James Karen

James Karen (born Jacob Karnofsky; November 28, 1923 – October 23, 2018) was an American character actor of Broadway, film and television. Karen is known for his roles in Poltergeist, The China Syndrome, Wall Street, The Return of the Living Dead, Invaders from Mars and The Pursuit of Happyness, but was perhaps best known as the signature pitchman for Pathmark, famously appearing in commercials for the East Coast supermarket chain from the late 1970s to the early 1990s which earned his nickname "Mr. Pathmark".

Karen is also known for his recurring television role as Tom Bradford's boss, Eliot Randolph, in Eight Is Enough. He was nominated for a Saturn Award for his 1985 role in The Return of the Living Dead. He also appeared in an episode of Cheers as Frasier's mentor and the father of Carla's sixth child.

Early life Karen was born Jacob Karnofsky in Wilkes-Barre, in northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Mae (née Freed) and Joseph H. Karnofsky, a produce dealer. His cousin was Morris Carnovsky, a prominent actor and co-founder of the Group Theatre.

As a young man, Karen was encouraged to be an actor by U.S. Democratic Congressman Daniel J. Flood, who was an amateur thespian himself, recruiting him into a production at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre. He attended the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York. Karen also served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

Career Karen's big break came when he was asked to understudy Karl Malden in the original Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

On television, he played Dr. Burke on As the World Turns and was the original Lincoln Tyler on All My Children. He was perhaps best known for his recurring role on the television series Eight Is Enough. He is also well-known on the East Coast for his 20 years as television and radio spokesman for the Pathmark supermarket chain. On the streets of New York, Karen was known as "Mr. Pathmark". Karen was a lifelong member of The Actors Studio. Karen's other notable film credits include The China Syndrome and Oliver Stone's Wall Street. Later in his career, Karen was recognized for his role as Martin Frohm in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness. with whom he had one son, Reed. Reed's godfather was Buster Keaton, Karen and Reed divorced in 1967. He married Alba Francesca in 1986.

Karen died on October 23, 2018, at his home in Los Angeles, at the age of 94.

The dedication of James Curtis’s 2022 biography Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life reads “In memory of James Karen.”

In 2026, Karen was announced as a posthumous inductee into the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Selected filmography Sources:

Film (1965, Short) as Passerby Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965) as Dr. Adam Steele Hercules in New York (1970) as Professor Camden I Never Sang for My Father (1970) as Old Age Home Director Sit Down, Shut Up, or Get Out (1971) as Mr. Newman Rivals (1972) as Child Psychiatrist Amazing Grace (1974) as Mr. Annenberg All the President's Men (1976) as Hugh Sloan's Lawyer Something for Joey (1977, TV Movie) as Dr. Wingreen Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night (1977, TV Movie) as Dr. Sutterman The Gathering (1977, TV Movie) as Bob Block Capricorn One (1978) as Vice President Price Opening Night (1977) as Bellboy F.I.S.T. (1978) as Mr. Andrews Institute for Revenge (1979, TV Movie) as Power Broker The China Syndrome (1979) as Mac Churchill The Jazz Singer (1980) as Barney Callahan Take This Job and Shove It (1981) as Loomis Poltergeist (1982) as Mr. Teague Time Walker (1982) as Dr. Wendell J. Rossmore Frances (1982) as Judge Hillier Kiss Me Goodbye (1982) as Lawyer (uncredited) Sam's Son (1984) as Mr. Collins The Boy Who Loved Trolls (1984, TV Movie) as Richman Little House: The Last Farewell (1984, TV Movie) as Nathan Lassiter The Return of the Living Dead (1985) as Frank Johnson Jagged Edge (1985) as Andrew Hardesty Invaders from Mars (1986) as General Climet Wilson Hardbodies 2 (1986) as Logan Billionaire Boys Club (1987, TV Movie) as Mr. Fairmont Sr. Wall Street (1987) as Mr. Lynch Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988) as Ed Mathews Girlfriend from Hell (1989) as Carl's Dad Vital Signs (1990) as Dean of Students Road Lawyers and Other Briefs (1990) as Judge Bowelmore (segment "Road Lawyers") The Willies (1990) as Uncle Harry / Mr. Jenkins The Closer (1990) as Ned Randall Heart of the Deal (1990) The Unborn (1991) as Dr. Richard Meyerling Stone Soup (1993) as Paul Future Shock (1994) as Kafka Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love (1994, TV Movie) as Mylan Whitfield Congo (1995) as College President, Elliot's Boss Piranha (1995) as Governor Nixon (1995) as Bill Rogers Up Close & Personal (1996) as Tom Orr Behind Enemy Lines (1997) as TV Reporter Always Say Goodbye (1997) as William Tager Joyride (1997) as The Client A River Made to Drown In (1997) as Ray Freedom Strike (1998) as President Mitchell Shadow of Doubt (1998) as Norman Calloway Girl (1998) as Dad Apt Pupil (1999) as Victor Bowden One Last Flight (1999) as Gramps My Last Love (1999) as Phil Morton Any Given Sunday (1999) as Christina's Advisor / Ed Thirteen Days (2000) as George Ball Mulholland Drive (2001) as Wally Brown A House on a Hill (2003) as Sy Unscripted (2005, TV Series) as Dante's Friend Superman Returns (2006) as Ben Hubbard (Scenes Deleted) Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy (2006) as Leroy Parker The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) as Martin Frohm Trail of the Screaming Forehead (2007) as Reverend Beaks Dark and Stormy Night (2009) as Seyton Ethelquake Jack and the Beanstalk (2009) as Verri Saddius Sympathy for Delicious (2010) as Father Rohn The Butterfly Room (2012) as Taxidermist Ambush at Dark Canyon (2012) as Seymour Redfield America's Most Haunted (2013) as Ralph George Rain from Stars (2013) as Spencer Bender (2016) as Old Man Bender Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk (2017) as Interviewee No. 1 Cynthia (2018) as Frank Teague

Awards Karen was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actor for his role in The Return of the Living Dead in 1985. For his contributions to the horror film industry, Karen received an honorary Saturn Award in 1998. He was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Unborn in 1991.