Born in Plainfield and raised in Fanwood and Warren, NJ, Ken Schwarz has been working in and around theatre since the age of twelve, accumulating numerous credits in film, television, commercials, and appearing in over 80 plays at New York and Regional theaters. On National Television, Ken has been featured on Law & Order: SVU, One Life to Live, Guiding Light, the second season premiere of Try My Life on STYLE Network, and in a leading role in the popular Japanese television movie The Angel Resendez Story, seen by over 18 million people on the Nippon Television Network. He also starred as the inept rebel leader “Octavius Del Monte” launching a Fake Coup on the U. S. government on the popular Onion News website. Ken was the subject of an interview with Lee Leonard on his program Jersey’s Talking. In Feature Films he has appeared as “Frank” in Hungry Years (starring “All My Children’s” Michael E. Knight), as “Detective Willis” in Canis Major Films’ feature film Atlantic City Serenade, which premiered at Sundance in 2003, as “Lapetta” in Hell’s Half-Acre and as “Jack O’Bannon” in Jersey Justice starring Blanche Baker and Bo Svenson. He has also had many starring and principal roles in numerous short films. NY Theatre appearances include productions at the NY International Fringe Festival, My Mother Told Me I Was Different (named Best Docudrama by Talkin’ Broadway) at Abingdon Theater, the premiere of Charles Mee’s Fire Island at Three-Legged Dog Theatre/Media Center, New Media Repertory (where he has originated many lead roles, including in the premiere and extended return engagements of Testiculations), The Producer’s Club and as “John McGurk” in McGurk’s Suicide Hall at Reddmask Theater’s “Assembly of Quotable Gents” Festival. Other favorite leading roles have included: “Stanley” in A Streetcar Named Desire, “Warwick” in The Lark, “Bromden” in One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest, “The Stage Manager” in Our Town, “Jimmy” in Jimmy Shine, “Paul” in Barefoot in the Park, “Steve” in Say Goodnight, Gracie, “George” in Same Time, Next Year, “Bernie” in Sexual Perversity in Chicago, “Levine” in Catch Me If You Can, “Alan” in Come Blow Your Horn, and “Andrew” in Love Letters. Ken is also the author of ORIGINAL WORKS, which include several short films and plays, children’s stories and the children’s play, The Tangerine Skunk, as well as the full-length plays: Peanut Butter and Pinball, In A Butterfly’s Lifetime, Snow Angels and the books and original songs for the full-length musical revues, The Times of Our Lives, A Hot Time! and The Music of America, which he also designed & directed. Ken’s full-length play, Yuletide Hearts, received its world premiere at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, for six sold-out weeks during the 1996 holiday season. The show was accorded audience and critical acclaim and went on to break previous attendance records at the theater. Yuletide Hearts was subsequently named one of the best new plays of the 1996-97 New Jersey professional theatre season by Drama Desk member Peter Filichia, columnist for Playbill and the Star Ledger. During his career, Ken has assumed multiple positions such as Theatre Manager, Production Manager, Resident Actor/MC, Playwright, Director, Stage Manager, Scenic & Lighting Designer, Marketing & PR, Hospitality, etc.—most of the time, juggling many of these jobs simultaneously. He is listed in the nationwide register of Who’s Who in Executives and Businesses. Ken has produced shows featuring Mickey Rooney, Jamie Farr, Pat Cooper and Julius LaRosa. He has also designed lights for such varied performers as Mickey Rooney, Hildegarde, Lucie Arnez, Julius LaRosa, Myron Floren, Charlie Prose and The Drifters. In February of 2001, he founded the JERSEY CENTRAL THEATRE COMPANY, a nonprofit organization that began producing community entertainment in October 2001. Ken is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild, Puppetry Guild of Greater New York and ArtPRIDE New Jersey. He has studied at New York University, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, H-B Studios, and T. Schreiber Studios. Ken is the son of an Italian mother and German father, and has a brother and sister-in-law, who gave him the greatest gift by making him proud uncle to his beloved nephew and niece, Joey and Carly. He is currently at work on several new projects. |
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