Ken Wahl

Ken Wahl
Born	October 31, 1954 (1954-10-31) (age 55) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Years active	1969–present
Spouse(s)	Corinne Alphen (1984-1991) Shane Barbi (1997-Present)

Ken Wahl (born October 31, 1954) is an award winning American film and television actor popular in the 80’s and 90's. In addition to co-starring with such greats as Paul Newman and Brad Pitt, Ken's accolades include a critically hailed television show, two-time recipient of the title of Sexiest Man on TV, an Emmy nod for best actor, and winning a Golden Globe. He was in high demand for lead roles until an unfortunate accident forced him to retire from acting and rendered him completely reclusive (Beverly Hills Times Magazine).

Career

An article in Beverly Hills Times tells how Wahl received his big break in 1979 walking on to the set of the The Wanderers as an extra and legendary director, Phil Kaufman, took notice and recognized Wahl’s natural acting talent. He then cast him as the leading man (Richie) in that film.^[1] Lead roles in twelve major movies and a highly acclaimed television show quickly followed.

He was cast opposite Paul Newman and Edward Asner in Fort Apache, The Bronx(1981), Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine in The Dirty Dozen, Next Mission (1985), and Brad Pitt and Elizabeth McGovern in The Taking of Beverly Hills (1991). He was the lead in the movies Race for the Yankee Zephyr (1981) with Lesley Ann Warren as his leading lady, The Soldier (1982), Jinxed (1982) with Bette Midler, Purple Hearts (1984) with Cheryl Ladd, The Gladiator (1986), Omega Syndrome (1987) , Search for Grace (1994) with Lisa Hartman and The Favor (1994).

In 1987 he landed the lead in the television show Wiseguy as Vincent Michael “Vinnie” Terranova. The show ran until 1990 and brought Wahl a Golden Globe award. Hulu describes Wahl in the role as charismatic and as having “credibility and chutzpah” as an FBI agent that goes under deep-cover (as a Wiseguy) and further explains how the show was the predecessor to “countless” shows with a self-contained plot. Wahl also wrote an episode for Wiseguy in 1989 and made his directorial debut for an episode in 1990. In 1996 the movie Wiseguy was made, based on the popular television show, bringing back Wahl’s character Vinnie to once again foil the bad guys. His return performance was deemed “virtuoistic” by the New York Times.^[2]

Entertainment Weekly said Ken Wahl’s "chiseled chin and picture-perfect pompadour" made him the "hottest hunk since Tom Cruise" and US Magazine put him on the cover in April '89, proclaiming him TV's "Stud-Muffin Du Jour". Wahl’s apparent magnetism was drawing the fans in droves, both male and female. Entertainment Weekly said that “all the guys wanted to share a beer with him and all the gals wanted to share a bed with him." ^[3]

His career came to a complete halt at its peak, when an accident falling down marble stairs gave him a severe and permanent neck injury, leaving him almost paralyzed and legally disabled.^[4]

Personal life

In his interview in 2009, Wahl said that he enjoys his life away from the camera stating that he was always a private and introverted person. Wahl’s wife Shane is his full time caretaker and tends to his daily needs due to the handicap from chronic daily pain stemming from his broken neck. She and Ken are both animal activists. When Wahl is not doing physical therapy, he helps his favorite animal charities and the Disabled Vets.^[5][1]

Although his fans can no longer see him in new film or television shows, they can keep up to date with him by visiting his new official website launched in 2009, which includes never before seen personal family pictures, the lawsuit and the full story of his life, as told to his family friend and web designer, Renee (who is the daughter of the legendary country music icon, Willie Nelson).

Marriages

Ken Wahl married his first wife, Corrine Alphen, in 1984 and divorced in 1991. They had one child, Raymond.

Wahl married his second wife, Playboy's Barbi Twin, Shane Barbi in 1997. The E! True Hollywood Story said the marriage of "Ken and Barbi" created major headlines around the world and called Ken and Shane Barbi, 'Hollywoods Hottest Couple'. ^[6]

Legal Issues

According to a lawsuit filed in March, 2009, Wahl’s former business manager Harry Levine, hid important records and embezzled his money resulting in Wahl’s inability to visit doctors, as well as leaving him broke and in severe debt. His ex-wife Corinne Alphen was also named in the lawsuit for a conspiracy with Levine to embezzle money despite Wahl leaving a reported 80% of his total earnings and all his houses (including a Malibu Mansion ) to his Ex for their son Ray Wahl. The action of Wahl’s lawyer not only caused great financial burdens on Wahl but the lack of the important documents, Wahl states, caused him to suppress the pain from his neck injury by self-medicating with the only means immediately available, alcohol. The alcohol became the beginning of a series of problems, including an arrest for public intoxication in 1996.^[7]

In popular culture

The Television show Wiseguy has shown up in "Top 100 Best Shows Ever" categories for television in both Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide.^[8] He continues to have a cult following even 15 years after his last acting role, and gets notable mentions in popular crosswords puzzles, the annual Almanac, and even a category in a 2009 episode of Jeopardy. He also was mentioned in an episode of The Simpsons, episode "This Little Wiggy", with Wahl playing Inspector Clouseau in "The Return of The Pink Panther Returns."

References

External links

• Official Ken Wahl website
• Ken Wahl at the Internet Movie Database
• NNDB
• Interview with Wahl, The New York Times, 1981