Thomas, J. Karen

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Thomas, J. Karen

PERSONAL

Education: Memphis State University, B.A.; trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute and the Broadway Dance Center.

Addresses: Agent—Boutique Talent, 10 Universal City Plaza, Suite 2000, Universal City, CA 91608; (commercial and voice work) Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty, 10635 Santa Monica Blvd., Suites 130/135, Los Angeles, CA 90025; Michael Linden Greene, Michael Greene and Associates, 7080 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 1017, Hollywood, CA 90028.

Career: Actress and singer.

Member: Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Actors' Equity Association.

Awards, Honors: Theatre Award (with others), outstanding ensemble, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 2002, for Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life; No Way Out Award nomination, best performance by a female actor, "Adventures in Odyssey" HQ and The Soda Fountain (Internet sites), c. 2004, for "Something's Got to Change," Adventures in Odyssey.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

(Uncredited) Jada, Sunset Beach, NBC, 1998, 1999.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Teacher, Inferno, UPN, 1998.

Corrine, Mutiny, NBC, 1999.

M. S. Washborough, Gentle Ben (also known as Terror on the Mountain), Animal Planet, 2002.

Ms. Washborough, Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain (also known as Black Gold), Animal Planet, 2003.

Winnie, Life on Liberty Street, The Hallmark Channel, 2004.

Ruby Bowe, Detective (also known as Arthur Hailey's "Detective"), 2005.

Professor Davis, Sarang Song (short), Showtime, 2006.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Lula Mae, Black Filmmaker Showcase, Showtime, 2004.

Announcer, An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder, 2006.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"G.I. Blues," The Mississippi, CBS, 1983.

Reporter, "Creep Throat," Savannah, The WB, 1996.

Reporter, "From Here to Paternity," Savannah, The WB, 1996.

Reporter, "Prince of Lies," Savannah, The WB, 1996.

Dogwoman, "The Adventures of Ratman and Gerbil or, Holy Homeboys in Outer Space," Homeboys in Outer Space, UPN, 1997.

Joan Farrell, "Citizen Canine," Total Security, ABC, 1997.

Lieutenant Teri Eastman, "The Exodus: Part 1," Sliders, Fox, 1997.

The operator, "Ellen's Deaf Comedy Jam," Ellen (also known as These Friends of Mine), ABC, 1997.

Karen Martin-Gray, "They Eat Horses, Don't They?," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1998.

Karen Shore, "Pops' Campaign," The Wayans Bros., The WB, 1998.

Mrs. Keeling, "The One That Got Away," NYPD Blue, ABC, 1998.

Sheriff Dickson, "Buona Sera, Mr. Campbell: Part 2," Melrose Place, Fox, 1998.

"You Shoulda Seen My Daddy," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 1998.

Andrew's nurse, "Vigilance and Care," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1999.

Harriet Lane, "The Wendigo," Charmed, The WB, 1999.

Karen Martin-Gray, "Pyramids on the Nile," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1999.

Cooing man, "Animal Planet: Part 2," Jack & Jill, The WB, 2000.

Dr. Cynthia Creighton, "To Halve or Halve Not," City of Angels, CBS, 2000.

Bartender, "The Invisible Man," Providence, NBC, 2001.

Dr. Janet Reuben, "Heart Problems," That's Life, CBS, 2001.

Hannah Parks, "Jeff," Kate Brasher, CBS, 2001.

Priscilla Carter, "Rage against the Machine," The District, CBS, 2001.

Prisoner transport officer, "April Showers," ER (also known as Emergency Room), NBC, 2001.

(As Karen Thomas) Dr. Blaine, "There's No Business Like No Business," Philly, ABC, 2002.

Airline representative, "The Friendly Skies," Miracles (also known as The Calling), ABC, 2003.

Prosecutor, "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," Judging Amy, CBS, 2003.

"Technical Corrections," Mister Sterling, NBC, 2003.

Ellen Turner, "Compulsion," Criminal Minds, CBS, 2005.

Mrs. Gurney, "Code of Ethics," Crossing Jordan (also known as Untitled Tim Kring Project), NBC, 2006.

Also appeared in The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB. Some sources cite an appearance as Donna Jean Polk in "A Final Arrangement," an episode of In the Heat of the Night, NBC, 1990 (while billed as Karen Thomas); some sources also cite an appearance as a SNCC woman in an episode of I'll Fly Away, NBC.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Martha Simpson, Nashville Beat, The Nashville Network, 1990.

Film Appearances:

(Uncredited) Nurse, Go, Columbia/TriStar, 1999.

First class flight assistant, The Shrink Is In, New City Releasing, 2001.

The Tempest, Chaos Films, 2001.

Gottlieb, Written in Blood, Buena Vista Home Video, 2002.

Jamie's mom, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood (also known as Leprechaun: Back in da Hood and Leprechaun 6), Lions Gate Films, 2003.

Sheila Stewart, Woman Thou Art Loosed, Magnolia Pictures, 2004.

Gift for the Living, 2005.

Promtoversy (short film), Power Up Films, 2005.

Herself, Who Killed the Electric Car? (documentary; also known as EV Confidential), Sony Pictures Classics, 2006.

Some sources cite appearances in other films, including Blue Sky, Orion, filmed in 1991, released in 1994; and The Ways of Harmony.

Stage Appearances:

Cassius, Julius Caesar, Jomandi Productions, Atlanta, GA, c. 1994.

Pinkie, The Ties That Bind, Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA, c. 1996.

The Tempest, Foliage Theatre Company, Los Angeles, 2001.

Nurse, Romeo and Juliet, Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival, Pershing Square, Los Angeles, 2002.

Topsy, Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life (also known as Uncle Tom's Cabin), Drama Department, Sacred Fools Theatre, Los Angeles, 2002.

Dreams & Visions (concert reading), Village Theatre, Lemerk Park, Los Angeles, 2002.

Beck, Occidental Studios Soundstage 4, Los Angeles, 2003.

Celebrity guest, Power Up, Beverly Hills Hotel Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA, 2005.

Yvette, Mother Courage and Her Children, Theatre at Boston Court, Pasadena, CA, 2005.

Appeared as Charlaine, Ain't Misbehavin' (musical), Charles Playhouse; as B. J., Both Barrels: A Salvo of John Forster Songs (also known as Both Barrels), Luna Park Theatre, West Hollywood, CA; as Velma Kelly, Chicago (musical), Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, Nashville, TN; as Lorrell, Dreamgirls (musical), Jomandi Productions; as Miselaida, Hair Pieces, Hudson Theatre; in the title role, Lysistrata, Foliage Theatre Company, Los Angeles; as Puck, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tennessee Repertory Company; and as the scarecrow, The Wiz (musical), Playhouse on the Square. Appeared as Josephine the singer extraordinaire (Josephine Baker) at the French Festival, Santa Barbara, CA, 2004 and 2005.

Radio Appearances; Episodic:

Elaine Washington, "The Mailman Cometh," Adventures in Odyssey (also known as Odyssey USA), multiple networks, 2003.

Elaine Washington, "The Mystery at Tin Flat," Adventures in Odyssey (also known as Odyssey USA), multiple networks, 2003.

Elaine Washington, "The Toy Man," Adventures in Odyssey (also known as Odyssey USA), multiple networks, 2003.

Elaine Washington, "No Way Out: Parts 1 & 2," Adventures in Odyssey (also known as Odyssey USA), multiple networks, 2004.

Elaine Washington, "Something's Got to Change," Adventures in Odyssey (also known as Odyssey USA), multiple networks, 2004.

RECORDINGS

Albums; with Others; Vocalist:

Nils, "Maybe There Are Reasons," Blue Planet, Ichiban Old Emd, 1998.

Wild Colonials, Reel Life, Volume 1 (also known as Reel Life, Volume 1—A Collection of Wild Colonials Film Music), Chromatic Records, 2000.

Video Games:

Voice, Extreme Skate Adventure (also known as Disney's "Extreme Skate Adventure"), 2003.

Voices, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (also known as Star Wars: KOTOR), LucasArts Entertainment, 2003.

OTHER SOURCES

Electronic:

J. Karen Thomas, http://www.jkarenthomas.com, January 26, 2006.

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