Karen Carlson

Karen Carlson (born January 15, 1945) is an American actress.

Karen Carlson
Born	January 15, 1945 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Arkansas
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1967–present
Spouse(s)	David Soul ​ (m. 1968⁠–⁠1977)​ (divorced) Devin Payne (? - ?)
Children	3
Parent(s)	Mr. and Mrs. M.W. Carlson

Life and career

Carlson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Carlson,[1] and educated at C.E. Byrd High School[2] and at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and represented the university and state of Arkansas in the 1964 Miss America Pageant, finishing first runner up to Vonda Kay Van Dyke.[3]

Carlson started her career in Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller variety shows, Laugh In, and The Hollywood Palace. She also appeared in television series and films, including The Candidate (1972) with Robert Redford and The Octagon (1980) with Chuck Norris. On television, Carlson played Nancy Scotfield in ten episodes of the soap opera Dallas[2] (1986) and Sarah Hallisey in twelve episodes of In the Heat of the Night. She was also a series regular in American Dream with Stephen Macht,[4] The Yellow Rose with her first husband, David Soul, and Cybill Shepherd,[4]^:1202 and Two Marriages with Michael Murphy.[4]^:1121

Carlson was cast as Sarah Ewing in the 1970 episode "The Mezcla Man", one of the last segments of the syndicated Western series Death Valley Days, hosted by Dale Robertson. Jesse Pearson played Jess Ivy, a young man who wants to propose marriage to Sarah, but hesitates because of his lack of financial footing. He decides to look for hidden gold.[5]

In another 1970 Death Valley Days episode, "Pioneer Pluck", Carlson was cast as Anabelle Colvin, who is awaiting a proposal of marriage from her beau, Frank Harris (Roger Ewing). But ranch hand Winn Kinkead (Robert Yuro) mistakes Anabelle's intentions when she flirts with him and vows revenge when she marries.[6]

She was later cast as Mary Ellen in ABC's Here Come the Brides.[4]^:452 She guest-starred in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1967), Mission: Impossible (1971), Bonanza (1973), Starsky and Hutch (1976–77) with David Soul, Centennial (1978), The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979), Hart to Hart (1980), Hill Street Blues (1983), and Hotel (1987). Her last appearance was in the film Out of Ashes (2013). She has since turned her focus from acting to directing and screenwriting.

Personal life

Carlson was married to actor and co-star David Soul. They divorced and she later married musician Devin Payne. She had one child with Soul and two children with Payne.[2]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1969	Shame, Shame, Everybody Knows Her Name	Susan Barton
1970	The Student Nurses	Phred
1972	The Candidate	Nancy McKay
1973	The Streets of San Francisco	Cathy Cullen	Episode: "Legion of the Lost"
1975	Cage Without a Key	Betty Holian	TV movie
1976-1977	Starsky and Hutch	Christine D. Phelps / Gillian Ingrahm	2 episodes
1977	Black Oak Conspiracy	Lucy Metcalf
1977	It Happened One Christmas	Violet	TV movie
1978	Matilda	Kathleen Smith
1978	Centennial	Lisette Mercy	3 episodes
1979	Buck Rogers in the 25th Century	Stella Warden	Episode: "Planet of the Slave Girls"
1980	The Incredible Hulk	Lorraine	Episode: "Broken Image"
1980	The Octagon	Justine	1982 " In Love with an Older Woman"
1984	Fleshburn	Shirley Pinter
1985	Brotherly Love	Donna Ryder	TV movie
1986	Dallas	Nancy Scotfield	7 episodes
1986	Spenser: For Hire	Lanore Freemont	1 episode
1988	Teen Vamp	Mrs. Murphy
1990	In the Heat of the Night	Atty. Sarah Hallisey	12 episodes
1997	The Man Next Door	Grace
2008	A Father's Rights	Ms. Little

References

1. "Actress Karen Carlson Returns to Byrd High". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. March 2, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Crockett, Lane (August 7, 1987). "Home base: Karen Carlson back in town". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. 47. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Montgomery, Jim (July 16, 1972). "Karen Carlson: A Beauty Queen No More". The Times. Louisiana, Shreveport. p. 18 - F. Retrieved July 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
5. "The Mezcla Man on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Data Base. January 2, 1970. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
6. "Pioneer Pluck on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 7, 2018.

External links

• Karen Carlson at IMDb
• Karen Carlson at AllMovie