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Ken Olin

Not to be confused with Ken Olandt.
Ken Olin
Olin at the 41st Annual Emmy Awards in September 1989
Born
Kenneth Edward Olin

(1954-07-30) July 30, 1954 (age 70)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
Years active1976–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2

Kenneth Edward Olin (born July 30, 1954) is an American actor, television director, and producer. As an actor, Olin is known for his role as Michael Steadman in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething (1987–1991), for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama nomination in 1990. Olin later began working behind the scenes, as a director and producer. His credits as a producer include Alias (2001–2006), Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011), and This Is Us (2016–2022). Olin is married to actress Patricia Wettig.

Career

Acting

Olin made several guest appearances on episodic primetime TV in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His first series regular role was on the short-lived NBC comedy-drama Bay City Blues in 1983. He later joined the cast of NBC police drama Hill Street Blues playing Detective Harry Garibaldi from 1984 to 1985, and from 1985 to 1986 co-starred on the CBS prime time soap opera Falcon Crest as Father Christopher Rossini. Olin also guest-starred on Murder, She Wrote and Hotel before he was cast as Michael Steadman, one of the lead roles in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething. Debuting in 1987, the series received critical acclaim, setting a new bar for realism in the realm of prime-time drama.[1] For his performance, Olin was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1990.[2]

In 1996, Olin played a leading role in the short-lived CBS crime drama EZ Streets. From 1998 to 1999, he played the leading role in another short-lived CBS series, medical drama L.A. Doctors. He appeared along with wife Patricia Wettig in the 1995 television film Nothing But the Truth, and well as in Telling Secrets (1993) with Cybill Shepherd, The Advocate's Devil (1997) alongside Mariska Hargitay, and Evolution's Child (1999). His film credits include roles in Ghost Story (1981), Queens Logic (1991), and 'Til There Was You (1997).

From 2007 to 2011, Olin had a recurring role opposite wife Patricia Wettig in the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters. From 2015 to 2017, he had a recurring role in the CBS drama series, Zoo. In 2020, ABC ordered a sequel for Thirtysomething and Olin was set to return alongside Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield and Patricia Wettig; however, the project remains in development limbo. [3]

Producing and directing

Olin directed six episodes of Thirtysomething. He also directed television movies The Broken Cord (1992), Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992), In Pursuit of Honor (1995) and Phenomenon II (2003), as well as White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf (1994) for Buena Vista Pictures.[4] He directed episodes of L.A. Doctors, Judging Amy, Felicity, The West Wing, 23 episodes of Alias, 20 episodes of Brothers & Sisters, Sleepy Hollow, and 20 episodes of This Is Us.

Olin with Patricia Wettig on the red carpet at the 41st Annual Emmy Awards in 1989

Olin has been an executive producer on several television dramas, starting with the ABC action drama Alias (2001-2006). From 2006 to 2011, he was a producer on ABC's family drama Brothers & Sisters, and also appeared on a recurring basis.[5] His wife, Patricia Wettig, was also a regular cast member on the show. In the summer of 1990, Olin directed Wettig in a production of "My Mother Said I Never Should" at the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College.[6]

His other credits include Breaking News (2002), The Mob Doctor (2012-2013) and Sleepy Hollow. In 2016, he began producing NBC's family drama This Is Us, which received four Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series nominations during its run.[7]

Personal life

Olin was born to a Jewish family[8] in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a former Peace Corps official and pharmaceutical company owner.[9] He was raised in Highland Park, Illinois. He graduated from The Putney School in Putney, Vermont, in 1972.[10] He then completed his college career at the University of Pennsylvania. He is married to thirtysomething co-star, Patricia Wettig, with whom he has a son, Clifford, and a daughter, Roxanne, who appeared on The City.[11]

Filmography

as Actor

Year Title Role Notes
1978 The Paper Chase Timothy "The Man Who Would Be King"
1979 Women at West Point Board Member TV movie
1981 Ghost Story Young Sears James
1983–84 Bay City Blues Rock Padillo series regular (8 episodes)
1984 Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac David Frank TV movie
1984–85 Hill Street Blues Detective Harry Garibaldi recurring role (29 episodes)
1985–86 Falcon Crest Father Christopher series regular (17 episodes)
1986 There Must Be a Pony Jay Savage TV movie
1986 Murder, She Wrote Perry Revere "Deadline for Murder"
1987 Tonight's the Night Henry Fox TV movie
1987 I'll Take Manhattan Nat Lammerman Miniseries
1987 Hotel Mark Fredricks "Class of '72"
1987 The Hitchhiker Steve "Best Shot"
1987–91 thirtysomething Michael Steadman series regular (85 episodes)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama (1990)[12]
Nominated – Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1991)
1988 A Stoning in Fulham County Jim Sandler TV movie
1988 Police Story: Cop Killer Officer Manny Mandell TV movie
1990 Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston Charles Stuart TV movie
1991 Queens Logic Ray
1993 Telling Secrets Detective Jay Jensen TV movie
1995 Nothing But the Truth Doctor Peter Clayman TV movie
1995 Dead by Sunset Brad Cunningham Miniseries
1996–97 EZ Streets Detective Cameron Quinn series regular (12 episodes)
1997 'Till There Was You Gregory
1997 The Advocate's Devil Abe Ringel TV movie
1998–99 L.A. Doctors Dr. Roger Cattan series regular (24 episodes)
1999 Evolution's Child James Mydell TV movie
1999 Y2K Nick Cromwell TV movie
2001 Say Uncle unknown role TV movie
2001–02 Alias David McNeil 3 episodes
2002 Breaking News Richard Sloan "Pilot"
2005 The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie Ken Olin
2007–2011 Brothers & Sisters David Caplan recurring role (30 episodes)
2012 Americana Martin Garano TV movie
2013 Criminal Minds Bruce Morrison "All That Remains"
2015–17 Zoo Professor Robert Oz / Robert Oz recurring role (10 episodes)
2018 The Cloverfield Paradox Radio Voice (Voice Role)
2020 thirtysomething(else) Michael Steadman TV movie

as Director

Year Title Notes
1989–91 thirtysomething 6 episodes
* "No Promises" (1989)
  • "Courting Nancy" (1989)
  • "Pilgrims" (1989)
  • "The Other Shoe" (1990)
  • "Guns and Roses" (1990)
  • "Second Look" (1991)
1998–1999 L.A. Doctors 4 episodes
* "Maybe It's You" (1998)
  • "True Believers" (1999)
  • "O Captain, My Captain" (1999)
  • "Forty-Eight Minutes" (1999)
1992 The Broken Card TV movie
1992 Doing Time on Maple Drive TV movie
1994 White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf
1995 In Pursuit of Honor TV movie
1996 EZ Streets "Every Picture Tells a Story"
1999 Judging Amy "Witch Hunt"
1999–2000 Felicity 2 episodes
* "Family Affairs" (1999)
  • "True Colors" (2000)
2000 Freaks and Geeks "The Diary"
2000 The West Wing 3 episodes
* "Take Out the Trash Day" (2000)
  • "The White House Pro-Am" (2000)
  • "In This White House" (2000)
2001–05 Alias 23 episodes
Nominated – OFTA Television Award for Best Direction in a Drama Series (2002)
* "So It Begins" (2001)[13]
  • "Doppleganger" (2001)
  • "Mea Culpa" (2001)
  • "Page 47" (2002)
  • "Q & A" (2002)
  • "Rendezvous" (2002)
  • "The Enemy Walks In" (2002)
  • "The Indicator" (2002)
  • "Passage: Part 1" (2002)
  • "Passage: Part 2" (2002)
  • "Double Agent" (2003)
  • "A Dark Turn" (2003)
  • "Second Double" (2003)
  • "The Two" (2003)
  • "Repercussions" (2003)
  • "Conscious" (2003)
  • "Crossings" (2004)
  • "Hourglass" (2004)
  • "Resurrection" (2004)
  • "Authorized Personnel Only: Part 1" (2005)
  • "Authorized Personnel Only: Part 2" (2005)
  • "The Orphan" (2005)
  • "Prophet Five" (2005)
2002 Breaking News 2 episodes
* "Pilot" (2002)
  • "Hi, Noonan" (2002)
2003 The Wonderful World of Disney "Phenomenon II"
2006 Introducing Lennie Rose TV movie
2006–2011 Brothers & Sisters 20 episodes
* "Patriarchy" (2006)
  • "Family Portrait" (2006)
  • "Mistakes Were Made: Part 2" (2006)
  • "Matriarchy" (2007)
  • "Unaired Pilot" (2007)
  • "Home Front" (2007)
  • "Domestic Issues" (2007)
  • "Prior Commitments" (2008)
  • "Troubled Waters: Part 1" (2009)
  • "Troubled Waters: Part 2" (2009)
  • "Mexico" (2009)
  • "The Road Ahead" (2009)
  • "Breaking the News" (2009)
  • "The Wig Party" (2009)
  • "Time After Time: Part 1" (2010)
  • "Time After Time: Part 2" (2010)
  • "On the Road Again" (2010)
  • "A Righteous Kill" (2010)
  • "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (2011)
  • "Walker Down the Aisle" (2011)
2008 Eli Stone "Pilot"
2012 The Mob Doctor 2 episodes
* "Protect and Serve" (2012)
  • "Fluid Dynamics" (2012)
2013–14 Sleepy Hollow 4 episodes
* "Blood Moon" (2013)
  • "The Sin Eater" (2013)
  • "Bad Blood" (2014)
  • "This Is War" (2014)
2015 The Slap 4 episodes
* "Harry" (2015)
  • "Manolis" (2015)
  • "Connie" (2015)
  • "Ritchie" (2015)
2015 The Man in the High Castle "The Illustrated Woman"
2016–2022 This Is Us 32 episodes
* "The Big Three" (2016)
  • "The Big Day" (2017)
  • "Jack Pearson's Son" (2017)
  • "Moonshadow" (2017)
  • "A Father's Advice" (2017)
  • "Still There" (2017)
  • "Number One" (2017)
  • "Number Two" (2017)
  • "The Car" (2018)
  • "The Wedding" (2018)
  • "Nine Bucks" (2018)
  • "Vietnam" (2018)
  • "Sometimes" (2018)
  • "The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning" (2018)
  • "Songbird Road: Part Two" (2019)
  • "Her" (2019)
  • "Strangers" (2019)
  • "The Dinner and the Date" (2019)
  • "So Long, Marianne" (2019)
  • "New York, New York, New York" (2020)
  • "Strangers: Part Two" (2020)
  • "Forty: Part One" (2020)
  • "Forty: Part Two" (2020)
  • "Honestly" (2020)
  • "In the Room" (2021)
  • "I've Got This" (2021)"
  • "The Adirondacks" (2021)
  • "The Challenger" (2022)
  • "Katoby" (2022)
  • "The Train" (2022)
  • "Us" (2022)
2017 The Arrangement "Pilot"
2019 Grand Hotel "Pilot"
2024 Tracker 4 episodes
* "Klamath Falls" (2024)
  • "Missoula" (2024)
  • "Springland" (2024)
  • "The Storm" (2024)

as Producer

Year Title Notes
1995 Kansas TV movie (Executive Producer)
2002 Breaking News TV movie (Executive Producer)
2002–2006 Alias Executive Producer (83 episodes)
Co-Executive Producer (22 episodes)
Nominated – Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama (2004)
2003 The Wonderful World of Disney "Phenonmenon II" (Executive Producer)
2006 Introducing Lennie Rose TV movie (Executive Producer)
2006 Enemies "Pilot" (Executive Producer)
2006–2011 Brothers & Sisters Executive Producer (106 episodes)
2007 Brothers & Sisters: Family Album TV movie (Executive Producer)
2008 Eli Stone "Pilot" (Executive Producer)
2012–13 The Mob Doctor Executive Producer (7 episodes)
2013–14 Sleepy Hollow Executive Producer (20 episodes)
2016–2022 This Is Us Executive Producer (105 episodes)
Nominated – Black Reel Award for Outstanding Drama Series (as Producer) (2018)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series (as Producer) (2017-2019)[14]
Nominated – Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama (2019)
2017 The Arrangement "Pilot" (Executive Producer)
2019 Grand Hotel "Pilot" (Executive Producer)

References

  1. ^ Harris, Will (September 26, 2017). "Ken Olin Reflects on 'thirtysomething' at 30 and Similarities to 'This Is Us'".
  2. ^ "Ken Olin". www.goldenglobes.com.
  3. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 8, 2020). "'Thirtysomething': ABC Picks Up Sequel Series Pilot With Original Cast From Marshall Herskovitz & Ed Zwick".
  4. ^ "White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf (1994)" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  5. ^ Interview: producer Ken Olin on the new series of Brothers and Sisters, telegraph.co.uk, February 20, 2009
  6. ^ O'Haire, Patricia. "Vassar Inspires Theatrical Growing Pains". nydailynews.com.
  7. ^ "Ken Olin". Television Academy.
  8. ^ Elkin, Michael (December 21, 2006). "Jewish Jingle Belles?". The Jewish Exponent. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
  9. ^ Profile, filmreference.com; accessed July 31, 2015.
  10. ^ John J. O'Connor (May 28, 1991). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Saying Goodbye, Fondly, to a Bit of Reality on TV". New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  11. ^ "Ken Olin | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  12. ^ "Ken Olin". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  13. ^ "6th Annual TV Awards (2001-02) - Online Film & Television Association". Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  14. ^ "Ken Olin". Television Academy. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
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