May 28

John Karlen

John Karlen (born John Adam Karlewicz; May 28, 1933) is an American character actor best known for playing Willie Loomis, Carl Collins, William H. Loomis, Desmond Collins, Alex Jenkins and Kendrick Young on the ABC serial Dark Shadows, in various episodes between 206 and 1245, which aired from 1966-1971. In 1971 Karlen starred as the male lead in "Daughters of Darkness". He also starred in the 1975 television film, Trilogy of Terror, and was in the movie Killer's Delight.

He appeared in the serials "From These Roots," "Another World", "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" (as Jock Porter) and "Hidden Faces" (as Sharkey Primrose).

Later Karlen was Harvey Lacey on the CBS crime series Cagney & Lacey from 1982-1988. In 1989 he appeared in Murder, She Wrote. He has recently reprised the role of Willie Loomis for a new series of Dark Shadows audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions.

His first acting experiences were on early television productions such as From These Roots and Kraft Television Theatre . Karlen's performances on the dramatic stage began in 1959 with Sweet Bird of Youth. He accumulated roles on both stage and television before winning one of his signature roles in 1967 in the daytime serial Dark Shadows. It was Karlen's pivotal character of Willie Loomis who released vampireBarnabas Collins from his coffin, setting off the events of the series. Karlen would stay with the television series for 182 episodes, playing various characters through 1971. He reunited with his Dark Shadowsco-stars for the 1970 House of Dark Shadows as Willie Loomis, and in 1971 with Night of Dark Shadows as Alex Jenkins.

Karlen moved to a series of guest appearances on television productions, establishing himself in 1982 as Harvey Lacey, husband of Tyne Daly's character Mary Beth Lacey on Cagney & Lacey . He appeared in 110 episodes over six years. Karlen won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Harvey Lacey. His career also included numerous movie roles, during which he reprised his Harvey Lacey character in four Cagney and Lacey television movies: Cagney & Lacey: The Return in 1994, Cagney & Lacey: Together Again and Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass Ceiling in 1995, and Cagney & Lacey: True Convictions in 1996.