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RIP James Karen LOS ANGELES — James Karen, the instantly recognizable character actor perhaps best remembered as the shady developer in “Poltergeist,” died Oct. 23 at his home here. He was 94.He was also noteworthy in such films as “The China Syndrome” (1979) and “The Return of the Living Dead” (1985) and on the finale of NBC’s “Little House on the Prairie.” But MSTies will remember his role as corrupt university president Dr. Wendell Rossmore in the movie in episode 405- BEING FROM ANOTHER PLANET. 12 Replies to “RIP James Karen”Commenting at Satellite News
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Also famous in the Northeast US as the spokesman in commercials for the Pathmark chain of grocery stores. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcIrNPcknpk
One of the good ones. RIP
Wow. I just went to the Poltergeist scare house maze at the Universal Studios Orlando theme park during Halloween Horror Nights this past weekend. Eerie.
Servo: “James Karen”? Boy, he must have an identity problem…
Anyway RIP, too bad his character in Time Walker was an unlikable bureaucrat
I remember James Karen most as a talking head on the Universal Horror documentaries, and he also was a good friend of Buster Keaton. He was a very talented man, and he will be missed. RIP, Mr. Karen.
I had forgotten he was in Being from Another Planet. I will have have to dust off that video again.
I remember him well. An excellent actor who was often cast as shady or unlikeable corporate types, politicians, etc.
He had that kind of face.
Yet he always seemed like a likeable guy.
I recognized the face from “Return of the Living Dead”, but needed the prompt about “China Syndrome”….One of the good dead character-ones.
Not to be confused with Karen James (on the right):
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=vupkqz%2bm&id=4A9E43A84B5FA3279E1DFB2C46B4B5CB4A49B6C3&thid=OIP.vupkqz-mF-mhrICenW396wHaFj&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fmonkees.coolcherrycream.com%2fimages%2fseason-1%2fbluray%2f14-dance-monkee-dance%2fw%2f0312-peter-buntwell.jpg&exph=1080&expw=1440&q=Karen+James+Monkees&simid=608026054428591806&selectedIndex=45&ajaxhist=0
I own a TCM collection of Keaton’s first three films made at MGM and it includes a documentary hosted by Karen where he describes how badly Keaton’s talent was mismanaged by that studio. It’s fascinating and you can see the affection Karen had for Keaton.
He also starred in “Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster”, a movie that inexplicably missed the Riffing of MST3K, Film Crew, Cinematic Titanic, Rifftrax and The Mads… R.I.P.