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Ken Lerner is an American actor known for his work in television, stage, and film. He is best recognized for his role as Principal Flutie on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), the ruthless HMO lawyer in Chicago Hope (1994), Kurt Russell's attorney in Unlawful Entry (1992), and Rocco Malachi in Happy Days (1974).
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lerner graduated from Brooklyn College. He is the father of actor Sam Lerner and the brother of actor Michael Lerner. Ken is noted for his comedic roles, such as the agent Arnold Schwarzenegger stabs with a pen in The Running Man (1987) and the lawyer who shouts "Don't shoot! I'm a lawyer!" in Unlawful Entry (1992).
Lerner has appeared in over 80 television shows and 44 films. He has had recurring roles on series including Desperate Housewives (2004), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), Chicago Hope (1994), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), and Happy Days (1974).
Shortly after arriving in Hollywood, Lerner was cast in the hit show Happy Days, playing three different characters: Rocco Malachi of the Malachi Brothers, Rocco Boruffi, and Frankie Bing Bong. He also starred in Hot Tomorrows (1977), the award-winning American Film Institute student film debut directed by Martin Brest.
While maintaining a steady acting career, Lerner was invited by his acting teacher Roy London to teach acting classes, a role he continued until London's passing in 1993. Today, he runs The Ken Lerner Studio, which offers cold reading and scene study classes as well as free public seminars featuring directors, casting directors, managers, agents, and publicists who provide guidance to his students and the wider acting community. Lerner’s unique approach comes from his ongoing experience auditioning and working as an actor, enabling him to share practical insights about auditions and on-set work.
Lerner has appeared in many memorable commercials, including Kitchenaid's "Through the Years" series, the award-winning Federal Express "Gotcha," Visa's "Bill Fight," Imodium's "Carpool," and the acclaimed Mars Snickers "Optometrist," for which he won the Best Actor award from The Association of Independent Commercial Directors. He has also performed in productions at the Pasadena Playhouse, Garry Marshall's Falcon Theater, and various venues across Los Angeles and New York City.
He teaches seminars for the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, participates in Backstage West's Actorfest, and serves as a visiting lecturer at colleges and universities. Lerner also coaches actors in person and via Skype.
Networks, production companies, and studios such as Disney, ABC, NBC, and CBS frequently call on Lerner to privately coach actors for pilots, movies, and television projects. Some of the actors he has coached include Famke Janssen, Sheena Easton, Lisa Edelstein, Mitchel Musso, Nicollette Sheridan, Emily Procter, Dayanara Torres, Christa Miller, Adrienne Wilkinson, Creed Bratton, Byron Mann, Freddie Prinze Jr., Lou Ferrigno, Armin Shimerman, Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus, Sandra Hess, Costas Mandylor, Elizabeth Berkley, Jason Gould, and Michael Trucco.
In addition to actors, Lerner works with motivational speakers, psychologists, and lawyers to help them develop a more dynamic, engaging, and professional presence.
