Karen Carlson
 |
Karen Carlson | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 15, 1945 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Arkansas |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Spouse(s) | Devin Payne (? - ?) |
| Children | 3 |
Karen Carlson (born January 15, 1945) is an American actress.
Life and career[]
Carlson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Carlson.[1] She was educated at C.E. Byrd High School[2] and at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and represented the university and the state of Arkansas in the 1964 Miss America Pageant, finishing first runner up to Vonda Kay Van Dyke.[3]
Carlson started her career in Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller variety shows, Laugh In, and The Hollywood Palace. She also appeared in television series and films, including The Candidate (1972) with Robert Redford and The Octagon (1980) with Chuck Norris. On television, Carlson played Nancy Scotfield in ten episodes of the soap opera Dallas[2] (1986) and Sarah Hallisey in twelve episodes of In the Heat of the Night. She was also a series regular in American Dream with Stephen Macht,[4] The Yellow Rose with her first husband, David Soul, and Cybill Shepherd,[4]:1202 and Two Marriages with Michael Murphy.[4]:1121
Carlson was cast as Sarah Ewing in the 1970 episode "The Mezcla Man", one of the last segments of the syndicated western series Death Valley Days, hosted by Dale Robertson. Jesse Pearson played Jess Ivy, a young man who wants to propose marriage to Sarah but hesitates because of his lack of financial footing. He decides to look for hidden gold.[5]
In another 1970 Death Valley Days episode, "Pioneer Pluck", Carlson was cast as Anabelle Colvin, who is awaiting a proposal of marriage from her beau, Frank Harris (). But ranch hand Winn Kinkead (Robert Yuro) mistakes Anabelle's intentions when she flirts with him and vows revenge when she marries.[6]
She was later cast as Mary Ellen in ABC's Here Come the Brides.[4]:452 She guest-starred in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1967), Mission: Impossible (1971), Bonanza (1973), Starsky and Hutch (1976–77) with David Soul, Centennial (1978), The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979), Hart to Hart (1980), Hill Street Blues (1983), and Hotel (1987). Her last appearance was in the film Out of Ashes (2013). She has since turned her focus from acting to directing and screenwriting.[citation needed]
Personal life[]
Carlson was married to actor and co-star David Soul. They divorced and she later married musician Devin Payne. She had one child with Soul and two children with Payne.[2]
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Shame, Shame, Everybody Knows Her Name | Susan Barton | |
| 1970 | The Student Nurses | Phred | |
| 1972 | The Candidate | Nancy McKay | |
| 1973 | The Streets of San Francisco | Cathy Cullen | Episode: "Legion of the Lost" |
| 1975 | Cage Without a Key | Betty Holian | TV movie |
| 1976-1977 | Starsky and Hutch | Christine D. Phelps / Gillian Ingrahm | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Black Oak Conspiracy | Lucy Metcalf | |
| 1977 | It Happened One Christmas | Violet | TV movie |
| 1978 | Matilda | Kathleen Smith | |
| 1978 | Centennial | Lisette Mercy | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Stella Warden | Episode: "Planet of the Slave Girls" |
| 1980 | The Incredible Hulk | Lorraine | Episode: "Broken Image" |
| 1980 | The Octagon | Justine |
1982 " In Love with an Older Woman" |
| 1984 | Fleshburn | Shirley Pinter | |
| 1985 | Brotherly Love | Donna Ryder | TV movie |
| 1986 | Dallas | Nancy Scotfield | 7 episodes |
| 1986 | Spenser: For Hire | Lanore Freemont | 1 episode |
| 1988 | Teen Vamp | Mrs. Murphy | |
| 1990 | In the Heat of the Night | Atty. Sarah Hallisey | 12 episodes |
| 1997 | The Man Next Door | Grace | |
| 2008 | A Father's Rights | Ms. Little |
References[]
- ^ "Actress Karen Carlson Returns to Byrd High". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. March 2, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Crockett, Lane (August 7, 1987). "Home base: Karen Carlson back in town". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. 47. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Montgomery, Jim (July 16, 1972). "Karen Carlson: A Beauty Queen No More". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. 18 - F. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ "The Mezcla Man on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Data Base. January 2, 1970. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Pioneer Pluck on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
External links[]
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- 1945 births
- Living people
- Actresses from Louisiana
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- University of Arkansas alumni
- Miss America 1960s delegates
- Actors from Shreveport, Louisiana
- 20th-century American people
- American television actor, 1940s birth stubs
- American film actor, 1940s birth stubs