# Ken Olin
**Ken Olin** (Kenneth Edward Olin, born 1954 in Illinois; some sources cite 1955) is an American actor, television director, and executive producer, best known for playing Michael Steadman on the ABC drama *thirtysomething* (1987–1991) and for his later behind-the-camera work on *Alias*, *Brothers & Sisters*, *This Is Us*, and *Tracker*.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) • [2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=ken-olin)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 (some sources cite 1955), in Highland Park (some sources cite Chicago or Evanston), Illinois[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) |
| Signature acting role | Michael Steadman, *thirtysomething*, ABC, 1987–1991; Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama, 1990[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) |
| Directing start | First directed a 1989 episode of *thirtysomething* in its second season, then two episodes per season until the series ended in 1991[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html) |
| *Alias* | Executive producer and frequent episode director; directed and executive produced over 20 episodes, earning a 2004 Producers Guild of America nomination[4](https://www.icgmagazine.com/web/a-family-thing/) |
| *This Is Us* | Executive producer and director (31 episodes directed by TVmaze's count); four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series as executive producer, 2017–2021[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6546/ken-olin) • [6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ken-olin) |
| *Tracker* | Co-executive producer and director of the pilot of the CBS series starring Justin Hartley, the #1 show on TV for the 2023–24 season[7](https://apnews.com/article/300dfb25a68061aad55e1ff7d5cbd5f9) • [2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=ken-olin) |
| Family | Married actress and producer Patricia Wettig, his *thirtysomething* co-star, on November 8, 1982; children Clifford and Roxanne[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) |
## Early life and acting career
Olin is the son of Lawrence Olin, an owner of a pharmaceutical company and former [Peace Corps](https://www.edgepedia.org/peace-corps) official. He earned a B.A. in [English literature](https://www.edgepedia.org/english-literature) at the University of Pennsylvania, trained at the Circle in the Square Professional Theatre School, and studied acting with [Stella Adler](https://www.edgepedia.org/stella-adler) and Warren Robertson.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) His early television roles included Rocky Padillo on NBC's *Bay City Blues* (1983), Detective Harry Garibaldi on *Hill Street Blues* (1984–85), and Father Christopher on CBS's *Falcon Crest* (1985–86).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954)
## Thirtysomething
*Thirtysomething*, created by Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, ran on ABC from September 1987 to May 1991 and focused mainly on two married couples with children; Olin played Michael Steadman, an ad man wracked with conflicts and self-doubt.[8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/something-behold) The series won 13 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series in 1988, and received 29 other Emmy nominations during its four-season run.[8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/something-behold) Olin received a Golden Globe nomination for the role in 1990, and [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) later named Michael Steadman one of the fifty greatest television fathers of all time in 2004.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954)
**From actor to director.** Olin has said that acting had become laborious for him by the end of the series, and he was relieved when it was canceled after four seasons.[9](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-15-tv-6495-story.html) His transition began in 1989, during the show's second season, when he first directed an episode; he directed two episodes each season until the series went off the air in 1991, including the cancer-themed episode "The Other Shoe," in which his wife's character, Nancy Weston, distances herself from her family.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html) He credits Zwick and Herskovitz, both directors, with creating a safe learning space in which cast members were invited to direct.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html) In a 2017 Directors Guild discussion, Olin and fellow cast members [Peter Horton](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-horton), Timothy Busfield, and [Melanie Mayron](https://www.edgepedia.org/melanie-mayron) described how the series, one of the first to push the directorial envelope with feature-film techniques and to recruit directors from its own cast, launched their directing careers.[10](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1702-spring-2017/thirtysomething-reunion)
## Move behind the camera
After *thirtysomething* ended, Olin worked strictly behind the camera for a period, directing the CBS pilot by *thirtysomething* writer Joseph Dougherty and earning acclaim for the ABC film *The Broken Cord* starring [Jimmy Smits](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimmy-smits).[9](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-15-tv-6495-story.html) His television-movie directing credits from this period include *Doing Time on Maple Drive* (1992), *The Broken Cord* (1992), *White Fang 2: The Myth of the White Wolf* (1994), his feature directorial debut, and *In Pursuit of Honor* (1995) for HBO.[11](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ken-olin/) He continued acting in short-run series such as *EZ Streets* (1996–97), as Detective Cameron Quinn, and *L.A. Doctors* (1998–99), as Dr. Roger Cattan, because, he said, it was more lucrative.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) • [3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html)
His episodic directing expanded to *Felicity*, *Judging Amy*, *The West Wing*, and *Freaks and Geeks*.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html) • [4](https://www.icgmagazine.com/web/a-family-thing/)
## Alias and Brothers & Sisters
On J.J. Abrams's spy drama *[Alias](https://www.edgepedia.org/alias-tv-series)* (2001), Olin served as one of the show's executive producers and frequent episode directors, directing and executive producing over 20 episodes and earning a 2004 Producers Guild of America nomination for television producer of the year in episodic drama.[12](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/06/arts/rediscovering-alias-with-producer-director-actor-ken-olin/) • [4](https://www.icgmagazine.com/web/a-family-thing/) He also appeared as a guest star, playing David McNeil in a 2002 episode.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) Looking back on the series in a 2020 interview, he said the pacing and sensibility of the first episode he directed did not seem dated to him.[12](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/06/arts/rediscovering-alias-with-producer-director-actor-ken-olin/)
On the ABC drama *Brothers & Sisters* (2006), Olin served as executive producer and director, portrayed a recurring character, and helped shape the show's editing pace; he has said he wanted the story to involve many siblings partly to create that rhythm organically.[4](https://www.icgmagazine.com/web/a-family-thing/) • [12](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/06/arts/rediscovering-alias-with-producer-director-actor-ken-olin/) His wife [Patricia Wettig](https://www.edgepedia.org/patricia-wettig) was a regular on the series.[13](https://www.dailyherald.com/20080116/lifestyle/thirtysomething-alums-find-behind-the-scenes-success/) [Greg Berlanti](https://www.edgepedia.org/greg-berlanti), an executive producer on the show, described Olin as having "such an incredible sense of execution and filmmaking for the kind of stories that really elevate network television drama."
## This Is Us and Tracker
Olin served as executive producer and director on NBC's *This Is Us* (2016–2022), directing 31 episodes by TVmaze's count, including the series finale "Us" in May 2022.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=ken-olin) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6546/ken-olin) As an executive producer he was nominated four times for the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.[6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ken-olin) A 2017 Los Angeles Times set visit described him as the "beating heart" of the production; [Mandy Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/mandy-moore) said of him, "You feel [Ken's] excitement when he shows up to work every day."
He then reunited with *This Is Us* star [Justin Hartley](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-hartley) on CBS's *Tracker*, co-executive producing the series and directing its pilot.[7](https://apnews.com/article/300dfb25a68061aad55e1ff7d5cbd5f9) *Tracker* was the #1 show on TV for the 2023–24 season.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=ken-olin) Olin told the Associated Press that he and Hartley were eager to work outdoors after years of filming in kitchens and living rooms for *This Is Us*.[7](https://apnews.com/article/300dfb25a68061aad55e1ff7d5cbd5f9) His later directing credits include episodes of *Paradise* (2025).[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6546/ken-olin)
## Approach and recognition
Colleagues credit Olin's acting background for his ability to mine the depth of a scene, whether crafting the story or shooting it. J.J. Abrams, who created *Alias* and co-created *Felicity*, said Olin "cares desperately about the people, about the moments the characters have being as fully realized as possible."[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html) Olin himself has said he is much happier behind the scenes: "As an actor, I always felt self-conscious."[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html)
His honors include the 1990 Golden Globe nomination for *thirtysomething*, the 2004 PGA nomination for *Alias*, a second PGA nomination for *This Is Us* in 2019, and, with Patricia Wettig, a Humanitarian Award from Friends of the Wellness Community-Westside.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954) • [14](https://d2p1nnn035jt22.cloudfront.net/pdf_uploads/shoot_2021_june-july_edition.pdf) He resides in Los Angeles with his wife.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=ken-olin)
## References
1. [Olin, Ken 1954(?)–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/olin-ken-1954)
2. [Ken Olin bio, Paramount Press Express, CBS Entertainment (July 2024)](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/talent/?view=ken-olin)
3. [On the Set: At sixtysomething, director-producer Ken Olin is the beating heart of 'This Is Us', Los Angeles Times (2017)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-ken-olin-this-is-us-20170925-story.html)
4. [A Family Thing, ICG Magazine (2009)](https://www.icgmagazine.com/web/a-family-thing/)
5. [Ken Olin, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6546/ken-olin)
6. [Ken Olin, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/ken-olin)
7. ['This Is Us' star Justin Hartley leads his own show with CBS' 'Tracker', Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/300dfb25a68061aad55e1ff7d5cbd5f9)
8. [Something to Behold, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/something-behold)
9. [Doing Director Time: Ken Olin Shelves Acting as TV Films Seek Out His Touch, Los Angeles Times (1992)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-15-tv-6495-story.html)
10. [No Turning Back, DGA Quarterly (Spring 2017)](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1702-spring-2017/thirtysomething-reunion)
11. [Ken Olin, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ken-olin/)
12. [Rediscovering 'Alias' with producer-director-actor Ken Olin, The Boston Globe (2020)](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/06/arts/rediscovering-alias-with-producer-director-actor-ken-olin/)
13. ['Thirtysomething' alums find behind-the-scenes success, Daily Herald (2008)](https://www.dailyherald.com/20080116/lifestyle/thirtysomething-alums-find-behind-the-scenes-success/)
14. [Ken Olin Delves Into This Is Us, SHOOT Magazine (June/July 2021)](https://d2p1nnn035jt22.cloudfront.net/pdf_uploads/shoot_2021_june-july_edition.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames O to Pa*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license