Ken Olin Movies, TV Shows, and Filmography

Ken Olin

Ken Olin

Acting

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 Movies

Acting

Queens Logic movie poster
MOVIE

Queens Logic

5.8(0.0K)
Queens Logic
Ray
Telling Secrets movie poster
MOVIE

Telling Secrets

5.0(0.0K)
Telling Secrets
Det. Jay Jensen
Y2K movie poster
MOVIE

Y2K

4.8(0.0K)
Y2K
Nick Cromwell
Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston movie poster
MOVIE

Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston

5.8(0.0K)
Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston
Charles Stuart
Nothing But the Truth movie poster
MOVIE

Nothing But the Truth

10.0(0.0K)
Nothing But the Truth
Dr. Peter Clayman
Evolution's Child movie poster
MOVIE

Evolution's Child

5.0(0.0K)
Evolution's Child
The Advocate's Devil movie poster
MOVIE

The Advocate's Devil

6.0(0.0K)
The Advocate's Devil
Abe Ringel
There Must Be a Pony movie poster
MOVIE

There Must Be a Pony

6.8(0.0K)
There Must Be a Pony
Jay Savage
A Stoning in Fulham County movie poster
MOVIE

A Stoning in Fulham County

5.9(0.0K)
A Stoning in Fulham County
Jim Sandler
'Til There Was You movie poster
MOVIE

'Til There Was You

4.0(0.0K)
'Til There Was You
Gregory

Production

Doing Time on Maple Drive movie poster
MOVIE

Doing Time on Maple Drive

5.1(0.0K)
Doing Time on Maple Drive
Director
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf movie poster
MOVIE

White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf

6.9(0.1K)
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf
Director
In Pursuit of Honor movie poster
MOVIE

In Pursuit of Honor

5.9(0.0K)
In Pursuit of Honor
Director
Kansas movie poster
MOVIE

Kansas

5.5(0.0K)
Kansas
Executive Producer
The Broken Cord movie poster
MOVIE

The Broken Cord

6.3(0.0K)
The Broken Cord
Director
Phenomenon II movie poster
MOVIE

Phenomenon II

6.3(0.0K)
Phenomenon II
Director
Phenomenon II movie poster
MOVIE

Phenomenon II

6.3(0.0K)
Phenomenon II
Executive Producer
Brothers & Sisters: Family AlbumMOVIE
MOVIE

Brothers & Sisters: Family Album

Not rated yet
Brothers & Sisters: Family Album
Executive Producer

Gallery

Ken Olin portrait
Ken Olin portrait