Richard Karn

2025-10-29T15:37:31Z

2603:3005:1503:A000:B4DA:C10B:D2A5:A4CE: typo

{{short description|American actor}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Richard Karn
| image = Richard Karn 2015.jpg
| caption = Karn in 2015
| birth_name = Richard Karn Wilson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|2|17}}<ref name="TV Insider"/>
| birth_place = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], U.S.<ref name="TV Insider"/>
| alma_mater = [[University of Washington]]
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* author
* game show host
}}
| years_active = 1979–present
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Tudi Roche]]|1985}}
| children = 1
| website =
}}
'''Richard Karn''' (born '''Richard Karn Wilson'''; February 17, 1956)<ref name="TV Insider">{{cite web| title=Richard Karn| url=https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-karn/| website=TV Insider| access-date=January 6, 2022}}</ref> is an American actor, author and former [[game show host]]. He starred as [[Home Improvement (TV series)#Characters|Al Borland]] in the ABC series ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]'' and as Fred Peters in the [[Hulu]] series ''[[Pen15]]''. Karn was also the fourth host of ''[[Family Feud]]'' from 2002 to 2006.

== Early life ==
Richard Karn Wilson was born in [[Seattle]], Washington, on February 17, 1956.<ref name="TV Insider"/> His father, Gene, was a [[Seabee (US Navy)|Seabee]] who served in [[World War II]]. Richard graduated from [[Roosevelt High School (Seattle, Washington)|Roosevelt High School]] and the [[University of Washington]] Professional Actor Training Program,<ref name=UW>Marmor, Jon (September 1995). [http://www.washington.edu/alumni/columns/sept95/karn.html "Richard Karn"]. ''UW Alumni Magazine''.</ref> 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]].<ref name=PUTTER /> When Karn joined the [[Screen Actors Guild]], he was informed there was already a Richard Wilson, prompting him to drop his surname.<ref name=PUTTER /> In 1985, he made his acting debut in the off-broadway play, ''[[The Other Shore]]'', were he also co-starred with future wife Tudi Roche.<ref name=PUTTER />

== Career ==
[[File:Richard Karn.jpg|thumb|Karn at the 1994 [[Emmy Awards]]|left]]
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 (TV series)|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 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref name=PUTTER>Lipton, Michael A. (June 12, 1995). [http://www.hiarchive.co.uk/index.php?content=article&article=karn1 "No Mere Putterer"]. ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''.</ref><ref name=HANDY>Schwed, Mark (December 19, 1994). [http://www.hiarchive.co.uk/index.php?content=article&article=karn2 "This Handyman's Special"]. ''[[TV Guide]]''.</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The official Family Feud timeline from 1976 to today! |url=https://www.familyfeud.com/2018/02/01/official-family-feud-timeline-1976-today/?modal=1 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.familyfeud.com}}</ref><ref name="nytimes2008"/>

In 2002, Karn made an appearance in [[The Strokes]]' music video for "[[Someday (The Strokes song)|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]]''.<ref>Davis, Alex (August 22, 2005). [http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/richard-karn-is-new-host-of-bingo-america/ "Richard Karn is New Host of 'Bingo America'"]. ''Buzzer Blog''. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825144749/http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/richard-karn-is-new-host-of-bingo-america/ |date=25 August 2008}}</ref><ref name="nytimes2008">{{cite news |first=Joanne |last=Kaufman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/business/media/06game.html|title=Who Wants to Host a Game Show? So Many |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 5, 2008 |access-date=August 13, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He also served as a substitute host on [[GSN Radio]].

Karn did commercials for [[Orchard Supply Hardware]] in the 1990s.<ref name="Karn">{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QoX7_yCWLmwC&q=Richard+Karn+Orchard+Supply+Hardware&pg=PP328| title=Handy at Home: Tips on Improving Your Home from America's Favorite Handyman| last1=Karn| first1=Richard| last2=Mair| first2=George| date=October 7, 2002| publisher=Macmillan| isbn=978-0-7864-8694-6| language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Karn has been married to actress [[Tudi Roche]] since 1985.<ref name=PUTTER/> They have a son named Cooper, who was born on March 4, 1992.<ref name=PUTTER/>

In 1985, a few weeks after he and his wife married, Tudi had a sudden collapse while she and Karn were walking through the Manhattan [[Port Authority Bus Terminal]].<ref name=PUTTER/> She was put in a three-day coma and it was discovered that she suffered from a [[brain aneurysm]], Tudi eventually returned home and made a full recovery.<ref name=PUTTER/>

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]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2002-07-08 |title=TV's Karn resuscitates charity tournament |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/article/TV-s-Karn-resuscitates-charity-tournament-1090728.php |access-date=2023-03-10 |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |language=en |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy]]''
| Brice Renard
|
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[MVP: Most Vertical Primate]]''
| Ollie Plant
|
|
|-
| rowspan=3|2002
| ''Sex and the Teenage Mind''
| Stanley Heitmeyer
|
|
|-
| ''Reality School''
| Victor Cayanne
|
|
|-
| ''[[Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch]]''
| rowspan=2|Patrick
|
|
|-
| rowspan=2|2006
| ''[[Air Buddies]]''
|
|
|-
| ''Mr. Blue Sky''
| John
|
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Snow Buddies]]''
| Patrick
|
|
|-
| rowspan=2|2011
| ''The Back-up Bride''
| Shane Bingham
|
|
|-
| ''Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury''
| Bill Witherspoon
|
|
|-
| 2013
| ''Gordon Family Tree''
| Perry Merrow
|
|
|-
| 2015
| ''A Dog for Christmas''
| Santa
|
|
|-
| 2016
| ''Stars Are Already Dead''
| Jim
|
|
|-
| rowspan=2|2017
|''The Horse Dancer''
| Jerry
|
|
|-
| ''[[F the Prom]]''
| Murphy Datner
|
|
|-
| 2018
| ''Amanda and the Fox''
| Judge Weartherbee
|
|
|-
| 2019
| ''Check Inn to Christmas''
| Tim
|
|
|-
| 2020
| ''Horse Camp: A Love Tail''
| Jerry
|
|
|-
| 2021
| ''The Christmas Dance''
| Sherman
|
|
|-
| 2022
| ''Carrie and Jess Save the Universe!''
| Computer face
|
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1989
| ''[[One Life to Live]]''
| Edgar
| 1 episode
|
|-
| ''ABC TGIF''
| Al
|
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Carol & Company]]''
| J.T.
| Episode: "No News Is Bad News"
|
|-
| 1991–1999
| ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|Home Improvement]]''
| [[Al Borland]]
| Main role
|
|-
| 1994
| ''ABC After School Specials''
| Mr. Delo
| Episode: "Boys Will Be Boys"
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1995
| ''[[Burke's Law (1994 TV series)|Burke's Law]]''
| David Bergen
| Episode: "Who Killed Mr. Game Show?"
|
|-
| ''[[Picture Perfect (1995 film)|Picture Perfect]]''
| George Thomas
| Television film
|
|-
| ''[[Boy Meets World]]''
| Victor
| Episode: "This Little Piggy"
|
|-
| rowspan=3|1996
| ''WOW! The Most Amazing Acts on Earth''
| rowspan=3|Host
|
|
|-
| ''Chariots of the Gods? The Mysteries Continue''
|
|
|-
| ''How to Host a BBQ with Richard Karn''
| Short
|
|-
| 1996–1999
| ''[[The Rosie O'Donnell Show]]''
| Himself/Guest
| 2 episodes
|
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Soul Man (TV series)|Soul Man]]''
| Al Borland
| Episode: "Cinderella and the Funeral"
|
|-
| 1998
| ''Foot Soldier''
| Host / Narrator
|rowspan=2|Television film
|
|-
| rowspan=2|2000
| ''{{sort|Pooch and the Pauper|[[The Pooch and the Pauper]]}}''
| Agent Dainville
|
|-
| ''[[Recess (TV series)|Recess]]''
| Edmund P. Edmonton (voice)
| Episode: "Beyond a Reasonable Scout"
|
|-
| rowspan=3|2001
| ''[[That '70s Show]]''
| Theo
| Episode: "Bye Bye Basement"
|
|-
| ''[[The Lot (TV series)|The Lot]]''
| Stan Lunquist
| Episode: "The Mob Scene"
|
|-
| ''[[The Chronicle (TV series)|The Chronicle]]''
| David Tally
| Episode: "Baby Got Back"
|
|-
| 2002–2006
| ''[[Family Feud]]''
| Host
| Main role
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Watching Ellie]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Feud"
|
|-
| 2004
| ''Reality School''
| Founder
| Television film
|
|-
| rowspan=2|2008
| ''[[Dirt (TV series)|Dirt]]''
| Holt McLauren's Father
| Episode: "Ties That (Don't) Bind"
|
|-
|''[[Biz Kid$]]''
| Himself
| 2 episodes
|
|-
| 2008–2009
| ''[[Bingo America]]''
| Co-host
| Main role
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Ctrl (web series)|Ctrl]]''
| Arthur Piller
|Recurring role
|
|-
| 2010
| ''[[True Jackson, VP]]''
| Fire Marshal O'Dannon
| Episode: "My Boss Ate My Homework"
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[In Gayle We Trust]]''
| Mayor Thomas
| Episode: "Gayle and the Table Read"
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Last Man Standing (American TV series)|Last Man Standing]]''
| Bill McKendree
| 2 episodes
|
|-
| rowspan=3|2014
| ''{{sort|Daughter's Nightmare|[[A Daughter's Nightmare]]}}''
| Cameron "Cam" Morgan
| Television film
|
|-
| ''No Such Luck''
| Sheriff Lawrence
| Short
|
|-
| ''Perfect Christmas List''
| Tim
| rowspan=2|Television film
|
|-
| 2015
| ''Christmas Land''
| Mason Richards
|
|-
| rowspan=3|2017
| ''[[Detroiters]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Quick Rick Mahorn in Dearborn"
|
|-
| ''[[The Bold and the Beautiful]]''
| Judge Jon Oplinger
| 2 episodes
|
|-
| ''Christmas in Mississippi''
| Mr. McGuire
| Television film
|
|-
| 2018
| ''Find Your Future Reality''
| Himself
| 1 episode
|
|-
| 2019
| ''Check Inn to Christmas''
| Tim Crawley
| Television film
|
|-
| 2019–2021
|''[[PEN15]]''
| Fred Peters
|Recurring role
|
|-
| 2021
| ''Assembly Required''
| rowspan=2|Co-host
| COVID-lockdown competition show spin-off of ''Home Improvement''{{'s}} ''Tool Time''; with Tim Allen and toolgirl [[April Wilkerson]]<br/>Also executive producer
|<ref name=Collider-20220606/>
|-
| 2022
|''More Power''
| Tool documentary show spin-off of ''Home Improvement'' 's ''Tool Time''; with Tim Allen and toolgirl [[April Wilkerson]]<br/>Also executive producer (1 episode)
|<ref name=Collider-20220606>{{cite news|url=https://collider.com/more-power-tim-allen-richard-karn-reunion-history-channel/|title= 'More Power': 'Home Improvement' Stars Tim Allen and Richard Karn Reunite for History Channel Show|first=Aidan|last=King|date=June 6, 2022|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>
|-
|2025
|''[[Shifting Gears (TV series)|Shifting Gears]]''
|TBA
|Episode: "Secret"
|<ref name="reunion">{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/news/home-improvement-reunion-tim-allen-shifting-gears-season-2-1235489025/|title=''Shifting Gears'' Sets ''Home Improvement'' and ''Last Man Standing Reunions'' for Season 2 — Who’s Joining Tim Allen?|work=TVLine.com|accessdate=August 19, 2025}}</ref>
|}

=== Music videos ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Artist
! scope="col" | Album
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 2002
| "[[Someday (The Strokes song)|Someday]]"
| [[The Strokes]]
| ''[[Is This It]]''
| Himself
| ''Family Feud''
|
|-
| 2018
| "[[Careless Whisper]]"
| [[Train (band)|Train]] (feat. Kenny G)
| ''[[Greatest Hits (Train album)|Greatest Hits]]''
| Saxophone player
| [[Wham!]] cover
| style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNrNHUCbRL0|title=Train - Careless Whisper (Official Video) ft. Kenny G|website=YouTube.com|date=November 9, 2018 }} Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/lNrNHUCbRL0 Ghostarchive] {{cbignore}} and [https://web.archive.org/web/20181113044925/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNrNHUCbRL0&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cbignore}}</ref>
|}

==Theatre==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
| 1985
| ''[[The Other Shore]]''
| Performer
| Off-broadway
|<ref name=PUTTER />
|}

== Books ==
*''House Broken: How I Remodeled My Home for Just Under Three Times the Original Bid'' (1999) – {{ISBN|0-06-105144-6}} (with George Mair)
*''Handy at Home: Tips on Improving Your Home from America's Favorite Handyman'' (2002) – {{ISBN|0-312-30606-7}} (with George Mair)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* {{IMDb name|0439781}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karn, Richard}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American game show hosts]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Seattle]]
[[Category:University of Washington School of Drama alumni]]
[[Category:Roosevelt High School (Washington) alumni]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Richard Karn