Richard Karn

Last updated
Richard Karn
Richard Karn 2015.jpg
Karn in 2015
Born
Richard Karn Wilson

(1956-02-17) February 17, 1956 (age 68) [1]
Alma mater University of Washington
Occupations
  • Actor
  • author
  • game show host
Years active1989–present
Spouse
(m. 1985)
Children1

Richard Karn (born Richard Karn Wilson; February 17, 1956) [1] is an American actor, author and former game show host. He starred as Al Borland in the ABC series Home Improvement and as Fred Peters in the Hulu series Pen15 . Karn was also the fourth host of Family Feud , hosting the show from 2002 to 2006.

Contents

Early life

Richard Karn Wilson was born in Seattle, Washington, on February 17, 1956. [1] His father, Gene, was a Seabee who served in World War II. Richard graduated from Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program, [2] where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi. Karn also gained drama experience in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival.

After earning his drama degree in 1979, Karn moved to New York City, where in less than a week he was hired to do a commercial for Michelob beer that was featured during Super Bowl XIV. When Karn joined the Screen Actors Guild, he was informed there was already a Richard Wilson, prompting him to drop his surname. [3]

Career

Karn at the 1994 Emmy Awards Richard Karn.jpg
Karn at the 1994 Emmy Awards

In 1989, Karn's wife, Tudi, convinced him to move to Los Angeles. Karn found a place for them to live by managing an apartment complex, catering events at a Jewish synagogue on the side. After receiving a traffic citation, Karn attended a traffic school and sat beside an agent who told him about casting for the new television show Home Improvement . The role of Al Borland had already been given to Stephen Tobolowsky, but when taping was scheduled, Tobolowsky was busy with another movie and the role had to be recast. Karn was a guest star in the pilot episode but became a regular cast member when the show was picked up by the network. [3] [4]

In 2002, Karn replaced Louie Anderson as the fourth individual to host the game show Family Feud . He left Family Feud in 2006 and was replaced by John O'Hurley. [5] [6]

In 2002, Karn made an appearance in The Strokes' music video for "Someday", which featured segments of the band on a fictional showing of Family Feud against the band Guided by Voices.

On October 6, 2008, Karn replaced Patrick Duffy as host of Game Show Network's Bingo America . [7] [6] He also served as a substitute host on GSN Radio.

Karn did commercials for Orchard Supply Hardware in the 1990s. [8]

Personal life

Karn has been married to actress Tudi Roche since 1985. [3] They have a son named Cooper, who was born on March 4, 1992. [3]

From 1994 to 1999, Karn hosted an annual celebrity golf tournament in Seattle. In July 2002, the Karn Invitational celebrity golf event was held at Echo Falls Golf Club in Snohomish, Washington. [9]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)
1998 Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy Brice Renard
2001 MVP: Most Vertical Primate Ollie Plant
2002Sex and the Teenage MindStanley Heitmeyer
Reality SchoolVictor Cayanne
Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch Patrick
2006 Air Buddies
Mr. Blue SkyJohn
2008 Snow Buddies Patrick
2011The Back-up BrideShane Bingham
Poolboy: Drowning Out the FuryBill Witherspoon
2013Gordon Family TreePerry Merrow
2015A Dog for ChristmasSanta
2016Stars Are Already DeadJim
2017The Horse DancerJerry
F the Prom Murphy Datner
2018Amanda and the FoxJudge Weartherbee
2019Check Inn to ChristmasTim Hallmark movie
2020Horse Camp: A Love TailJerry
2021The Christmas DanceSherman
2022Carrie and Jess Save the Universe!Computer face

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)
1989 One Life to Live Edgar1 episode
ABC TGIFAl
1991 Carol & Company J.T.Episode: "No News Is Bad News"
1991–1999 Home Improvement Al Borland 202 episodes
1994ABC After School SpecialsMr. DeloEpisode: "Boys Will Be Boys"
1995 Burke's Law David BergenEpisode: "Who Killed Mr. Game Show?"
Picture Perfect George Thomas Television film
Boy Meets World VictorEpisode: "This Little Piggy"
1996WOW! The Most Amazing Acts on EarthHost
Chariots of the Gods? The Mysteries Continue
How to Host a BBQ with Richard Karn Television short
1996–1999 The Rosie O'Donnell Show Himself/Guest2 episodes
1997 Soul Man Al BorlandEpisode: "Cinderella and the Funeral"
1998Foot SoldierHost / NarratorTV movie
2000 The Pooch and the Pauper Agent DainvilleTelevision film
Recess Edmund P. Edmonton (voice)Episode: "Beyond a Reasonable Scout"
2001 That '70s Show TheoEpisode: "Bye Bye Basement"
The Lot Stan LunquistEpisode: "The Mob Scene"
The Chronicle David TallyEpisode: "Baby Got Back"
2002–2006 Family Feud HostMain role
2003 Watching Ellie HimselfEpisode: "Feud"
2004Reality SchoolFounderTelevision film
2007 WWE Raw Himself1 episode
2008 Dirt Holt McLauren's FatherEpisode: "Ties That (Don't) Bind"
Biz Kid$ Himself2 episodes
2008–2009 Bingo America Co-host26 episodes
2009 Ctrl Arthur Piller10 episodes
2010 True Jackson, VP Fire Marshal O'DannonEpisode: "My Boss Ate My Homework"
2011 In Gayle We Trust Mayor ThomasEpisode: "Gayle and the Table Read"
2013 Last Man Standing Bill McKendree2 episodes
2014 A Daughter's Nightmare Cameron "Cam" MorganTelevision film
No Such LuckSheriff LawrenceTelevision short
A Perfect Christmas ListTimTelevision film
2015Christmas LandMason RichardsTelevision film
2017 Detroiters HimselfEpisode: "Quick Rick Mahorn in Dearborn"
The Bold and the Beautiful Judge Jon Oplinger2 episodes
Christmas in MississippiMr. McGuireTelevision film
2018Find Your Future RealityHimself1 episode
2019Check Inn to ChristmasTim CrawleyTelevision film
2019–2021 PEN15 Fred Peters11 episodes
2021Assembly RequiredCo-hostCOVID-lockdown competition show spin-off of Home Improvement'sTool Time; with Tim Allen and toolgirl April Wilkerson
Also executive producer (10 episodes)
[10]
2022More PowerCo-hostTool documentary show spin-off of Home Improvement 's Tool Time; with Tim Allen and toolgirl April Wilkerson
Also executive producer (1 episode)
[10]

Music videos

YearTitleArtistAlbumRoleNotesRef(s)
2002"Someday" The Strokes Is This It HimselfFamily Feud parody
2018"Careless Whisper" Train (feat. Kenny G) Greatest Hits Saxophone player Wham! cover [11]

Books

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Richard Karn". TV Insider. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  2. Marmor, Jon (September 1995). "Richard Karn". UW Alumni Magazine.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lipton, Michael A. (June 12, 1995). "No Mere Putterer". People .
  4. Schwed, Mark (December 19, 1994). "This Handyman's Special". TV Guide .
  5. "The official Family Feud timeline from 1976 to today!". www.familyfeud.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  6. 1 2 Kaufman, Joanne (October 5, 2008). "Who Wants to Host a Game Show? So Many" . The New York Times . Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  7. Davis, Alex (August 22, 2005). "Richard Karn is New Host of 'Bingo America'". Buzzer Blog. Archived 25 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Karn, Richard; Mair, George (October 7, 2002). Handy at Home: Tips on Improving Your Home from America's Favorite Handyman. Macmillan. ISBN   978-0-7864-8694-6.
  9. "TV's Karn resuscitates charity tournament". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . July 8, 2002. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  10. 1 2 King, Aidan (June 6, 2022). "'More Power': 'Home Improvement' Stars Tim Allen and Richard Karn Reunite for History Channel Show". Collider .
  11. "Train - Careless Whisper (Official Video) ft. Kenny G". YouTube . 9 November 2018. Archived at Ghostarchive and Wayback Machine :