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Karen Austin

Highest Rated: 80% Jagged Edge (1985)

Lowest Rated: 17% Summer Rental (1985)

Birthday: Oct 24, 1955

Birthplace: Welch, West Virginia, USA

With a master's degree in dramatic literature from Northwestern to her name, Karen Austin got her first break as an actress on the beloved sitcom "Happy Days" in 1978. She appeared on the prime-time soap "Dallas" and the detective series "The Rockford Files" shortly thereafter, and in 1979 scored her first role in a feature film with the inspirational drama "Fish Hawk." After being cast in a leading role in the failed adventure series "The Quest" in 1982, she signed on for a supporting role as a court clerk on the inaugural season of "Night Court" in 1984. Despite significant screen time, and a simmering romance with quirky Judge Harry Stone, she left the legal comedy after only 10 episodes. Following a brief stopover on the medical drama "St. Elsewhere," Austin landed a co-starring role as John Candy's wife in the 1985 comedy "Summer Rental." The next year, she starred in the disturbing revenge flick "The Ladies Club" as a rape victim with a vendetta. Aside from a supporting role in the 1989 thriller "Far From Home," her mid-'80s projects were her most prominent. Never without work, however, Austin continued to appear as a guest star on many popular TV series into the new millennium, though she never again saw quite the spotlight that she did earlier in her career.

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Highest rated movies

80% 59% Jagged Edge
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63% 61% When a Stranger Calls Back
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51% 36% The Rum Diary
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40% 50% Sweet Talk
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17% 52% Summer Rental
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A Case of the Mondays
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25% Laura Lansing Slept Here
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A Girl to Kill For
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Penalty Phase
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Best Friends for Life
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Case of the Mondays Ms. Swallow (Character) - 2023
40% 50% Sweet Talk Newsvendor / Nurse (Character) - 2012
51% 36% The Rum Diary Mrs. Zimburger (Character) $13.1M 2011
No Score Yet 17% Confined Ellie Wolfram (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 62% Amber's Story Glenda Whitson (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Best Friends for Life Violet Evans (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Murder or Memory? A Moment of Truth Movie Connie Frawley (Character) - 1994
63% 61% When a Stranger Calls Back Skid Row Woman (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 57% Casey's Gift: For Love of a Child Donna Bolen (Character) - 1990
No Score Yet 40% Far From Home Louise (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Girl to Kill For Karen/Shopper (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 11% The Case of the Hillside Stranglers J.D. Jackson (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 25% Laura Lansing Slept Here Melody Gomphers (Character) - 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet When the Time Comes Joanna (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet 9% Assassin Mary Casallas (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Penalty Phase Julie (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 38% The Ladies Club Joan Taylor (Character) $239.1K 1986
17% 52% Summer Rental Sandy Chester (Character) - 1985
80% 59% Jagged Edge Julie Jensen (Character) $36.9M 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Quest Carrie Welby (Character) - 1982

TV

Credit
83% 84% The Closer Linda Prall (Guest Star) 2011
No Score Yet 65% CSI: Miami Unknown (Guest Star) 2009
20% No Score Yet Rodney Patsy (Guest Star) 2004 2008
6% No Score Yet Freddie Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
72% 89% Desperate Housewives Lois McDaniel (Guest Star) 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kingdom Hospital Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 95% Cold Case Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Girlfriends Unknown (Guest Star) 2002-2003
No Score Yet No Score Yet Profiler Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
76% 80% Star Trek: Voyager Miral (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet 75% Sliders Unknown (Guest Star) 1995 1999
No Score Yet 93% Beverly Hills, 90210 Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
19% No Score Yet Vengeance Unlimited Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Martial Law Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet JAG Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Touched by an Angel Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet 71% 3rd Rock From the Sun Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
91% 67% Murder One Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Step by Step Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Outer Limits Old Woman (Guest Star) 1997
91% 89% Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Kalandra (Guest Star) 1996
83% 95% NYPD Blue Jessica Herman (Guest Star) 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Marshal Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
44% No Score Yet Live Shot Unknown (Guest Star) 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Commish Linda Scott (Guest Star) 1992 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hunter Lt. Megan Malone (Guest Star) 1990
No Score Yet 81% Columbo Dr. Paula Hall (Guest Star) 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jake and the Fatman Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet 21 Jump Street Mrs. Futterman (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Night Court Lana Wagner (Character) 1984
No Score Yet 95% Three's Company Unknown (Guest Star) 1980 1982
97% 85% Hill Street Blues West Virginia (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet 95% Soap Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hart to Hart Unknown (Guest Star) 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Happy Days Peggy Clark (Guest Star) 1978