Person
Ken Olin
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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 behi…
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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 and shows, newest first
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2025
Paradise
TV show Director
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2024
Tracker
TV show Executive Producer
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2020
The Story of Soaps
Movie Self
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2020
Stars in the House
TV show Self
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2019
Grand Hotel
TV show Director
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2016
This Is Us
TV show Director
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2015
Zoo
TV show Professor Robert Oz
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2015
The Slap
TV show Director
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2015
The Man in the High Castle
TV show Director
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2013
Sleepy Hollow
TV show Director
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2012
The Mob Doctor
TV show Director
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2012
Americana
Movie Martin Garano
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2008
Eli Stone
TV show Director
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2007
Brothers & Sisters: Family Album
Movie Executive Producer
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2006
Brothers and Sisters
TV show David Caplan
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2005
The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie
Movie Ken Olin
More credits
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2003
Phenomenon II
Movie Director
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2002
Breaking News
TV show
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2001
Alias
TV show David McNeil (uncredited)
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1999
Y2K
Movie Nick Cromwell
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1999
Evolution's Child
Movie
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1999
Freaks and Geeks
TV show Director
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1999
The West Wing
TV show Director
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1999
Judging Amy
TV show Director
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1998
Felicity
TV show Director
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1998
L.A. Doctors
TV show Roger Cattan
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1997
The Advocate's Devil
Movie Abe Ringel
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1997
'Til There Was You
Movie Gregory
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1996
EZ Streets
TV show Cameron Quinn
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1995
Dead by Sunset
TV show
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1995
Kansas
Movie Executive Producer
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1995
Nothing But the Truth
Movie Dr. Peter Clayman
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1995
In Pursuit of Honor
Movie Director
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1994
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf
Movie Director
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1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
TV show Self - Guest
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1993
Telling Secrets
Movie Det. Jay Jensen
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1992
Doing Time on Maple Drive
Movie Director
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1992
The Broken Cord
Movie Director
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1991
Queens Logic
Movie Ray
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1990
Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston
Movie Charles Stuart
