he takes up professional wrestling before getting mixed up with a gang of mobsters.
Up Close & PersonalUp Close & Personal · 1996
Up Close & Personal
6.31996
MovieDramaRomance
Tally Atwater has a dream: to be a prime-time network newscaster. She pursues this dream with nothing but ambition, raw talent and a homemade demo tape. Warren Justice is a brilliant, hard edged, veteran newsman. He sees Tally has talent and becomes her mentor. Tally’s career takes a meteoric rise and she and Warren fall in love. The romance that results is as intense and revealing as television news itself. Yet, each breaking story, every videotaped crisis that brings them together, also threatens to drive them apart...
Jagged EdgeJagged Edge · 1985
Jagged Edge
6.31985
MovieThriller
After a wealthy heiress is murdered in her beach house, her devastated husband becomes the prime suspect. He hires a lawyer who hasn’t taken a criminal case in years, and as they work together, a complicated romance develops amidst the trial.
F.I.S.T.F.I.S.T. · 1978
F.I.S.T.
6.51978
MovieDramaAction
Johnny Kovak joins the Teamsters trade-union in a local chapter in the 1930s and works his way up in the organization. As he climbs higher and higher his methods become more ruthless and finally senator Madison starts a campaign to find the truth about the alleged connections with the Mob.

TV Shows

American Dad!American Dad! · 2005
American Dad!
7.02005
SeriesAnimationComedy
The series focuses on an eccentric motley crew that is the Smith family and their three housemates: Father, husband, and breadwinner Stan Smith; his better half housewife, Francine Smith; their college-aged daughter, Hayley Smith; and their high-school-aged son, Steve Smith. Outside of the Smith family, there are three additional main characters, including Hayley's boyfriend turned husband, Jeff Fischer; the family's man-in-a-goldfish-body pet, Klaus; and most notably the family's zany alien, Roger, who is "full of masquerades, brazenness, and shocking antics."
SeinfeldSeinfeld · 1989
Seinfeld
8.31989
SeriesComedy
A stand-up comedian and his three offbeat friends weather the pitfalls and payoffs of life in New York City in the '90s. It's a show about nothing.
JAGJAG · 1995
JAG
7.31995
SeriesDrama
Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. is a former pilot turned lawyer working for the military's JAG (Judge Advocate General) division, the elite legal wing of officers that prosecutes and defends those accused of military-related crimes. He works closely with Lt. Col. Sarah Mackenzie, and together they do what needs to be done to find the truth.
MacGyverMacGyver · 1985
MacGyver
7.71985
SeriesDrama
He's everyone's favorite action hero... but he's a hero with a difference. Angus MacGyver is a secret agent whose wits are his deadliest weapon. Armed with only a knapsack filled with everyday items he picks up along the way, he improvises his way out of every peril the bad guys throw at him. Making a bomb out of chewing gum? Fixing a speeding car's breaks... while he's riding in it? Using soda pop to cook up tear gas? That's all in a day's adventures for MacGyver. He's part Boy Scout, part genius. And all hero.
CheersCheers · 1982
Cheers
7.61982
SeriesComedy
The story about a blue-collar Boston bar run by former sports star Sam Malone and the quirky and wonderful people who worked and drank there.
Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210 · 1990
Beverly Hills, 90210
7.31990
SeriesDrama
Follow the lives of a group of teenagers living in the upscale, star-studded community of Beverly Hills, California and attending the fictitious West Beverly Hills High School and, subsequently, the fictitious California University after graduation.
Cold CaseCold Case · 2003
Cold Case
7.82003
SeriesCrimeDrama
The Philadelphia homicide squad's lone female detective finds her calling when she is assigned cases that have never been solved. Detective Lilly Rush combines her natural instincts with the updated technology available today to bring about justice for all the victims she can.
Simon & SimonSimon & Simon · 1981
Simon & Simon
6.71981
SeriesDrama
A.J. Simon is a polished fellow with a taste for classic cars and tailored suits. Rick Simon is his less refined (but still pleasant) older brother who has a taste for cowboy boots and four-wheel drive pickups. The two of them live in San Diego, where they own a private detective agency.
DynastyDynasty · 1981
Dynasty
6.51981
SeriesDrama
The saga of a wealthy Denver family in the oil business: Blake Carrington, the patriarch; Krystle, his former secretary and wife; his children: Adam, lost in childhood after a kidnapping; Fallon, pampered and spoiled; Steven, openly gay; and Amanda, hidden from him by his ex-wife, the conniving Alexis. Most of the show features the conflict between 2 large corporations, Blake's Denver Carrington and Alexis' ColbyCo.
Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I. · 1980
Magnum, P.I.
7.31980
SeriesCrimeDrama
A private investigator who works when he wants, lives in a beachfront estate in Hawaii, drives a posh Ferrari, runs up an unlimited tab at a swank bar, and charms attractive women in peril - that's the lifestyle of Thomas Magnum, aka Magnum, P.I.
The PracticeThe Practice · 1997
The Practice
7.71997
SeriesDrama
A provocative legal drama focused on young associates at a bare-bones Boston firm and their scrappy boss, Bobby Donnell. The show's forte is its storylines about “people who walk a moral tightrope.”
Knots LandingKnots Landing · 1979
Knots Landing
6.91979
SeriesDrama
The domestic adventures, misdeeds and everyday interactions of five families living on a cul-de-sac in a small California community.
Melrose PlaceMelrose Place · 1992
Melrose Place
5.91992
SeriesDrama
Follow the lives of a group of young adults living in a brownstone apartment complex on Melrose Place, in Los Angeles, California.
M*A*S*HM*A*S*H · 1972
M*A*S*H
7.91972
SeriesDrama
The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital is stuck in the middle of the Korean war. With little help from the circumstances they find themselves in, they are forced to make their own fun. Fond of practical jokes and revenge, the doctors, nurses, administrators, and soldiers often find ways of making wartime life bearable.
Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-O · 1968
Hawaii Five-O
7.21968
SeriesDrama
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for 12 seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. Jack Lord portrayed Detective Lieutenant Steve McGarrett, the head of a special state police task force which was based on an actual unit that existed under martial law in the 1940s. The theme music composed by Morton Stevens became especially popular. Many episodes would end with McGarrett instructing his subordinate to "Book 'em, Danno!", sometimes specifying a charge such as "murder one".
MatlockMatlock · 1986
Matlock
7.11986
SeriesDramaCrime
Thrifty, folksy and cantankerous, Matlock charges a premium for his services but is worth every penny: This renowned attorney, always clothed in his trademark light-gray suit and driving his signature Ford Crown Victoria, has an uncanny knack for finding overlooked clues and exposing murderers in dramatic courtroom scenes.
The WaltonsThe Waltons · 1972
The Waltons
7.21972
SeriesDrama
The Waltons live their life in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II.
The Rockford FilesThe Rockford Files · 1974
The Rockford Files
7.61974
SeriesCrimeDrama
Cranky but likable L.A. PI Jim Rockford pulls no punches (but takes plenty of them). An ex-con sent to the slammer for a crime he didn't commit, Rockford takes on cases others don't want, aided by his tough old man, his lawyer girlfriend and some shady associates from his past.
Family TiesFamily Ties · 1982
Family Ties
7.21982
SeriesComedyDrama
Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Judging AmyJudging Amy · 1999
Judging Amy
7.51999
SeriesDrama
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly. Its main character is a judge who serves in a family court, and in addition to the family-related cases that she adjudicates, many episodes of the show focus on her own experiences as a divorced mother, and on the experiences of her mother, a social worker who works in the field of child welfare. This series was based on the life experiences of Brenneman's mother.
Quincy, M.E.Quincy, M.E. · 1976
Quincy, M.E.
7.51976
SeriesCrimeDrama
Los Angeles County medical examiner Quincy routinely engages in police investigations.
L.A. LawL.A. Law · 1986
L.A. Law
7.11986
SeriesDrama
L.A. Law is an American television legal drama series that ran for eight seasons on NBC from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it contained many of Bochco's trademark features including a large number of parallel storylines, social drama and off-the-wall humor. It reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s, and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot-topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights, homophobia, sexual harassment, AIDS, and domestic violence. The series often also reflected social tensions between the wealthy senior lawyer protagonists and their less well-paid junior staff. The show was popular with audiences and critics, and won 15 Emmy Awards throughout its run, four of which were for Outstanding Drama Series.
The Golden GirlsThe Golden Girls · 1985
The Golden Girls
7.61985
SeriesComedy
Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake. Bright, promiscuous, clueless and hilarious, these lovely, mismatched ladies form the perfect circle of friends.
CoachCoach · 1989
Coach
6.71989
SeriesComedy
Hayden Fox, the curmudgeonly coach of Minnesota State University's Screaming Eagles football team, tries to navigate his way through the sports world, fatherhood and family life without dropping the ball.