Person Biography:
Kenneth Edward Olin, also known as Ken Olin, was born on July 30, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was a former Jewish Peace Corps official and pharmaceutical company owner. Ken graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in English Literature and later attended the University of Pennsylvania.
Ken began his acting career in the late 1970s with bit parts in TV movies and series. He gained recognition with strong, single-season regular parts on short-lived series such as Bay City Blues, Hill Street Blues, and Falcon Crest. He then landed the role of Michael Steadman on the acclaimed series Thirtysomething, which ran for four seasons and earned numerous awards.
During his time on Thirtysomething, Ken also found work in films and TV movies, including Queens Logic, A Stoning in Fulham County, Police Story: Cop Killer, It, and I'll Take Manhattan. He also earned the opportunity to direct occasionally on the program, which would have a significant impact on the direction of his career.
After Thirtysomething ended, Ken continued to work in TV, taking on roles as both hero and villain, as well as various shades in between. He also starred in a gritty crime series, EZ Streets, and had a recurring role on the soap drama Brothers & Sisters. In later years, he appeared frequently as Professor Oz on the TV series Zoo.
Ken's interest in producing and directing began to take focus in the millennium. He has since found steady duties on popular shows such as Alias, Brothers & Sisters, The Mob Doctor, Sleepy Hollow, and This Is Us, for which he has been Emmy-nominated in the "Best Dramatic Series" category.
Ken is the father of two children, actor/writer/co-producer Clifford Olin and actress Roxy Olin. He recently returned to his role as Michael Steadman in the TV movie "Thirtysomething Sequel," focusing on the second generation family.
