- Born
- Birth nameRichard Karn Wilson
- Nickname
- Rich
- Height5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Richard Karn was born on February 17, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, the son of Gene and Louise Wilson. He has a sister named Sue. His birth name was Richard Karn Wilson, but he shortened it to Richard Karn because there was already a Richard Wilson registered with the Screen Actors Guild. He did his first acting in the fifth grade and was very active in drama in high school. He spent six months in England and attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1979 with a degree in drama. During his career, Richard has performed in many off-Broadway productions. His filmography includes 11 feature films and several made-for-TV movies and television series, including 8 years as Al Borland on Home Improvement with Tim Allen.- IMDb mini biography by: Mandie <mandie95@starlink.com>
- SpouseTudi Roche(October 19, 1985 - present) (1 child)
- Children
- Beard
- His exciting, gravelly voice
- Worked as an apartment building manager prior to his success on Home Improvement (1991), and even maintained that job during the show's first season until he knew that Home Improvement (1991) would be successful.
- Was not the original actor chosen to be Al on Home Improvement (1991). Stephen Tobolowsky was originally cast and Richard filled in as a favor to the directors of the pilot, when Stephen wasn't available. Once Stephen decided to pursue a movie career, Richard agreed to stay on as Al.
- His last name is omitted from his stage name because it was discovered that the Screen Actors Guild already had an actor by the name of Richard Wilson.
- Karn and his wife, actress Tudi Roche (who periodically appeared on Home Improvement (1991) as one of Jill Taylor's sisters) have one child, a son, Cooper Karn.
- His father, Gene, is a retired building contractor. His mother, Louise, was a painter (she died of bone marrow cancer in 1983).
- (Commenting on the death of his mother, who succumbed to cancer in 1983): "I thought my parents were invincible. It never occurred to me she would die."
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