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About Ken

A professional actor for most of his life, Ken Schwarz has been working in and around the performing arts since the age of twelve, accumulating numerous credits in film, television, commercials, and appearing in over 80 plays at New York, Regional and Repertory theaters.

 

On Television, Ken has had roles on Ryan Murphy's American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, Law & Order: SVU, Bull, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, One Life to Live, Guiding Light, As the World Turns, and in Railroad Killer: The Angel Resendez Story, seen by over 18 million people on Nippon Network.  He also starred on The Onion News web show Fake Coup

In Feature Films, Ken has appeared in Hungry YearsAtlantic City SerenadeHell’s Half-Acre, and in Jersey Justice starring Blanche Baker and Bo Svenson.   He has also performed starring and principal roles in many short films, including Discharge, the film Ken wrote, produced and acts in, which has been an Official Selection at close to 40 US & International film festivals, garnering a number of awards -- including several Best Actor honors for his lead performance..

Ken is a produced author of plays, films, and musicals. His full-length play Yuletide Hearts received its world premiere for a sold-out, record-setting run of six weeks at a 500-seat professional theater, and was subsequently named one of the best new plays of the New Jersey professional theatre season (alongside plays by A.R. Gurney & Neil Simon). 

Ken has produced & designed shows starring Joyce DeWitt, Jamie Farr, Mickey Rooney, Lucie Arnaz, and Julius LaRosa, among others. He has also directed a variety of plays and musicals which include: Over the River and Through the Woods featuring Emmy Award winner Bruce Weitz ("Hill Street Blues"), his American adaptation of Ray Cooney’s farce Run for Your Wife, and I Do! I Do! starring Andrea McArdle and Rex Smith.

Ken was the founding artistic director of the nonprofit Jersey Central Theatre Company. He has been a featured interview subject on the programs Jersey's Talking with Lee Leonard, and PBS's Discover NJ.

Ken Schwarz_headshot.pro_crop.jpg
2010 - present
2010 - present
Film

Hungry Years | Last Ditch Pictures 

Supporting

How To Kill Your Girlfriend's Cat | Visual Emanation Pictures

Supporting 

Select Film

Discharge | Montrose Productions

Lead

Jersey Justice | Browntown Films 

Supporting 

Hell's Half Acre | K Studios 

Supporting

Select Television

Bull | CBS 

Principal

Law & Order: SVU | NBC-Universal 

Principal

Criminal Intent | NBC-Universal 

Principal

Select Stage

Jonestown | York Theatre Company, Snapple Theatre 

Rep. Leo Ryan

My Mother Told Me I Was Different | Abingdon Theater 

Bob

Fire Island | 3-Legged Dog 

Bill

Thirty Minutes or Less | NY Int'l. Fringe Festival 

Detective Richards

Select Directing

Over the River and Through the Woods | Hunterdon Hills Playhouse

Director, Producer

Same Time, Next Year | Jersey Central Theatre Company 

Director, Producer, Scenic & Lighting Design, Lead Actor

Run For Your Wife | Hunterdon Hills Playhouse 

Director, Adapter, Scenic Design, Lighting Design

Select Writing

Yuletide Hearts | Play 

Playwright

In a Butterfly's Lifetime | Play 

Playwright

Twist & Shout! | Revue 

Book, Original Lyrics

© 2024 by Ken Schwarz.
 

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