Ken Olin
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Edward "Ken" Olin (born July 30, 1954) is an American actor, director
and producer
. He is known for his starring role on the television series Thirtysomething, and most recently as Executive Producer
, director, and recurring guest star of the television series Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011).
and Dr. Roger Cattan on L.A. Doctors
(1998–1999). He was also noted for his performance as Detective Harry Garibaldi on Hill Street Blues
and as the lead in the short-lived but critically praised EZ Streets
. Olin has also performed in a number of television programs including Alias (as David McNeil), Falcon Crest
, and Murder, She Wrote
.
Prior to working on Brothers & Sisters, Olin produced and directed the television program Alias. He has directed for other television including L.A. Doctors, The West Wing, Felicity, Judging Amy
, Freaks and Geeks
, Thirtysomething, and EZ Streets
.
official and pharmaceutical company owner. He was raised in Highland Park, Illinois. He graduated from The Putney School
in Putney, Vermont
in 1972, then completed his college career at the University of Pennsylvania
. He is married to his thirtysomething and Brothers & Sisters co-star, Patricia Wettig
, with whom he has a son, Clifford, and a daughter, Roxanne
(better known as "Roxy") who appears on The City
. Olin is Jewish.
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. He is known for his starring role on the television series Thirtysomething, and most recently as Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, director, and recurring guest star of the television series Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011).
Career
As an actor, Olin played Michael Steadman on Thirtysomething (1987–1991)and Dr. Roger Cattan on L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors
L.A. Doctors was an American medical drama television series set in a Los Angeles practice. It ran on CBS during the 1998-99 season.-Premise:...
(1998–1999). He was also noted for his performance as Detective Harry Garibaldi on Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
and as the lead in the short-lived but critically praised EZ Streets
EZ Streets
EZ Streets is an American television drama series created by Paul Haggis. It premiered on CBS on October 27, 1996 with a two hour pilot telefilm...
. Olin has also performed in a number of television programs including Alias (as David McNeil), Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced....
, and Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
.
Prior to working on Brothers & Sisters, Olin produced and directed the television program Alias. He has directed for other television including L.A. Doctors, The West Wing, Felicity, Judging Amy
Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
, Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks is an American teen comedy-drama television series, created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season...
, Thirtysomething, and EZ Streets
EZ Streets
EZ Streets is an American television drama series created by Paul Haggis. It premiered on CBS on October 27, 1996 with a two hour pilot telefilm...
.
Personal life
Olin was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a former Peace CorpsPeace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
official and pharmaceutical company owner. He was raised in Highland Park, Illinois. He graduated from The Putney School
The Putney School
The Putney School is an independent high school in Putney, Vermont. It was founded in 1935 by Carmelita Hinton. It is a co-educational, college-preparatory boarding school, with a day-student component, located outside of Brattleboro, Vermont. Emily Jones is the director...
in Putney, Vermont
Putney, Vermont
Putney is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census.On December 26, 1753 Col.Josiah Willard led a proprietors' petition for a Putney charter which was issued by Governor Benning Wentworth of the New Hampshire Grants under King George II of England...
in 1972, then completed his college career at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He is married to his thirtysomething and Brothers & Sisters co-star, Patricia Wettig
Patricia Wettig
Patricia Wettig is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her roles in the television series Thirtysomething, Prison Break and Brothers & Sisters...
, with whom he has a son, Clifford, and a daughter, Roxanne
Roxy Olin
Roxanne Elizabeth "Roxy" Olin is an American actress and socialite who appeared on the MTV reality show The City. She also has a recurring role in the ABC drama Brothers and Sisters. She is the daughter of actors Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig. She suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity...
(better known as "Roxy") who appears on The City
The City (MTV series)
The City is an MTV reality television series. The first spin-off of MTV's, The Hills, it follows one of the show's former cast members, Whitney Port, as she moves to New York City to work for fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg. The program premiered on December 29, 2008 and concluded its first...
. Olin is Jewish.