James Karen
James Karen (born Jacob Karnofsky; November 28, 1923) is an American character actor of Broadway, film and television. Karen is best remembered for his roles in Poltergeist, The Return of the Living Dead, Invaders from Mars, and in The Pursuit of Happyness.
Karen is also known for his recurring television role as Eliot Randolph in Eight is Enough. He also appeared in commercials for Pathmark which earned his nickname "Mr. Pathmark". He was nominated for a Saturn Award for his role in The Return of the Living Dead in 1985.
Early life
Karen was born Jacob Karnofsky in Wilkes-Barre, in northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Mae (née Freed) and Joseph H. Karnofsky, a produce dealer.
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.
Career
Podcasts:
Karen James
ALBUMS
- Classic Canadian Songs released: 2006
Classic Canadian Songs
Released 2006- Les fraises et les framboises / Le festin de campagne / Ah ! Si mon moine voulait danser
- Lord MacDonald's Reel
- The Land of the Muskeg (And the Shining Birch Tree)
- Cree Greeting Song (Shaking Hands Song)
- Le reel de l'harmonica (Reel de Rimouski)
- The Northern Trappers' Rendezvous
- The Alberta Homesteader
- A Poor Lone Girl in Saskatchewan
- When the Ice Worms Nest Again
- The Oda G.
- The Ballad of Weldon Chan
- Chanson de Riel
- Tim Finnegan's Wake
- I's the B'y
- Tonts, tonts!
- The Welcome Table
- The Heel and Toe Polka
- Cree Prisoner's Song
- Un Canadien errant
- Maggie Howie
- Constitution Breakdown
- 'N Uair Nighidh Tù
- Anti-Confederation Song
- Danse carré
- The Black Fly Song
- Hogan's Lake
- She's Like the Swallow
- The Gay Gordons (Scotland the Brave)
- Nootka Farewell Song
- Moose and Bear Calls
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