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Jay Karnes

Jay Karnes

Actor · Born June 27, 1963 (63) · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Jay Karnes (born June 27, 1963) is an American actor, born in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Kansas (class of '89). He is well known for his role as L.A.P.D. Det. Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach on the FX hit drama The Shield, which finished its seventh (and final) season on November 25, 2008. In 2008 Karnes played the recurring role of ATF Agent Josh Kohn on FX Network's new original series Sons of Anarchy, created by writer/actor Kurt Sutter of The Shield. Karnes was an antagonist to SAMCRO vice president Jax Teller and his sometime girlfriend Tara Knowles. Two of the films he has starred in are The Joyriders (1999) and The Next Best Thing (2000). His most recent films are the 2008 movies Chasing 3000 and Broken Angel. Currently in 2011 he featured in season 2 of V (2009) and is set to appear as a main character in season 3. Jay Karnes has made guest appearances on several TV shows, including Frasier, Judging Amy, Chicago Hope, The Pretender, Star Trek: Voyager as Lieutenant Ducane in the fifth-season episode "Relativity", and House. Recently, he has had a recurring role on Burn Notice as Tyler Brennen, a sinister gunrunner with a predilection for kidnapping relatives of those he wishes to leverage. In the mid-1990s Karnes was a company member with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, playing major roles in such plays as Love's Labours Lost and Tom Stoppard's Arcadia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 27, 1963 (63)
From
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 41 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 64 days to Oct 27Down 20% in 30 days

What are Jay Karnes' films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 3rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
28%
Morality
27%
Self
12%
Power
12%
Survival
12%
Society
10%
Betrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 0 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 1 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 2 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Dread
4
Melancholic
3
Bittersweet
2
Contemplative
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Unsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Jay Karnes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jay Karnes' 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

41 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Night Agent(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr. Wilfred Cole

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Picard(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · as Agent Wells

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • FBI: Most Wanted(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Cecil Walsh

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Headlock(2019)

    as Doctor Nelson

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Magnum P.I.(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Colin Braggs

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Crossing(2018)

    Show 11 episodes · as Craig Lindauer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Before I Wake(2016)

    as Peter

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • 12 Monkeys(2015)

    Show 5 episodes · as Robert Gale

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Stalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Paul Lewis

  • Gang Related(2014)

    Show 10 episodes · as Paul Carter

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Jayhawkers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Chancellor Franklin Murphy

  • Chicago P.D.(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as FBI Agent William Graff

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Scandal(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil Stanner

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Hide(2011)

    as Charlie Marvin

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Grimm(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective Bauer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Set Up(2011)

    as Russel

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Body of Proof(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Loeb

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Leonie(2010)

    as Dr. Rumely

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: LA(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Roman

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Chasing 3000(2010)

    as Adult Roger

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • V(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Chris Bolling

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Sons of Anarchy(2008)

    Show 7 episodes · as Agent Joshua Kohn

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Broken Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Burn Notice(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Tyler Brennen

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Brothers & Sisters(2006)

    Show 4 episodes · as Roy Scovell

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Criminal Minds(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Hamilton Bartholomew

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Martin Rausch

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • House(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick Greenwald

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Artie Russo

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew Nolan

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • The Shield(2002)

    Show 88 episodes · as Holland 'Dutch' Wagenbach

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as I.A. Detective Schultz · as IA Officer Wagenbach

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Noah Bunning

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as ASA Ron Russell · as Don Russell · as Dr. McGrath

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

    as Donald Trout

  • Ally McBeal(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Simon Prune

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Pretender(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Brad Anderson

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Nash Bridges(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Torry

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Star Trek: Voyager(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Ducane

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as David Ross

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Corporate Guy

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 41 titles from 1993 to 2023; peak year 2011.

Biggest box office

Before I Wake (2016)

$4M worldwide

Highest rated

The Shield (2002)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

19932023

Peak 2011 · 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.

  • 2002Screen debut· The Shield
  • 2011First film· Setup

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 41: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

By decade

1990s9 · acting2000s12 · acting2010s17 · acting2020s3 · acting

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.

How do Jay Karnes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Leonie (2010)

63rd percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Shield (2002)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 53/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 30. 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.

Is Jay Karnes' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 17 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 76 · intenseMedian of all films: 36

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jay Karnes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jay Karnes' MovieCove titles; The Newton Brothers shares the most, 2.