John Karlen (born John Adam Karlewicz; May 28, 1933 â€" January 22,
2020) was an American character actor who played multiple roles
(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 to 1971.In 1971,
Karlen starred as the male lead in Daughters of Darkness. He played
Harvey Lacey, husband of Mary Beth Lacey (played by Tyne Daly), on the
CBS crime series Cagney & Lacey (1982â€"88). Karlen recently reprised
the role of "Willie Loomis" for a new series of Dark Shadows audio
dramas, produced by Big Finish Productions.Karlen was born May 28,
1933, in Brooklyn, the son of Helen Agnes (née Balondowicz) and Adam
Marion Karlewicz. He was of Polish descent. He enrolled in the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts on a scholarship. His first acting
experiences were on early television productions such as From These
Roots and Kraft Television Theatre. His stage career began in 1959 in
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 vampire Barnabas 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.
2020) was an American character actor who played multiple roles
(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 to 1971.In 1971,
Karlen starred as the male lead in Daughters of Darkness. He played
Harvey Lacey, husband of Mary Beth Lacey (played by Tyne Daly), on the
CBS crime series Cagney & Lacey (1982â€"88). Karlen recently reprised
the role of "Willie Loomis" for a new series of Dark Shadows audio
dramas, produced by Big Finish Productions.Karlen was born May 28,
1933, in Brooklyn, the son of Helen Agnes (née Balondowicz) and Adam
Marion Karlewicz. He was of Polish descent. He enrolled in the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts on a scholarship. His first acting
experiences were on early television productions such as From These
Roots and Kraft Television Theatre. His stage career began in 1959 in
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 vampire Barnabas 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.
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