James Karen, Famed Character Actor, Dies at 94

LOS ANGELES, CA — Veteran actor James Karen has died at his Los Angeles home. He was 94.

Karen was a star of stage and screen whose films included "Poltergeist," "The China Syndrome" and "The Pursuit of Happyness." His death Tuesday night was confirmed by longtime friend and film critic Leonard Maltin, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Karen began his entertainment career in earnest in 1947 as part of the original Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," directed by Elia Kazan.

The actor often found himself playing stern men in positions of authority and worked with some of the most distinguished directors in Hollywood, including Oliver Stone (on "Wall Street," "Nixon" and "Any Given Sunday") and David Lynch (on "Mulholland Drive.") He was in the 1982 film "Poltergeist," which was co-scripted by Steven Spielberg.

With a career spanning seven decades, Karen has 204 credits listed on IMDb, not including his more than appearances in more than 20 Broadway shows and more than 5,000 Pathmark Supermarkets ads, The Times reported.

Born in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 28, 1923, Karen received training at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City in 1940 and served in the 11th Air Force, stationed in the Aleutian Islands in 1942.

He is survived by son Reed Karen, two grandchildren and his wife of more than 30 years, actress Alba Francesca.

City News Service; Photo: LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 29: Actor James Karen attends Hollywood Horrorfest Presentation of 'Return Of The Living Dead' Screening held at The New Beverly Theater on March 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)