James Karen

Biography

James Karen was an American character actor who worked on Broadway and in film and television. Raised in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he trained at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre and got his first break as an understudy to Karl Malden in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway. His television parts included Dr. Burke on As the World Turns, All My Children's first Lincoln Tyler, and a recurring role on Eight Is Enough, and two decades as the on-air voice of the Pathmark supermarket chain made him known as Mr. Pathmark. His films ranged from The China Syndrome (1979) and Poltergeist (1982) to The Return of the Living Dead (1985), Invaders from Mars (1986), Wall Street (1987) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). That zombie comedy brought him a Saturn Award best actor nomination in 1985, an honorary Saturn Award in 1998 recognized his contributions to horror, and The Unborn earned him a Fangoria Chainsaw Awards nomination.

94years old at death

Born November 28, 1923Wilkes-Barre
Died October 23, 2018Los Angeles
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21

Movie Career

Films: 41
Career span: 48 years1965 to 2013

Genres

Drama39%, 16 films
Horror29%, 12 films
Comedy27%, 11 films
Sci-Fi22%, 9 films
Romance20%, 8 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
James Karen got his big break when he was cast as the understudy for Karl Malden in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.
A role that slipped away
Karen was set to appear as Ben Hubbard in Superman Returns in 2006, but in the end his scenes were cut from the film.
Behind the award
In 1998, Karen was given an honorary Saturn Award. The honor recognized what he had contributed to the horror film industry.

James Karen movies on Netflix

America's Most Haunted2013IMDb rating 4.5as Ralph George
Drew Peterson: Untouchable2012IMDb rating 6.0as Pastor Tom Keller
The Butterfly Room2012IMDb rating 5.4as Taxidermist
More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead2011IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
Sympathy for Delicious2010IMDb rating 5.6as Father Rohn
Dark and Stormy Night2009IMDb rating 6.6as Seyton Ethelquake
Jack and the Beanstalk2009IMDb rating 4.7as Verri Saddius
The Pursuit of Happyness2006IMDb rating 8.0as Martin Frohm
Any Given Sunday1999IMDb rating 6.9as Christina's Advisor
My Last Love1999IMDb rating 6.8as Phil Morton
Apt Pupil1998IMDb rating 6.7as Victor Bowden
Freedom Strike1998IMDb rating 3.7as President Mitchell
Girl1998IMDb rating 5.7as Dad
Universal Horror1998IMDb rating 7.6as Self - Interviewee
Behind Enemy Lines1997IMDb rating 4.2as TV Reporter
Up Close & Personal1996IMDb rating 6.1as Tom Orr
Congo1995IMDb rating 5.4as College President / Elliot's Boss
Piranha1995IMDb rating 4.1as Governor
Tough and Deadly1995IMDb rating 5.8as Winston Briggers
The Companion1994IMDb rating 5.6as Peter Franklin
The Unborn1991IMDb rating 4.8as Dr. Richard Meyerling
The Willies1990IMDb rating 5.2as Jenkins / Uncle Harry
Vital Signs1990IMDb rating 5.5as Dean of Students
Girlfriend from Hell1989IMDb rating 5.1as Carl's Dad
Return of the Living Dead II1988IMDb rating 5.7as Ed
Wall Street1987IMDb rating 7.3as Lynch
Hardbodies 21986IMDb rating 3.4as Logan
Invaders from Mars1986IMDb rating 5.6as Gen. Climet Wilson
Jagged Edge1985IMDb rating 6.5as Andrew Hardesty
The Return of the Living Dead1985IMDb rating 7.3as Frank
Frances1982IMDb rating 7.2as Judge Hillier
Kiss Me Goodbye1982IMDb rating 6.0as Lawyer
Poltergeist1982IMDb rating 7.3as Mr. Teague
Time Walker1982IMDb rating 3.8as Dr. Wendell J. Rossmore
Take This Job and Shove It1981IMDb rating 5.0as Loomis
The China Syndrome1979IMDb rating 7.4as Mac Churchill
Capricorn One1978IMDb rating 6.8as Vice President Price
F.I.S.T.1978IMDb rating 6.4as Andrews
Hercules in New York1970IMDb rating 3.4as Professor Camden
I Never Sang for My Father1970IMDb rating 7.4as Old Age Home Director
Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster1965IMDb rating 3.8as Dr. Adam Steele

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Pursuit of Happyness2006 Biography, Dramaas Martin Frohm
IMDb rating 8.0631K votes
The Return of the Living Dead1985 Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fias Frank
IMDb rating 7.379K votes
Poltergeist1982as Mr. Teague
IMDb rating 7.3197K votes
Return of the Living Dead II1988as Ed
IMDb rating 5.724K votes
Hercules in New York1970as Professor Camden
IMDb rating 3.421K votes
Wall Street1987as Lynch
IMDb rating 7.3176K votes
Invaders from Mars1986as Gen. Climet Wilson
IMDb rating 5.612K votes
Frances1982as Judge Hillier
IMDb rating 7.29.5K votes

Most often with

Oliver Stone directed two of these films, Tobe Hooper two and Mark Griffiths two. Four actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Clu Gulager

Dana Ashbrook

Thom Mathews

John Philbin

Jeff Bridges

Karen Black

Oliver StoneDirector, 2 films

Tobe HooperDirector, 2 films Mark GriffithsDirector, 2 films

Films together

Clu Gulager3 films together, 1985 to 2011
Clu Gulager's page
- More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead2011IMDb rating 7.6Karen as HimselfGulager as Himself
- The Willies1990IMDb rating 5.2Karen as Jenkins / Uncle HarryGulager as Greeley Principal
- The Return of the Living Dead1985IMDb rating 7.3Karen as FrankGulager as Burt
Dana Ashbrook3 films together, 1988 to 1990
Dana Ashbrook's page
- The Willies1990IMDb rating 5.2Karen as Jenkins / Uncle HarryAshbrook as Tough Dude
- Girlfriend from Hell1989IMDb rating 5.1Karen as Carl's DadAshbrook as Chaser
- Return of the Living Dead II1988IMDb rating 5.7Karen as EdAshbrook as Tom Essex
Thom Mathews3 films together, 1985 to 2011
Thom Mathews's page
- More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead2011IMDb rating 7.6Karen as HimselfMathews as Himself
- Return of the Living Dead II1988IMDb rating 5.7Karen as EdMathews as Joey
- The Return of the Living Dead1985IMDb rating 7.3Karen as FrankMathews as Freddy
John Philbin3 films together, 1985 to 2011
John Philbin's page
- More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead2011IMDb rating 7.6Karen as HimselfPhilbin as Himself
- Girl1998IMDb rating 5.7Karen as DadPhilbin as Mr. Jones
- The Return of the Living Dead1985IMDb rating 7.3Karen as FrankPhilbin as Chuck
Jeff Bridges2 films together, 1982 to 1985
Jeff Bridges's page
- Jagged Edge1985IMDb rating 6.5Karen as Andrew HardestyBridges as Jack Forrester
- Kiss Me Goodbye1982IMDb rating 6.0Karen as LawyerBridges as Rupert
Karen Black2 films together, 1978 to 1986
Karen Black's page
- Invaders from Mars1986IMDb rating 5.6Karen as Gen. Climet WilsonBlack as Linda Magnusson
- Capricorn One1978IMDb rating 6.8Karen as Vice President PriceBlack as Judy Drinkwater
Oliver StoneDirector, 2 films, 1987 to 1999
All films by Oliver Stone
- Any Given Sunday1999IMDb rating 6.9Karen as Christina's Advisor
- Wall Street1987IMDb rating 7.3Karen as Lynch
Tobe HooperDirector, 2 films, 1982 to 1986
All films by Tobe Hooper
- Invaders from Mars1986IMDb rating 5.6Karen as Gen. Climet Wilson
- Poltergeist1982IMDb rating 7.3Karen as Mr. Teague
Mark GriffithsDirector, 2 films, 1986 to 1997
All films by Mark Griffiths
- Behind Enemy Lines1997IMDb rating 4.2Karen as TV Reporter
- Hardbodies 21986IMDb rating 3.4Karen as Logan
Also two films together22 more actors
- Hal HolbrookWall Street (1987) and Capricorn One (1978)
- John C. McGinleyAny Given Sunday (1999) and Wall Street (1987)
- Michael DouglasWall Street (1987) and The China Syndrome (1979)
- Laura LinneySympathy for Delicious (2010) and Congo (1995)
- Daniel RoebuckDark and Stormy Night (2009) and Jack and the Beanstalk (2009)
- Linnea QuigleyMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr.More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Don CalfaMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Brian HoweDark and Stormy Night (2009) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- Richard HerdThe China Syndrome (1979) and F.I.S.T. (1978)
- Bruce FrenchDark and Stormy Night (2009) and Jagged Edge (1985)
- Peter DonatThe China Syndrome (1979) and F.I.S.T. (1978)
- Brian PeckMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Donald HottonInvaders from Mars (1986) and The China Syndrome (1979)
- Romy RosemontDrew Peterson: Untouchable (2012) and Congo (1995)
- Edith FieldsMy Last Love (1999) and Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)
- Sam Chew Jr.Time Walker (1982) and F.I.S.T. (1978)
- Suzanne SnyderMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and Return of the Living Dead II (1988)
- Jewel ShepardMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Jonathan TerryReturn of the Living Dead II (1988) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Beverly RandolphMore Brains! A Return to the Living Dead (2011) and The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
- Sarah CunninghamJagged Edge (1985) and Frances (1982)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.