James Karen

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James Karen
Born James Karnofsky
November 28, 1923 (1923-11-28) (age 85)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other name(s) Mr. Pathmark
Tinch
Spouse(s) Susan Reed (1958-1967) (divorced) 1 child
Alba Francesca (1986-present)

James Karen (born November 28, 1923) is an American character actor of Broadway, film and television.

Karen was born Jacob Karnofsky in Wilkes-Barre, Northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Mae (née Freed) and Joseph H. Karnofsky, a produce dealer.[1][2] As a young man, Karen was encouraged to be an actor by U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood, who was an amateur thespian himself, recruiting him into a production at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre. He attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York.[3]

On the television soap operas, he played Dr. Burke on As the World Turns and was the original Lincoln Tyler on All My Children. He is perhaps best known for his recurring role on the television series Eight Is Enough and for his role in the 1985 horror film cult classics The Return of the Living Dead and Poltergeist .. He is also well-known on the east coast for his 20 years as television and radio spokesman for the Pathmark supermarket chain.

He was married, for a time, to recording folk singer Susan Reed.

Contents

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

[edit] Further Reading

Voisin, Scott, "Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting." BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 9-781593-933425.

[edit] External links


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