If you've not seen the movie, stop reading right now and go seek it out. It's an awesome horror/comedy from the 1980s, and the precursor of movies like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. I highly recommend it.
Mr. Karen gives an amazing and memorable performance in the movie. He's been in a ton of films over the years and has guest starred on just about every TV show you can think of. Among other things, he was the evil contractor who moved the tombstones (but not the bodies!) in Poltergeist, and he was the mean old land baron who bought up Walnut Grove and forced out the residents in the final episode of Little House on the Prairie.
By the way, I asked him if he ever got hate mail from people for causing Walnut Grove to be blown up. He said he did and still does to this day!
He was extremely nice to me and all the other fans, asking everyone their name and where they were from and how long they'd driven to be there. He graciously listened to me and everyone else tell him the same story about how much they loved him in Return of the Living Dead. His actress wife Alba Francesca was with him, and she was very nice as well, dutifully taking photos of everyone who wanted a picture.
In fact, he was so nice that he didn't charge to sign autographs or take a photo with him. He said he wouldn't be where he is today without his fans, and this is his way of giving something back. Now that's a rare and refreshing attitude!
He also participated in a Return of the Living Dead panel, answering questions and entertaining the audience with behind the scenes stories and anecdotes about the filming of the movie.
Believe it or not, James Karen is 87 years old! He certainly didn't look it or act it. I'd have guessed 70 at the most. He's still working too, starring in upcoming movies and doing voice over work. In fact right after WonderFest was over he was leaving for New York to record the narration for a documentary. I'm happy I got a chance to meet and talk with him.
HOW AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteIt's always dangerous when you meet a celebrity you admire-- if they turn out to be a jerk, then that makes it hard to enjoy their work from then on.
ReplyDeleteLuckily that didn't happen with James Karen. He couldn't have been nicer.
He was such a nice, wonderful man! And I really enjoyed hearing him talk at the panel discussion.
ReplyDeleteHe sure was, Belle. I saw him in the panel discussion as well. He was a great storyteller.
ReplyDeleteThe WizardWorld comic convention was held in Chicago a couple weeks ago. I didn't go to it this year, but I was reading about it online, and saw that William Shatner was there, among others. He was charging a whopping $95 for a photo with him. Autograph NOT included. I think the autograph was another $50 or $60.
Reading that made me want to find James Karen and give him a big hug for signing for free!