Biography
His dark, sincere good looks were steadily put to use on the small screen during the 80s, but, in retrospect, actor Ken Olin will probably be considered more of a major force behind the camera. Born in Chicago, Ken went to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and headed for Hollywood in the late 70s. After the typical route of bit parts, he started moving up in leaps and bounds on TV's top shows. A couple of strong, single season regular parts on both Hill Street Blues (1981)and Falcon Crest (1981) ultimately led to his casting as the introspective and quietly sexy Michael Steadman on Thirtysomething (1987), which ran for four seasons and nabbed numerous awards for its liberal writing and sensitive content. Ken co-starred with wife Patricia Wettig on the show, but the multi-Emmy winner Wettig did not play Ken's wife (actress Mel Harris did) and the public was often confused as to who Ken's wife really was. Ken also earned the chance to direct occasionally on Thirtysomething (1987) and this would have a significant impact as to the direction of his career in the years to come. Following Thirtysomething (1987), Ken pursued acting work in mini-movies as both hero ( Police Story: Cop Killer (1988) ) and villain ( Dead by Sunset (1995) ), but almost always seemed on the verge of leaving acting altogether. It was his burgeoning interest in directing that took over, and he has since found steady helming duties on such popular shows as Felicity (1998) and The West Wing (1999). His TV drama Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992)was nominated for three Emmys.
Filmography
all 52
TV Shows 28
Movies 24
Director 13
Producer 8
self 3
Tracker (2024)
The Story of Soaps (2020)
Grand Hotel (2019)
This Is Us (2016)
Zoo (2015)
The Slap (2015)
The Man in the High Castle (2015)
Sleepy Hollow (2013)
The Mob Doctor (2012)
Americana (2012)
Eli Stone (2008)
Brothers and Sisters (2006)
The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005)
Phenomenon II (2003)
Breaking News (2002)
Alias (2001)
Y2K (1999)
Evolution's Child (1999)
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
The West Wing (1999)
Judging Amy (1999)
Felicity (1998)
L.A. Doctors (1998)
The Advocate's Devil (1997)
Til There Was You (1997)
EZ Streets (1996)
Dead by Sunset (1995)
Kansas (1995)
Nothing But the Truth (1995)
In Pursuit of Honor (1995)
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf (1994)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993)
Telling Secrets (1993)
Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992)
The Broken Cord (1992)
Queens Logic (1991)
Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston (1990)
Police Story: Cop Killer (1988)
A Stoning in Fulham County (1988)
thirtysomething (1987)
I'll Take Manhattan (1987)
Tonight's the Night (1987)
There Must Be a Pony (1986)
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac (1984)
The Hitchhiker (1983)
Bay City Blues (1983)
Hotel (1982)
Ghost Story (1981)
Falcon Crest (1981)
Hill Street Blues (1981)
Women at West Point (1979)
Ratings
Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1954-07-30 (69 years old)
Birth PlaceChicago, United States of America
SpousePatricia Wettig
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsKenneth Edward Olin, Kenneth Edward "Ken" Olin
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