Richard Karn

Template:Short description Template:BLP sources Template:Infobox person Richard Karn (born Richard Karn Wilson; February 17, 1956)<ref name="TV Insider">Template:Cite web</ref> 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 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 who served in World War II. Richard graduated from Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program,<ref name=UW>Marmor, Jon (September 1995). "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

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 ABC.<ref name=PUTTER>Lipton, Michael A. (June 12, 1995). "No Mere Putterer". People.</ref><ref name=HANDY>Schwed, Mark (December 19, 1994). "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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nytimes2008"/>

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.<ref>Davis, Alex (August 22, 2005). "Richard Karn is New Host of 'Bingo America'". Buzzer Blog. Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name="nytimes2008">Template:Cite news</ref> He also served as a substitute host on GSN Radio.

Karn did commercials for Orchard Supply Hardware in the 1990s.<ref name="Karn">Template:Cite book</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>Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1998	Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy	Brice Renard
2001	MVP: Most Vertical Primate	Ollie Plant
2002	Sex and the Teenage Mind	Stanley Heitmeyer
	Reality School	Victor Cayanne
	Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch	Patrick
2006	Air Buddies
	Mr. Blue Sky	John
2008	Snow Buddies	Patrick
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
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

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
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	Al Borland	Main role
1994	ABC After School Specials	Mr. Delo	Episode: "Boys Will Be Boys"
1995	Burke's Law	David Bergen	Episode: "Who Killed Mr. Game Show?"
	Picture Perfect	George Thomas	Television film
	Boy Meets World	Victor	Episode: "This Little Piggy"
1996	WOW! The Most Amazing Acts on Earth	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	Al Borland	Episode: "Cinderella and the Funeral"
1998	Foot Soldier	Host / Narrator	Television film
2000	Template:Sort	Agent Dainville
	Recess	Edmund P. Edmonton (voice)	Episode: "Beyond a Reasonable Scout"
2001	That '70s Show	Theo	Episode: "Bye Bye Basement"
	The Lot	Stan Lunquist	Episode: "The Mob Scene"
	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
2008	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	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	Bill McKendree	2 episodes
2014	Template:Sort	Cameron "Cam" Morgan	Television film
	No Such Luck	Sheriff Lawrence	Short
	Perfect Christmas List	Tim	Television film
2015	Christmas Land	Mason Richards
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	Co-host	COVID-lockdown competition show spin-off of Home ImprovementTemplate:'s Tool Time; with Tim Allen and toolgirl April Wilkerson 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 Also executive producer (1 episode)	<ref name=Collider-20220606>Template:Cite news</ref>
2025	Shifting Gears	TBA	Episode: "Secret"	<ref name="reunion">Template:Cite web</ref>

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist	Album	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
2002	"Someday"	The Strokes	Is This It	Himself	Family Feud
2018	"Careless Whisper"	Train (feat. Kenny G)	Greatest Hits	Saxophone player	Wham! cover	<ref>Template:Cite web Archived at Ghostarchive Template:Cbignore and Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cbignore</ref>

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
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) – Template:ISBN (with George Mair)
• Handy at Home: Tips on Improving Your Home from America's Favorite Handyman (2002) – Template:ISBN (with George Mair)

External links

• Template:Commonscatinline
• Template:IMDb name