GGACP Rewind: Episode #33: James Karen

Veteran character actor James Karen appeared in over 80 movies, more than 100 television shows and a staggering 5,000 TV commercials. In a career spanning nearly 7 decades (!), he’s worked with Frederic March, Lauren Bacall, Gene Hackman, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford and Will Smith, to name a few. Gilbert and Frank phoned James to cover a wide range of topics, including his film debut in the immortal “Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster,” his years-long friendship with the legendary Buster Keaton and his experience sharing a townhouse with Marlon Brando, Wally Cox and Maureen Stapleton. Also, James “sells” Craig T. Nelson a haunted house, a Boy Scout uniform leads to an acting career and a controversial “Jeffersons” episode nearly torpedoes a TV pitchman gig. PLUS: James parties with Clark Gable! Gilbert gets a one-cent residual check! Moe Howard recites from “The Tempest”! And James teaches a teenaged Michael Douglas to drive! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices