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IMDbPro

James Karen(1923-2018)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
James Karen
The unsettling true story of America's first serial killing family. A troubled doctor searches for patients swallowed by the prairie and encounters the Benders, homesteaders trapped by a life of unspeakable sin.
Play trailer1:10
Bender (2016)
14 Videos
13 Photos
Veteran Broadway, TV and film actor James Karen was encouraged as a young man to take up an acting career by U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood, who was an amateur actor himself. In 1947 Karen made his Broadway debut in "A Streetcar Named Desire", which led to appearances in over 20 Broadway productions. His television work began in 1948 with the telecast of "A Christmas Carol", directed by pioneer television producer / director Fred Coe. Since then he has acted in over 100 television shows, including a stint as as Chief Justice Michael Bancroft on First Monday (2002) for CBS. In 1965 he began his film work in the low-budget sci-fi "epic" Frankenstein contre le monstre de l'espace (1965) and now has an impressive resume of over 80 movies to his credit. He has also filmed a record-breaking 5,000+ television commercials, most while a spokesperson for the Pathmark Supermarket chain in the northeast US. He has been honored with the "Saturn Award" for Lifetime Achievement given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. He has also been presented "The Buster Award", by The International Buster Keaton Society. This award is given to the person who has demonstrated professional excellence in the tradition of Buster Keaton.
BornNovember 28, 1923
DiedOctober 23, 2018(94)
BornNovember 28, 1923
DiedOctober 23, 2018(94)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 1 win & 2 nominations

Photos13

James Karen and Susan Reed in Film (1965)
James Karen in Film (1965)
Stephen Collins and James Karen in Les hommes du président (1976)
Craig T. Nelson and James Karen in Poltergeist (1982)
James Karen and Thom Mathews in Le retour des morts vivants (1985)
James Karen and Rhea Perlman in Cheers (1982)
Steven Spielberg, Craig T. Nelson, and James Karen in Poltergeist (1982)
Craig T. Nelson and James Karen in Poltergeist (1982)
James Karen in Tough and Deadly (1995)
Steven Spielberg, Tobe Hooper, Craig T. Nelson, and James Karen in Poltergeist (1982)
James Gammon, James Karen, Ryan Little, and Brian Peck in Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy (2006)
Don Calfa, Clu Gulager, James Karen, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, and Allan Trautman in Le retour des morts vivants (1985)

Known for:

Le retour des morts vivants (1985)
Le retour des morts vivants
7.3
  • Frank
  • 1985
Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist
7.3
  • Mr. Teague
  • 1982
Laura Harring and Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive (2001)
Mulholland Drive
7.9
  • Wally Brown
  • 2001
Will Smith and Jaden Smith in À la recherche du bonheur (2006)
À la recherche du bonheur
8.0
  • Martin Frohm
  • 2006

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Cynthia (2018)
    Cynthia
    4.6
    • Frank Teague
    • 2018
  • Paul Adelstein, Tara Summers, Kit DeZolt, Nicholas Harsin, Lauren Lakis, and Sasha Feldman in Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk (2017)
    Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk
    5.9
    • Interviewee #1
    • 2017
  • Thomas Haden Church, Debra Messing, Nadia Dajani, and Greg Germann in Ned et Stacey (1995)
    Ned et Stacey
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Patrick Kirkland
    • 1996–2017
  • James Karen in Humanity (2016)
    Humanity
    Short
    • Allen
    • 2016
  • Bender (2016)
    Bender
    4.6
    • Old Man Bender
    • 2016
  • Rain from Stars (2013)
    Rain from Stars
    6.4
    • Spencer
    • 2013
  • Green Briefs (2013)
    Green Briefs
    7.6
    Video
    • Anthony
    • 2013
  • America's Most Haunted (2013)
    America's Most Haunted
    4.5
    • Ralph George
    • 2013
  • Embuscade à Dark Canyon (2012)
    Embuscade à Dark Canyon
    4.9
    • Seymour Redfield
    • 2012
  • Patrick Stewart, Curtis Armstrong, Dee Bradley Baker, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jeff Fischer, Scott Grimes, David Koechner, Seth MacFarlane, Kevin Michael Richardson, Wendy Schaal, Daisuke Suzuki, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Mike Barker, Mike Henry, Rachael MacFarlane, and Matt McKenna in American Dad! (2005)
    American Dad!
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Larry Herman (voice)
    • 2012
  • The Butterfly Room (2012)
    The Butterfly Room
    5.4
    • Taxidermist
    • 2012
  • Rob Lowe in L'intouchable Drew Peterson (2012)
    L'intouchable Drew Peterson
    6.0
    TV Movie
    • Pastor Tom Keller
    • 2012
  • Pride (2011)
    Pride
    7.0
    Short
    • Anthony
    • 2011
  • Jamie Kennedy, Sanaa Lathan, Will Forte, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Arianna Huffington, Seth MacFarlane, Kevin Michael Richardson, Craig Robinson, Jason Sudeikis, John Viener, Glenn Howerton, Alec Sulkin, Mike Henry, Nickie Bryar, and Aseem Batra in The Cleveland Show (2009)
    The Cleveland Show
    5.6
    TV Series
    • (voice)
    • 2011
  • Sympathy for Delicious (2010)
    Sympathy for Delicious
    5.6
    • Father Rohn
    • 2010

Writer

  • Alba Francesca, James Karen, and Rocky Schenck in Space Invaders (1988)
    Space Invaders
    Video
    • Writer
    • 1988

Producer

  • Alba Francesca, James Karen, and Rocky Schenck in Space Invaders (1988)
    Space Invaders
    Video
    • producer
    • 1988

Videos14

Official Trailer
Trailer 1:08
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 0:40
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:10
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:37
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:58
Official Trailer
Return of the Living Dead II
Trailer 1:41
Return of the Living Dead II
The Unborn
Trailer 1:35
The Unborn
Time Walker
Trailer 2:10
Time Walker
Ambush At Dark Canyon
Trailer 2:00
Ambush At Dark Canyon
Always Say Goodbye
Trailer 2:17
Always Say Goodbye
Sympathy for Delicious
Trailer 2:11
Sympathy for Delicious
Apt Pupil
Trailer 2:32
Apt Pupil

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative name
    • Jim Karen
  • Height
    • 1.75 m
  • Born
    • November 28, 1923
    • Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Died
    • October 23, 2018
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(cardiac arrest)
  • Spouses
      Alba FrancescaJune 25, 1989 - October 23, 2018 (his death, 1 child)
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared (as a cast replacement) in original Broadway run of "A Streetcar Named Desire", 1947 (his Broadway debut).
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Interviews

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Did commercials for the Pathmark supermarket chain for 3 decades earning the nickname of "Mr. Pathmark".
  • Quotes
    People don't know my name, but they know my face because I've done so damn much work.
  • Nicknames
    • Mr. Pathmark
    • Tinch
    • Jimmy

FAQ12

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  • How old was James Karen when he died?

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