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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.

Known For

7.0

Self

The Story of Soaps

2020

0.0

Self

Stars in the House

2020

6.7

Professor Robert Oz

Zoo

2015

1.2

Martin Garano

Americana

2012

7.1

David Caplan

Brothers and Sisters

2006

4.9

Ken Olin

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie

2005

5.0

Breaking News

2002

6.8

David McNeil (uncredited)

Alias

2001

3.5

Nick Cromwell

Y2K

1999

2.0

Evolution's Child

1999

Credits

The Story of Soaps

as Self

2020

7.0

Stars in the House

as Self

2020

0.0

Zoo

as Professor Robert Oz

2015

6.7

Americana

as Martin Garano

2012

1.2

Brothers and Sisters

as David Caplan

2006

7.1

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie

as Ken Olin

2005

4.9

Breaking News

2002

5.0

Alias

as David McNeil (uncredited)

2001

6.8

Y2K

as Nick Cromwell

1999

3.5

Evolution's Child

1999

2.0

L.A. Doctors

as Roger Cattan

1998

7.0

The Advocate's Devil

as Abe Ringel

1997

5.7

'Til There Was You

as Gregory

1997

3.9

EZ Streets

as Cameron Quinn

1996

5.5

Dead by Sunset

1995

7.4

Nothing But the Truth

as Dr. Peter Clayman

1995

0.0

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

as Self - Guest

1993

7.2

Telling Secrets

as Det. Jay Jensen

1993

4.6

Queens Logic

as Ray

1991

5.8

Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston

as Charles Stuart

1990

5.0

Police Story: Cop Killer

as Officer Manny Mandell

1988

3.0

A Stoning in Fulham County

as Jim Sandler

1988

5.5

thirtysomething

as Michael Steadman

1987

6.1

I'll Take Manhattan

as Nat Lammerman

1987

5.8

Tonight's the Night

as Henry Fox

1987

1.0

There Must Be a Pony

as Jay Savage

1986

6.2

Murder, She Wrote

as Perry Revere

1984

7.5

Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac

as David Frank

1984

4.7

The Hitchhiker

as Steve

1983

6.1

Bay City Blues

as Rocky Padillo

1983

5.0

Hotel

1982

6.8

Ghost Story

as Young Sears James

1981

6.0

Falcon Crest

as Christopher Rossini

1981

5.5

Hill Street Blues

as Harry Garibaldi

1981

7.6

Hill Street Blues

as Det. Harry Garibaldi

1981

7.6

Women at West Point

as Board Member

1979

0.0

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Audience Member

1944

7.2

Golden Globe Awards

as Self - Presenter

1944

7.2