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Richard Karn

Actor, Best Known for his Role on "Home Improvement"

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Richard Karn Biography

"Everywhere I go, it's incredible," he says. "People love our show, and they love Al  I think because he is such an everyman, an underdog."

But while Karn, a native of Seattle and a graduate of the University of Washington's Professional Actor's Training Program, is considered an "overnight success" by many fans, he had a career before "Home Improvement." A veteran of a dozen years of regional, off-Broadway, and Broadway theater, Karn earned his first credit on the Great White Way as the "suit of armor" in the smash-hit musical "Me and My Girl." Accustomed to playing the comic lead, he starred in the title role of Larry Shue's "The Foreigner," and includes among his many credits starring roles in off-Broadway productions of "Losing It" and "The Other Shore," the play in which he met his wife, actress Tudi Roche.

Although Karn landed small roles in the New York films "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "House of Games," a desire to raise a family brought Karn and Roche to Los Angeles in 1990. Karn's prime-time debut soon followed, as a sketch player on Carol Burnett's "Carol & Company." Karn also found stage work, starring in "Our Father," which earned a "Critic's Choice" award from the "Los Angeles Times."

But Karn's life changed forever on the day he rolled through a stop sign on his way home from a rehearsal of "Macbeth." He promptly landed in traffic school, where he met an agent who told him about "Home Improvement." The series was being produced by several writers Karn had met while working in repertory several years earlier at the New Harmony Project in Evansville, Indiana, a script workshop for playwrights and screenwriters. A few phone calls later Karn had a meeting, although all the parts in the pilot were already cast. With nothing to lose, Karn auditioned anyway, and then fate intervened when the actor set to play Tim Allen's sidekick landed a movie role. Karn was given the job but just for the pilot episode, because the original actor was slated to return for the series. When Al's trademark line, "I don't think so, Tim," landed the biggest laugh of the pilot, Karn's fate with "Home Improvement" was sealed. Not willing to trust his luck, he kept his day job as an apartment manager until the end of the first season of "Home Improvement." The show ranked number-three among all prime-time shows that year.

In its seven years on top, "Home Improvement" has afforded Karn other opportunities. He is the spokesperson for Wayne-Dalton, the world's largest garage door manufacturer, and sponsor of the annual Wayne Dalton/Richard Karn Celebrity Golf Classic, which raises funds for the internationally renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle's Overlake Hospital. The tournament is broadcast on ESPN, and focuses attention on the disease that claimed the life of Karn's mother, noted Pacific Northwest artist Louise Wilson.

Had Karn so chosen, he could have become a fourth-generation builder. His father, Gene Wilson, is a retired Seattle architect and builder who gets a big kick out of seeing his son as the brains behind "Tool Time," the show within the show on "Home Improvement."

During his recent summer hiatus, Karn completed production on the television movie "The Pooch and the Pauper," opposite George Wendt ("Cheers") and Fred Willard ("Roseanne"), for "The Wonderful World of Disney." In 1995, Karn starred in and produced his first television movie, "Picture Perfect." He has also starred in the ABC Afterschool Special "Boys Will Be Boys," opposite Ami Dolenz. Karn and Shelly Fabares cohosted "Before They Were Stars" (ABC), which featured a clip from his very first (non-theater) job: a Michelob commercial filmed in 1979. He also hosted "People's Funniest Animals" (ABC), "Chariots of the Gods" (ABC), and "Secrets of the Internet" (Discovery).

Karn and his wife have been married 11 years and have a six-year-old son named Cooper. In addition to being an avid golfer, he also enjoys skiing and fishing.

FAQs
  • How do I book Richard Karn to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Richard Karn for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Richard Karn, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Richard Karn or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Richard Karn

    Speaking fees for Richard Karn, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richard Karn are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $50,000 - $100,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richard Karn, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Richard Karn speak about?

    Richard Karn is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainers, Entertainment, Television Personalities, Television Stars, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does Richard Karn travel from?

    Richard Karn generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Richard Karn’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Richard Karn for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richard Karn for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Richard Karn or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Actor, Best Known for his Role on "Home Improvement"

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Richard Karn Biography

"Everywhere I go, it's incredible," he says. "People love our show, and they love Al  I think because he is such an everyman, an underdog."

But while Karn, a native of Seattle and a graduate of the University of Washington's Professional Actor's Training Program, is considered an "overnight success" by many fans, he had a career before "Home Improvement." A veteran of a dozen years of regional, off-Broadway, and Broadway theater, Karn earned his first credit on the Great White Way as the "suit of armor" in the smash-hit musical "Me and My Girl." Accustomed to playing the comic lead, he starred in the title role of Larry Shue's "The Foreigner," and includes among his many credits starring roles in off-Broadway productions of "Losing It" and "The Other Shore," the play in which he met his wife, actress Tudi Roche.

Although Karn landed small roles in the New York films "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "House of Games," a desire to raise a family brought Karn and Roche to Los Angeles in 1990. Karn's prime-time debut soon followed, as a sketch player on Carol Burnett's "Carol & Company." Karn also found stage work, starring in "Our Father," which earned a "Critic's Choice" award from the "Los Angeles Times."

But Karn's life changed forever on the day he rolled through a stop sign on his way home from a rehearsal of "Macbeth." He promptly landed in traffic school, where he met an agent who told him about "Home Improvement." The series was being produced by several writers Karn had met while working in repertory several years earlier at the New Harmony Project in Evansville, Indiana, a script workshop for playwrights and screenwriters. A few phone calls later Karn had a meeting, although all the parts in the pilot were already cast. With nothing to lose, Karn auditioned anyway, and then fate intervened when the actor set to play Tim Allen's sidekick landed a movie role. Karn was given the job but just for the pilot episode, because the original actor was slated to return for the series. When Al's trademark line, "I don't think so, Tim," landed the biggest laugh of the pilot, Karn's fate with "Home Improvement" was sealed. Not willing to trust his luck, he kept his day job as an apartment manager until the end of the first season of "Home Improvement." The show ranked number-three among all prime-time shows that year.

In its seven years on top, "Home Improvement" has afforded Karn other opportunities. He is the spokesperson for Wayne-Dalton, the world's largest garage door manufacturer, and sponsor of the annual Wayne Dalton/Richard Karn Celebrity Golf Classic, which raises funds for the internationally renowned Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle's Overlake Hospital. The tournament is broadcast on ESPN, and focuses attention on the disease that claimed the life of Karn's mother, noted Pacific Northwest artist Louise Wilson.

Had Karn so chosen, he could have become a fourth-generation builder. His father, Gene Wilson, is a retired Seattle architect and builder who gets a big kick out of seeing his son as the brains behind "Tool Time," the show within the show on "Home Improvement."

During his recent summer hiatus, Karn completed production on the television movie "The Pooch and the Pauper," opposite George Wendt ("Cheers") and Fred Willard ("Roseanne"), for "The Wonderful World of Disney." In 1995, Karn starred in and produced his first television movie, "Picture Perfect." He has also starred in the ABC Afterschool Special "Boys Will Be Boys," opposite Ami Dolenz. Karn and Shelly Fabares cohosted "Before They Were Stars" (ABC), which featured a clip from his very first (non-theater) job: a Michelob commercial filmed in 1979. He also hosted "People's Funniest Animals" (ABC), "Chariots of the Gods" (ABC), and "Secrets of the Internet" (Discovery).

Karn and his wife have been married 11 years and have a six-year-old son named Cooper. In addition to being an avid golfer, he also enjoys skiing and fishing.

FAQs on booking Richard Karn

  • How do I book Richard Karn to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Richard Karn for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Richard Karn, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Richard Karn or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Richard Karn

    Speaking fees for Richard Karn, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Richard Karn are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $50,000 - $100,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Richard Karn, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Richard Karn speak about?

    Richard Karn is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainers, Entertainment, Television Personalities, Television Stars, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does Richard Karn travel from?

    Richard Karn generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Richard Karn’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Richard Karn for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Richard Karn for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Richard Karn or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Richard Karn is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Richard Karn for your event is $50,000 - $100,000. Richard Karn generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are John Ratzenberger, Mike Rowe, Willie Robertson, Vanilla Ice and Tom Silva. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Richard Karn for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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Speakers Similar to Richard Karn

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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