Paul Karo

Paul Karo (June 1935 – 4 April 2025) was a Scottish-born, New Zealand and Australian actor and producer. He also became notable for his recurring role as Detective Inspector Rouse on series Prisoner in the 1980s. He grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and the University of Auckland. He worked for two years as a cadet reporter at The New Zealand Herald. He featured in another revue, Further Off the Beach, the following year; he was singled out by a critic from The Age for a segment called 'Television Anonymous' about television addicts seeking a cure.

He had many television and film roles starting from 1959, including Tragedy in a Temporary Town, Beauty and the Beast, Outpost, and Rope.

He appeared in Quiet Night in 1961. In 1967 he received an award for Best Actor of 1966 (the "Erik") from Melbourne theatre critics for his role in A Lily for Little India.

Karo is best known for his role as the gay television producer Lee Whiteman in the 1970s television soap opera The Box. On leaving the show after 18 months in the role he told TV Week's Sue Wallace that he felt he had been typecast: "Everyone thinks of me as playing the role of a queer. They haven't had the opportunity to see me do anything else." He was unemployed for a year, then rejoined The Box and won the Logie Award in 1976 and the Penguin Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Whiteman.

Other selected television credits include: Homicide, Division 4, Matlock Police, Prisoner, The Sullivans, Special Squad, Phoenix, Blue Heelers and SeaChange.

Filmography

Film Title Year Role Type Tragedy in a Temporary Town 1963 TV movie And the Big Men Fly 1966 Alvin HankerStage play