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Born in October 1954, Ken Wahl was one of ten children. He left school at age 17 to drift through a variety of jobs before heading to California with a burning desire to succeed in the dramatic arts. Wahl was tall, handsome and athletically gifted, plus he oozed on screen appeal. Wahl's first key role was as the lead character of Richie Genaro, the head of a Bronx street gang, in The Wanderers (1979).
Two movies later he appeared alongside his onscreen hero Paul Newman in the explosive cop drama Fort Apache the Bronx (1981) . Wahl headlined again in his next film The Soldier (1982), about a covert assassin tracking down stolen nuclear arms. He appeared with Cheryl Ladd in the Vietnam war romance Purple Hearts (1984). He had roles in a few films before landing the TV role of undercover FBI agent Vinnie Terranova in "Wiseguy" (1987). The series ran successfully from 1987 to 1990 scoring Wahl a Golden Globe Award and was resurrected for a TV movie in 1996.
Unfortunately, Wahl had a motorcycle accident in 1992 and sustained life-threatening neck injuries and for many years battled addictions in an attempt to ease the chronic pain. He now manages his pain with professional medical assistance. He shares his life with third wife Shane Barbi and his four children: Louie, Raymond, Cody & Kyra.
| Shane Barbi | (17 September 1997 - present) |
| Corinne Wahl | (12 August 1983 - 1991) (divorced) 1 child |
| ? | (? - ?) (divorced) 3 children |
Ken was working as a gas station jockey in the Midwest when he decided to drive out to LA and try to his luck in Hollywood.
Wife Shane Barbi was a Playboy model and magazine cover girl in the early and mid-1990s, half of the famous blonde Barbi twins with identical-twin sister Sia.
Was arrested in December 1996 after pulling a knife on a bartender who refused to serve him any more alcohol at the Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel. Was charged with making a terrorist threat, assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a knife, and vandalism for $800 in damage done to the bar with the knife. Pleaded no contest, and was sentenced to a live-in alcohol rehabilitation program and ordered to pay the hotel damages. Was also ordered to stay away from the hotel and write a letter of apology to the bartender.
First wife, actress Corinne Alphen Wahl was Penthouse Pet of the Year in mid 1980s.
Selling personally designed September 11th commerative American Flags, for $155 each on his web site (August 2002)
Crashed his motorcycle at age 15 and again in 1984 as he was on his way to a meeting with Diane Keaton to co-star in Mrs. Soffel. The part went to Mel Gibson.
He chose the stage name of Ken Wahlis in honor of a man who saved his father's life in the Korean War.
Has four children. One child, Raymond, is from his first marriage. Three children, Louie, Cody and Kyra, are from his second.
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