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Richard Karn

Richard Karn

Actor, also producer · Born February 17, 1956 (70) · Seattle, Washington, USA

Richard Karn was born on February 17, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, the son of Gene and Louise Wilson. He has a sister named Sue. His birth name was Richard Karn Wilson, but he shortened it to Richard Karn because there was already a Richard Wilson registered with the Screen Actors Guild. He did his first acting in the fifth grade and was very active in drama in high school. He spent six months in England and attended the University of Washington, graduating in 1979 with a degree in drama. During his career, Richard has performed in many off-Broadway productions. His filmography includes 11 feature films and several made-for-TV movies and television series, including 8 years as Al Borland on Home Improvement with Tim Allen.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
February 17, 1956 (70)
From
Seattle, Washington, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 24% in 30 days

What are Richard Karn's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Family2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Family movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
45%
Self
20%
Society
17%
Survival
9%
Morality
6%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 16 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 16 · Charged 2 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 17 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 9 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 9
Shadow
2 of 9
Mentor
2 of 9
Trickster
1 of 9
Threshold guardian
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
13
Warm
11
Hopeful
11
Absurd
4
Bittersweet
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Richard Karn's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Karn's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 8 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Shifting Gears(2025)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Carrie and Jess Save the Universe!(2022)

    as Computer Face

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • More Power(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all shows

  • Horse Camp: A Love Tail(2020)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Christmas Dance(2021)

    as Sherman

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Assembly Required(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Check Inn to Christmas(2019)

    as Tim

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • PEN15(2019)

    Show 5 episodes · as Fred Peters

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Amanda and the Fox(2018)

    as Judge Weartherbee

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Christmas in Mississippi(2017)

    as Mr. McGuire

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • F*&% the Prom(2017)

    as Murphy

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Detroiters(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Karn

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Horse Dancer(2017)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Stars Are Already Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jim

  • Christmas Land(2015)

    as Mason Richards

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Dog for Christmas(2015)

    as Santa

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Perfect Christmas List(2014)

    as Tim

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • A Daughter's Nightmare(2014)

    as Cameron

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Gordon Family Tree(2013)

    as Perry Merrow

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • All Star Bowling Trick Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Last Man Standing(2011)

    Show 2 episodes · as Bill McKendree

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury(2011)

    as Bill Witherspoon

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Back-up Bride(2011)

    as Shane Bingham

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • In Gayle We Trust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mayor Thomas

  • Ctrl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 10 episodes · as Arthur Piller

  • True Jackson, VP(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Fire Marshal O'Bannon

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Bingo America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 100 episodes · Actor

  • Snow Buddies(2008)

    as Patrick

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Blue Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as John Adams

  • Dirt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Holt's Father

  • Air Buddies(2006)

    as Patrick Framm

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch(2002)

    as Patrick

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Reality School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Victor Cayanne

  • Watching Ellie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Richard Karn

  • Sex and the Teenage Mind(2002)

    as Stanley Heitmeyer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • MVP 2: Most Vertical Primate(2001)

    as Ollie Plant

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Chronicle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as David Tally

  • The Pooch and the Pauper(1999)

    as Agent Dainville

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Lot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Stan Lunquist

  • That '70s Show(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Theo

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Legend of the Mummy(1998)

    as Brice Renard

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Foot Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · as Host

  • Picture Perfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Road Rules (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Boys Will Be Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Mr. Delo

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as David Bergen

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Victor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Home Improvement(1991)

    Show 203 episodes · as Al Borland

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 45 titles from 1991 to 2025; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

Horse Camp: A Love Tail (2020)

$24K worldwide

Highest rated

Check Inn to Christmas (2019)

Midcredits 71st

Most popular right now

Home Improvement (1991)

Film career

19912025

Peak 2001 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting45 of 45: 45 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score31st

By decade

1990s10 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s16 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 8% of 12 roles
0111

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Richard Karn's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 25th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 24th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 32 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive5
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Carrie and Jess Save the Universe! (2022)

96th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

PEN15 (2019)

Midcredits 92nd · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 41/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 63, detractors 27. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Richard Karn work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Karn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joel Paul Reisig shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers