MiniMovie
Sign in
Ken Olin

Ken Olin

Acting

July 30, 1954 (71 years old)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Male
26 Movies
47 TV Shows

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.

This Is Us
This Is Us

This Is Us

2016 8.2

Executive Producer

Age 62 (now 71)
105 eps
This Is Us
This Is Us

This Is Us

2016 8.2

Director

Age 62 (now 71)
31 eps
Alias
Alias

Alias

2001 6.8

Executive Producer

Age 47 (now 71)
83 eps
Tracker
Tracker

Tracker

2024 7.6

Executive Producer

Age 69 (now 71)
55 eps
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and Sisters

2006 7.1

Producer

Age 52 (now 71)
109 eps
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow

2013 7.4

Executive Producer

Age 59 (now 71)
19 eps
Alias
Alias

Alias

2001 6.8

Director

Age 47 (now 71)
23 eps
Alias
Alias

Alias

2001 6.8

Co-Executive Producer

Age 47 (now 71)
22 eps
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and Sisters

2006 7.1

as David Caplan

Age 52 (now 71)
30 eps
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues

Hill Street Blues

1981 7.6

as Harry Garibaldi

Age 26 (now 71)
24 eps
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters

Brothers and Sisters

2006 7.1

Director

Age 52 (now 71)
19 eps
Zoo
Zoo

Zoo

2015 6.8

as Professor Robert Oz

Age 60 (now 71)
10 eps
Tracker
Tracker

Tracker

2024 7.6

Director

Age 69 (now 71)
11 eps
Eli Stone
Eli Stone

Eli Stone

2008 6.7

Producer

Age 53 (now 71)
26 eps
thirtysomething
thirtysomething

thirtysomething

1987 6.3

as Michael Steadman

Age 33 (now 71)
85 eps
Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow

Sleepy Hollow

2013 7.4

Director

Age 59 (now 71)
4 eps