Karen Austin

Last updated

Karen Austin
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active1974–present
Known for Night Court
The Quest
Summer Rental
Spouse
Kris Slava
(m. 1969;div. 1976)

Karen Austin is an American actress. She played Lana Wagner on the sitcom Night Court in 1984. Her film appearances include Summer Rental (1985), Jagged Edge (1985), and The Ladies Club (1986).

Contents

Career

Austin first gained notability in the late 1970s with a string of television guest appearances on highly rated programs such as Happy Days , The Rockford Files , CHiPs , and Dallas .

In the 1980s, she was a regular on the first season of the successful NBC comedy series Night Court, where she played court clerk Lana Wagner for 10 episodes before being asked to leave the series due to her Bell's palsy. [1] Her character was replaced by Mac Robinson (Charles Robinson) for the remaining eight seasons.

Austin had a lead role as the wife of John Candy's character in Summer Rental (1985).

Personal life

Austin was married to Kris Slava at age 19; the couple divorced seven years later. [2] [3] [4]

Filmography and TV credits

YearTV/Film CreditRoleNotes
1974The Ottawa ValleyLenaTV short film
1978 Happy Days Peggy ClarkEpisode: "Kid Stuff"
The Rockford Files Veronica TeasedaleEpisode: "White on White and Nearly Perfect"
The American Girls Episode: "Little Girl Lost"
Dallas DaileyEpisode: "Survival"
1979 Fish Hawk Mrs. GideonFeature film
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo LilyEpisode: "Dean Martin and the Moonshiners"
Hart to Hart Karen ShieldsEpisode: "A New Kind of High"
Soap Chester's WomanEpisode #3.10
1980 Family Emily2 episodes
1980-1982 Three's Company Jennifer / Denise2 episodes
1981 Hill Street Blues West Virginia3 episodes
CHiPs Woman with RabbitEpisode: "A Simple Operation"
S.O.B. Piano GirlFeature film (Uncredited role)
1982 The Quest Carrie WelbyMain role (9 episodes)
A Piano for Mrs. Cimino Alice CiminoTV movie
Quincy, M.E. Rachael KaneEpisode: "The Shadow of Death"
1983 The Taming of the Shrew KatherinaFeature film
Trauma Center JulieEpisode: "Trauma Center (Pilot)"
1984 Celebrity Ceil ShannonTV miniseries
Night Court Lana WagnerMain role (10 episodes)
London and Davis in New YorkAdrienne CrowTelevision pilot
1985 St. Elsewhere Dr. Mary Woodley5 episodes
Summer Rental Sandy ChesterFeature film
Jagged Edge Julie JensenFeature film
Our Family Honor Detective Sgt. Sharon HowlandEpisode: "End of the Line"
A Letter to Three Wives KateTV movie
1986 The Twilight Zone June WrightSegment: "A Matter of Minutes"
L.A. Law Hillary Mishkin3 episodes
The Ladies Club Joan TaylorFeature film
Penalty Phase JulieFeature film
1987 Jake and the Fatman Rebecca WarfieldEpisode: "Fatal Attraction"
1988 Laura Lansing Slept Here Melody GomphersTV movie
1989 Columbo Dr. Paula HallEpisode: "Columbo Goes to the Guillotine"
Dolphin Cove Lisa RuddickEpisode: "The Initiation of Lisa Ruddick"
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers J.D. JacksonTV movie
Far from Home LouiseFeature film
1990 Hunter Lt. Megan MaloneEpisode: "Unfinished Business"
A Girl to Kill ForKaren / ShopperFeature film
1991 Midnight Caller Jenna HollowayEpisode: "Her Dirty Little Secret"
1991-1992 The Trials of Rosie O'Neill Sheila Crane / Suzanne6 episodes
1992-1994 The Commish Linda Scott2 episodes
1994Moment of Truth: Murder or Memory?Connie FrawleyTV movie
Lightning Jack Mama WheelerFeature film (Uncredited role)
1995 Live Shot Helen Forbes8 episodes
The Marshal Ellen ChristopherEpisode: "Time Off for Clever Behavior"
1995-1999 Sliders Amanda Starr / Lydia the Secretary2 episodes
1996 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Haley Rodgers JohnsonEpisode: "The Big Easy Episode"
NYPD Blue Jessica HermanEpisode: "The Nutty Confessor"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Dr. KalandraEpisode: "...Nor the Battle to the Strong"
LazarusAnneFeature film
1997 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Cimmarron Kilkenny (voice)Episode: "Showdown/Internal Affairs"
Breast Men Dr. TammyTV movie (Uncredited role)
House of Frankenstein Irene LassiterTV miniseries
Murder One Lynette Parker4 episodes
Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer Lynette Parker BanksTV miniseries
Step by Step Patti RobertsEpisode: "Just Say Maybe"
1998Best Friends for LifeViolet EvansTV movie
3rd Rock from the Sun AnitaEpisode: "Auto Eurodicka"
JAG Dr. IngeEpisode: "The Martin Baker Fan Club"
Martial Law Elaine CaranzaEpisode: "How Sammo Got His Groove Back"
The BatterySandyShort film
Touched by an Angel CandaceEpisode: "Last Dance"
1999 Beverly Hills, 90210 Bobbi Kincaid2 episodes
Profiler Candice HardingEpisode: "Original Sin"
Rescue 77 Ruth CarawayEpisode: "The Wedding"
Star Trek: Voyager Miral, B'Elanna Torres' MotherEpisode: "Barge of the Dead"
2000Lost in the Pershing Point HotelPierrepont SummersFeature film
2001 The Division HelenEpisode: "Redemption"
2002 ER Mrs. CarlsonEpisode: "Bygones"
Taken Nun #2TV miniseries
2002-2004 Girlfriends Sandy Bickie3 episodes
2004 Cold Case Terri MaxwellEpisode: "Volunteers"
Kingdom Hospital Mrs. PowellEpisode: "Black Noise"
2004-2008 Rodney Patsy3 episodes
2005 Freddie Mrs. ReyersonEpisode: "I'll Be Homeless for Christmas"
Wanted Taffy DibortelloEpisode: "Sex Pistols"
Without a Trace HildaEpisode: "Second Sight"
Desperate Housewives Lois McDanielEpisode: "Your Fault"
2006Amber's StoryGlenda WhitsonTV movie
The Evidence Mrs. VicarrioEpisode: "Pilot"
2007 Crossing Jordan Sarah FultonEpisode: "Falling From Grace"
2008 Battlestar Galactica LillyEpisode: "Escape Velocity"
Palisades Pool PartyDesireeTV movie
2009 Bitch Slap NarratorFeature film
CSI: Miami Judge Gloria StetsEpisode: "Dissolved"
Sink or SwimJudge StetsFeature film
Big Days AheadCarol GlassShort film
2010Better PeopleJacquieTV movie
Order of ChaosSherriFeature film
2011-2012Fresh HellValerie4 episodes
2011-2015Whole Day DownDeWitt6 episodes
2011 The Rum Diary Mrs. ZimburgerFeature film
2013 Sweet Talk Newsvendor / NurseFeature film
2014 Infamous Second Son Betty (voice)Video game
2015The Wicked WithinJeanFeature film

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References

  1. Kundu, Tamal (January 25, 2023). "Why Did Karen Austin Leave Night Court, Explained". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. Evertz, Mary (December 22, 1978). "Self-discipline is Karen Austin's key to film stardom". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2 D. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. Sheffield, Skip (August 13, 1985). "Film a home movie for Austin". Boca Raton News. p. B 1. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  4. Thompson, Ruth (February 4, 1984). "Karen Austin Tries Comedy Role In 'Night Court'". Ocala Star-Banner. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 15. Retrieved June 30, 2022.