Biography
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 and Regional theaters, including many years as a member of three different repertory companies.
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 in The Onion News web show "Fake Coup."
In Feature Films, Ken has appeared in "Hungry Years," "Atlantic City Serenade," "Hell's Half-Acre," and in "Jersey Justice" opposite Blanche Baker ("Sixteen Candles") and Bo Svenson ("The Great Waldo Pepper"). He has also performed starring and principal roles in many short films, including "Discharge," the film Ken wrote, directed, produced and acts in, which has been an Official Selection at 50 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 Mickey Rooney, Jamie Farr, Joyce DeWitt, 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 ("Annie") and Rex Smith ("The Pirates of Penzance").
Ken is 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."
