James Karen

November 28, 1923 - October 23, 2018 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. James Karen (November 28, 1923 - October 23, 2018) was an American character actor of Broadway, film and television. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Karen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

His titles like The Pursuit of Happyness, Mulholland Drive, and The Return of the Living Dead - his biggest roles first.
Last updated: August 18, 2026

Watched: 0/77

Weighted avg: 6.94 /10

1

1

The Pursuit of Happyness

2006December 2006 by Gabriele Muccino

Supporting as Martin Frohm

Supporting as Martin Frohm

7.56 Excellent-
2

2

Mulholland Drive

2001June 2001 by David Lynch

Minor role as Wally Brown

Minor role as Wally Brown

7.46 Excellent-
3

3

The Return of the Living Dead

1985April 1985 by Dan O'Bannon

Starring as Frank

Starring as Frank

6.79 Good+
4

4

Poltergeist

1982June 1982 by Tobe Hooper

Minor role as Mr. Teague

Minor role as Mr. Teague

6.75 Good
5

5

Wall Street

1987December 1987 by Oliver Stone

Minor role as Lynch

Minor role as Lynch

6.75 Good
6

6

Any Given Sunday

1999December 1999 by Oliver Stone

Minor role as Christina's Advisor

Minor role as Christina's Advisor

6.38 Good-
7

7

Return of the Living Dead Part II

1988January 1988 by Ken Wiederhorn

Supporting as Ed

Supporting as Ed

5.90 Okay++
8

8

Congo

1995June 1995 by Frank Marshall

Minor role as College President / Elliot's Boss

Minor role as College President / Elliot's Boss

5.14 Okay--
9

9

Apt Pupil

1998October 1998 by Bryan Singer

Minor role as Victor Bowden

Minor role as Victor Bowden

6.08 Okay++
10

10

Hercules in New York

1970February 1970 by Arthur Allan Seidelman

Supporting as Professor Camden

Supporting as Professor Camden

3.82 Weak++
11

11

The China Syndrome

1979March 1979 by James Bridges

Minor role as Mac Churchill

Minor role as Mac Churchill

6.66 Good
12

12

Capricorn One

1977December 1977 by Peter Hyams

Minor role as Vice President Price

Minor role as Vice President Price

6.32 Good--
13

13

Invaders from Mars

1986June 1986 by Tobe Hooper

Supporting as Gen. Climet Wilson

Supporting as Gen. Climet Wilson

5.18 Okay--
14

14

Jagged Edge

1985October 1985 by Richard Marquand

Minor role as Andrew Hardesty

Minor role as Andrew Hardesty

5.81 Okay+
15

15

Up Close & Personal

1996March 1996 by Jon Avnet

Minor role as Tom Orr

Minor role as Tom Orr

5.84 Okay+
16

16

F.I.S.T.

1978April 1978 by Norman Jewison

Minor role as Andrews

Minor role as Andrews

6.07 Okay++
17

17

The Great Buster: A Celebration

2018October 2018 by Peter Bogdanovich

Starring as Self

Starring as Self

6.48 Good-
18

18

Frances

1982December 1982 by Graeme Clifford

Supporting as Juge Hillier

Supporting as Juge Hillier

6.34 Good-
19

19

Film

1965September 1965 by Alan Schneider

Starring as Passerby

Starring as Passerby

6.34 Good-
20

20

The Butterfly Room

2012August 2012 by Jonathan Zarantonello

Minor role as Sales Clerk

Minor role as Sales Clerk

5.37 Okay-
21

21

Piranha

1995October 1995 by Scott P. Levy

Supporting as Governor

Supporting as Governor

4.73 Mediocre+
22

22

Jack and the Beanstalk

2009November 2009 by Gary J. Tunnicliffe

Supporting as Saddius

Supporting as Saddius

5.14 Okay--
23

23

The Unborn

1991March 1991 by Rodman Flender

Starring as Dr. Richard Meyerling

Starring as Dr. Richard Meyerling

5.21 Okay--
24

24

Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster

1965September 1965 by Robert Gaffney

Starring as Dr. Steele

Starring as Dr. Steele

5.19 Okay--
25

25

The Willies

1990December 1990 by Brian Peck

Supporting as Jenkins / Uncle Harry

Supporting as Jenkins / Uncle Harry

5.62 Okay
26

26

Time Walker

1982November 1982 by Tom Kennedy

Supporting as Dr. Wendell J. Rossmore

Supporting as Dr. Wendell J. Rossmore

4.85 Mediocre++
27

27

Hardbodies 2

1986September 1986 by Mark Griffiths

Starring as Logan

Starring as Logan

4.84 Mediocre++
28

28

Joyride

1997November 1997 by Quinton Peeples

Supporting as The Client / Mayor

Supporting as The Client / Mayor

5.37 Okay-
29

29

America's Most Haunted

2013May 2013 by Chris Randall

Starring as Ralph George

Starring as Ralph George

5.33 Okay-
30

30

Shadow of Doubt

1998April 1998 by Randal Kleiser

Minor role as Norman Calloway

Minor role as Norman Calloway

5.10 Okay--
31

31

Sympathy for Delicious

2010April 2010 by Mark Ruffalo

Supporting as Father Rohn

Supporting as Father Rohn

5.65 Okay
32

32

Girl

1998November 1998 by Jonathan Kahn

Minor role as Dad

Minor role as Dad

5.28 Okay-
33

33

Kiss Me Goodbye

1982December 1982 by Robert Mulligan

Minor role as Lawyer

Minor role as Lawyer

5.71 Okay+
34

34

More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead

2011October 2011 by Bill Philputt

Minor role as Himself

Minor role as Himself

6.49 Good-
35

35

Drew Peterson: Untouchable

2014January 2014 by Mikael Salomon

Minor role as Pastor Tom Keller

Minor role as Pastor Tom Keller

5.48 Okay
36

36

I Never Sang for My Father

1970October 1970 by Gilbert Cates

Minor role as Old Age Home Director

Minor role as Old Age Home Director

6.12 Good--
37

37

Tough and Deadly

1995February 1995 by Steve Cohen

Supporting as Winston Briggers

Supporting as Winston Briggers

5.67 Okay+
38

38

Universal Horror

1998October 1998 by Kevin Brownlow

Supporting as Self - Interviewee

Supporting as Self - Interviewee

6.21 Good--
39

39

Little House: The Last Farewell

1984February 1984 by Michael Landon

Starring as Nathan Lassiter

Starring as Nathan Lassiter

6.18 Good--
40

40

Behind Enemy Lines

1997May 1997 by Mark Griffiths

Minor role as TV Reporter

Minor role as TV Reporter

5.48 Okay
41

41

Cynthia

2018August 2018 by Kenny Gage

Supporting as Frank Teague

Supporting as Frank Teague

5.49 Okay
42

42

Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk

2017May 2017 by Eric Stoltz

Supporting as Interviewee #1

Supporting as Interviewee #1

5.52 Okay
43

43

So Funny It Hurt: Buster Keaton & MGM

2004December 2004 by Christopher Bird

Lead role as Self - Host / Narrator

Lead role as Self - Host / Narrator

Needs more reviews
44

44

Girlfriend from Hell

1989April 1989 by Dan Peterson

Minor role as Carl's Dad

Minor role as Carl's Dad

5.56 Okay
45

45

The Companion

1994October 1994 by Gary Fleder

Supporting as Peter Franklin

Supporting as Peter Franklin

5.73 Okay+
46

46

Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow

1987

Supporting

Supporting

6.13 Good--
47

47

Freedom Strike

1998September 1998 by Jerry P. Jacobs

Supporting as President Mitchell

Supporting as President Mitchell

5.65 Okay
48

48

Vital Signs

1990April 1990 by Marisa Silver

Minor role as Dean of Students

Minor role as Dean of Students

5.47 Okay
49

49

Dark and Stormy Night

2009October 2009 by Larry Blamire

Minor role as Seyton Ethelquake

Minor role as Seyton Ethelquake

5.85 Okay+
50

50

Take This Job and Shove It

1981April 1981 by Gus Trikonis

Minor role as Loomis

Minor role as Loomis

5.69 Okay+
51

51

Trail of the Screaming Forehead

2007June 2007 by Larry Blamire

Minor role as Reverend Beaks

Minor role as Reverend Beaks

5.58 Okay
52

52

Ambush at Dark Canyon

2012October 2012 by Dustin Rikert

Minor role as Seymour Redfield

Minor role as Seymour Redfield

5.45 Okay
53

53

Amazing Grace

1974August 1974 by Stan Lathan

Supporting as Annenberg

Supporting as Annenberg

Needs more reviews
54

54

The Powers of Matthew Star

1982–1983 by Harve Bennett

Supporting as Major Wymore

Supporting as Major Wymore

Needs more reviews
55

55

River Made to Drown In

1997October 1997 by James Merendino

Supporting as Ray

Supporting as Ray

5.74 Okay+
56

56

Rivals

1972August 1972 by Krishna Shah

Supporting as Child Psychiatrist

Supporting as Child Psychiatrist

5.85 Okay+
57

57

Bonanza: Under Attack

1995January 1995 by Mark Tinker

Minor role as Mr. Stewart

Minor role as Mr. Stewart

6.06 Okay++
58

58

The Closer

1990January 1990 by Dimitri Logothetis

Starring as Ned Randall

Starring as Ned Randall

Needs more reviews
59

59

They Won't Stay Dead: A Look at 'Return of the Living Dead Part II'

2011October 2011

Starring as Himself

Starring as Himself

Needs more reviews
60

60

Bender

2016October 2016 by John Alexander

Starring as Old Man Bender

Starring as Old Man Bender

Needs more reviews
61

61

Notfilm

2015October 2015 by Ross Lipman

Supporting as Self

Supporting as Self

Needs more reviews
62

62

Shattered Dreams

1990May 1990 by Robert Iscove

Supporting as Charles O'Donnell

Supporting as Charles O'Donnell

Needs more reviews
63

63

My Last Love

1999January 1999 by Michael Schultz

Minor role as Phil Morton

Minor role as Phil Morton

Needs more reviews
64

64

Nightman

1997November 1997 by Nick Daniel

Minor role as Secretary of Defense Laughton

Minor role as Secretary of Defense Laughton

Needs more reviews
65

65

A Kiss Goodnight

1994June 1994 by Daniel Raskov

Supporting as Sam Mosbach

Supporting as Sam Mosbach

Needs more reviews
66

66

Always Say Goodbye

1997June 1997 by Joshua Beckett

Supporting as William Tager

Supporting as William Tager

Needs more reviews
67

67

The Gathering

1977December 1977 by Randal Kleiser

Supporting as Bob Block

Supporting as Bob Block

Needs more reviews
68

68

F.D.R.: The Last Year

1980May 1980 by Anthony Page

Supporting as Adm. McIntire

Supporting as Adm. McIntire

Needs more reviews
69

69

Something for Joey

1977April 1977 by Lou Antonio

Minor role as Dr. Wingreen

Minor role as Dr. Wingreen

Needs more reviews
70

70

The Cowboy and the Movie Star

1998June 1998 by Mark Griffiths

Minor role as Brad Peters

Minor role as Brad Peters

Needs more reviews
71

71

Sam's Son

1984August 1984 by Michael Landon

Minor role as Mr. Collins

Minor role as Mr. Collins

Needs more reviews
72

72

The China Syndrome: A Fusion of Talent

2004October 2004 by Laurent Bouzereau

Supporting as Self

Supporting as Self

Needs more reviews
73

73

First Monday

2002 by Donald P. Bellisario

Supporting as Michael Bancroft

Supporting as Michael Bancroft

Needs more reviews
74

74

The Violation of Sarah McDavid

1981May 1981 by John Llewellyn Moxey

Minor role as Dr. Spandler

Minor role as Dr. Spandler

Needs more reviews
75

75

Institute for Revenge

1979January 1979 by Ken Annakin

Minor role as Power Broker

Minor role as Power Broker

Needs more reviews
76

76

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion

1993November 1993 by Harry Harris

Minor role as Assistant District Attorney Al Sampson

Minor role as Assistant District Attorney Al Sampson

Needs more reviews
77

77

Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

2021February 2021 by Laura McCullogh

Minor role as Self

Minor role as Self

Needs more reviews