Cast & creator
Ken Olin
Best known for The West Wing, Tracker, Tracker
His dark, sincere good looks were steadily put to use on the small screen during the 80s, but, in retrospect, actor Ken Olin will probably be considered more of a major force behind the camera. Born in Chicago, Ken went to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and headed for Hollywood in the late 70s. After the typical route of bit parts, he started moving up in leaps and bounds on TV's top shows. A couple of strong, single season regular parts on both Hill Street Blues (1981)and Falcon Crest (1981) ultimately led to his casting as the introspective and quietly sexy Michael Steadman on Thirtysomething (1987), which ran for four seasons and nabbed numerous awards for its liberal writing and sensitive content. Ken co-starred with wife Patricia Wettig on the show, but the multi-Emmy winner Wettig did not play Ken's wife (actress Mel Harris did) and the public was often confused as to who Ken's wife really was. Ken also earned the chance to direct occasionally on Thirtysomething (1987) and this would have a significant impact as to the direction of his career in the years to come. Following Thirtysomething (1987), Ken pursued acting work in mini-movies as both hero ( Police Story: Cop Killer (1988) ) and villain ( Dead by Sunset (1995) ), but almost always seemed on the verge of leaving acting altogether. It was his burgeoning interest in directing that took over, and he has since found steady helming duties on such popular shows as Felicity (1998) and The West Wing (1999). His TV drama Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992)was nominated for three Emmys.
Also known as: Kenneth Edward Olin, Kenneth Edward "Ken" Olin
26
film credits
47
television credits
39
1944–2025 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (73)
Showing 73 of 73 credits
The West Wing
Director
1999
Tracker
Executive Producer
2024Tracker
Director
2024
This Is Us
Director
2016This Is Us
Executive Producer
2016
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Falcon Crest
Christopher Rossini
1981
Murder, She Wrote
Perry Revere
1984
Judging Amy
Director
1999
Hill Street Blues
Harry Garibaldi
1981Hill Street Blues
Det. Harry Garibaldi
1981
Brothers and Sisters
David Caplan
2006Brothers and Sisters
Director
2006Brothers and Sisters
Executive Producer
2006
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Audience Member
1944Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Sleepy Hollow
Director
2013Sleepy Hollow
Executive Producer
2013
Hotel
1982
Paradise
Director
2025
Felicity
Director
1998
The Man in the High Castle
Director
2015
The Hitchhiker
Steve
1983
Stars in the House
Self
2020
Zoo
Professor Robert Oz
2015
thirtysomething
Michael Steadman
1987thirtysomething
Director
1987
Freaks and Geeks
Director
1999
Eli Stone
Producer
2008Eli Stone
Director
2008
L.A. Doctors
Roger Cattan
1998L.A. Doctors
Director
1998
Alias
David McNeil (uncredited)
2001Alias
Director
2001Alias
Co-Executive Producer
2001Alias
Executive Producer
2001
Grand Hotel
Director
2019
The Slap
Director
2015
EZ Streets
Cameron Quinn
1996EZ Streets
Director
1996
Breaking News
2002Breaking News
Producer
2002Police Story
Officer Manny Mandell
1988
The Mob Doctor
Director
2012
Ghost Story
Young Sears James
1981
Bay City Blues
Rocky Padillo
1983
White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf
Director
1994
In Pursuit of Honor
Director
1995
'Til There Was You
Gregory
1997
Queens Logic
Ray
1991
I'll Take Manhattan
Nat Lammerman
1987
The Story of Soaps
Self
2020
Women at West Point
Board Member
1979
Doing Time on Maple Drive
Director
1992
Dead by Sunset
1995
A Stoning in Fulham County
Jim Sandler
1988
The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie
Ken Olin
2005
The Advocate's Devil
Abe Ringel
1997
There Must Be a Pony
Jay Savage
1986
Goodnight Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston
Charles Stuart
1990Brothers & Sisters: Family Album
Executive Producer
2007
Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac
David Frank
1984
Police Story: Cop Killer
Officer Manny Mandell
1988
Kansas
Executive Producer
1995
Tonight's the Night
Henry Fox
1987
Phenomenon II
Director
2003Phenomenon II
Executive Producer
2003
Telling Secrets
Det. Jay Jensen
1993
Nothing But the Truth
Dr. Peter Clayman
1995
Americana
Martin Garano
2012
Evolution's Child
1999
Y2K
Nick Cromwell
1999
The Broken Cord
Director
1992