James Karen

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] His big break came when he was asked to understudy Karl Malden in the original Broadway production of A Streecar Named Desire .

On television 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. He is also well-known on the east coast for his 20 years as television and radio spokesman for the Pathmark supermarket chain. He also appeared on the Golden Girls as a prospective love interest for Dorothy.

His notable film credits include the 1982's Poltergeist, 1985's The Return of the Living Dead, 1987's Wall Street and most recently in 2006's The Pursuit of Happyness. Full filmography is below.

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

Filmography

• Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy (2006)
• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
• Superman Returns (2006)
• Unscripted" (TV Series) (2005)
• Flickering Blue (2003)
• Mulholland Drive (2001)
• Thirteen Days (2000)
• Any Given Sunday (1999)
• Behind Enemy Lines (1997)
• Joyride (1996)
• Spycraft - the great game (PC Game) (1996)
• Nixon (1995)
• The Willies (1991)
• Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)
• Wall Street (1987)
• Invaders from Mars (1986)
• Hardbodies 2 (1986)
• The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
• Jagged Edge (1985)
• Time Walker (1982)
• Poltergeist (1982)
• Take This Job and Shove It (1981)
• The Jazz Singer (1980)
• The China Syndrome (1979)
• Capricorn One (1978)
• Hercules in New York (1970)
• Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965)

References

Further Reading

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

External links

• James Karen at the Internet Movie Database
• Great Character Actors / James Karen
• Pathmark TV commercial with James Karen (YouTube)