James Karen is a veteran actor of Broadway, television and film. As a young man, he was encouraged to be an Actor by U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood, who was an amateur actor himself. In 1947, James made his Broadway debut in "A Streetcar Named Desire", and this led to appearances in over 20 Broadway productions. His television work began in 1948 with the telecast of "A Christmas Carol", directed by the pioneer television director Fred Coe. Since then, he has acted in over 100 television shows, most recently as Chief Justice Michael Bancroft on First Monday for CBS. In 1965, he began his film work in Frankenstein Meets the Spacemonster and now has an impressive resume of over 80 films to his credit. He has filmed a record breaking 5,000 plus television commercials, most while a spokesperson for the Pathmark Supermarket chain. Mr. Karen has been honoured with the "Saturn Award" for Lifetime Achievement given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. James has also been presented "The Buster Award", by The International Buster Keaton Society. This award is given to the person who has demonstrated professional excellence in the tradition of Buster Keaton.


Became an actor thanks to the insistence of U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood (who was himself an amateur thespian). In 2001, he received the "Buster" award, an annual honour given to one who demonstrates professional excellence in the tradition of Buster Keaton. He was a close friend of Buster Keaton and Eleanor Keaton and toured with the legendary comedian on the 1950s stage with "Merton of the Movies" and in the Samuel Beckett film entitled Film (1965). He's the son of a produce dealer and a folk singer.