Ken Olin

Actor

Birthday July 30, 1954

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Age 69 years old

Nationality United States

#11261 Most Popular

1954

Kenneth Edward Olin (born July 30, 1954) is an American actor, television director, and producer.

1970

Olin made several guest appearances on episodic primetime TV in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

1972

He graduated from The Putney School in Putney, Vermont, in 1972.

He then completed his college career at the University of Pennsylvania.

He is married to thirtysomething co-star, Patricia Wettig, with whom he has a son, Clifford, and a daughter, Roxanne, who appeared on The City.

1981

His film credits include roles in Ghost Story (1981), Queens Logic (1991), and 'Til There Was You (1997).

1983

His first series regular role was on the short-lived NBC comedy-drama Bay City Blues in 1983.

1984

He later joined the cast of NBC police drama Hill Street Blues playing Detective Harry Garibaldi from 1984 to 1985, and from 1985 to 1986 co-starred on the CBS prime time soap opera Falcon Crest as Father Christopher Rossini.

Olin also guest-starred on Murder, She Wrote and Hotel before he was cast as Michael Steadman, one of the lead roles in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething.

1987

As an actor, Olin is known for his role as Michael Steadman in the ABC drama series Thirtysomething (1987–1991), for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama nomination in 1990.

Olin later began working behind the scenes, as a director and producer.

Debuting in 1987, the series received critical acclaim, setting a new bar for realism in the realm of prime-time drama.

1990

For his performance, Olin was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1990.

In the summer of 1990, Olin directed Wettig in a production of "My Mother Said I Never Should" at the Powerhouse Theatre at Vassar College.

1992

He also directed television movies The Broken Cord (1992), Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992), In Pursuit of Honor (1995) and Phenomenon II (2003), as well as White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf (1994) for Buena Vista Pictures.

He directed episodes of L.A. Doctors, Judging Amy, Felicity, The West Wing, 23 episodes of Alias, 20 episodes of Brothers & Sisters, Sleepy Hollow, and 20 episodes of This Is Us.

1995

He appeared along with wife Patricia Wettig in the 1995 television film Nothing But the Truth, and well as in Telling Secrets (1993) with Cybill Shepherd, The Advocate's Devil (1997) alongside Mariska Hargitay, and Evolution's Child (1999).

1996

In 1996, Olin played a leading role in the short-lived CBS crime drama EZ Streets.

1998

From 1998 to 1999, he played the leading role in another short-lived CBS series, medical drama L.A. Doctors.

2001

His credits as a producer include Alias (2001–2006), Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011), and This Is Us (2016–2022).

Olin is married to actress Patricia Wettig.

Olin has been an executive producer on several television dramas, starting with the ABC action drama Alias (2001-2006).

2002

His other credits include Breaking News (2002), The Mob Doctor (2012-2013) and Sleepy Hollow.

2006

From 2006 to 2011, he was a producer on ABC's family drama Brothers & Sisters, and also appeared on a recurring basis.

His wife, Patricia Wettig, was also a regular cast member on the show.

2007

From 2007 to 2011, Olin had a recurring role opposite wife Patricia Wettig in the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters.

2015

From 2015 to 2017, he had a recurring role in the CBS drama series, Zoo.

2016

In 2016, he began producing NBC's family drama This Is Us, which received four Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series nominations during its run.

Olin was born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a former Peace Corps official and pharmaceutical company owner.

He was raised in Highland Park, Illinois.

2020

In 2020, ABC ordered a sequel for Thirtysomething and Olin was set to return alongside Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield and Patricia Wettig; however, the project remains in development limbo.

Olin directed six episodes of Thirtysomething.