| Karen Wolek | |||||||||
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| Judith Light as Karen Wolek | |||||||||
| One Life to Live | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Judith Light (and others)[1] |
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| Duration | 1976–1983 | ||||||||
| First appearance | May 1976 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | February 1, 1983 | ||||||||
| Created by | Gordon Russell | ||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||
| Occupation |
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| Residence | Canada | ||||||||
| Julia Duffy as Karen Wolek | |||||||||
| Kathryn Breech as Karen Wolek | |||||||||
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Karen Wolek is a fictional character on the American soap opera One Life to Live. The character first appeared May 1976, originated by relative newcomer Kathryn Breech, and most notably portrayed by actress Judith Light. Light stepped into the role in 1977, subsequently winning two consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Lead Actress in a Drama Series during her tenure. The character departs when Light left the series in 1983.
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The sister of Jenny Wolek, Karen arrives to Llanview a year after her in 1976. Where Jenny was virtuous, kind-hearted and heroic, Karen is a walking bundle of jangled nerves. Initially, she was a two-dimensional gold digger, she seeks an easy life as the presuming future wife of wealthy doctor and distant cousin Larry Wolek. As Karen and Larry's wedding day approaches, Karen entangles herself with former lover and con artist Marco Dane, who arrives in town soon after her with the threat of blackmail. As fiscally-responsible breadwinner Larry refuses to dole out exorbitant allowances to pay for his fiancée's expensive tastes, Karen soon engages in afternoon trysts with wealthy businessmen such as Talbot Huddleston in order to afford luxuries. When ex-boyfriend Marco discovers Karen's dalliances, he forces her to become a "housewife hooker," prostituting in order for Karen to prevent Larry from uncovering the truth.
At about this point in the storyline in 1977, actress Judith Light assumes the role of Karen (from brief recast Julia Duffy). Early on, the character tended to be a typical soap opera gold-digging vixen, Light brought the character and the show to critical-acclaim. Light's extensive theater experience added multidimensional facets to the character. Light's Karen grew to suffer from low self-esteem, driven by an obsessive desire for love and acceptance. As she steps into the role, in soon becomes apparent that Karen's afternoon affairs become less about money and more about her dissatisfaction with being a stay-at-home housewife.
As the storyline progresses, Karen at last confides in her friend, media tycoon Viki Lord Riley, as to the details of the life she was leading. Viki keeps Karen's lurid secret, and soon wages a public campaign of her resources as publisher of The Banner newspaper and other outlets against Marco's brothel, masquerading as a modeling agency. Amid the turmoil, Marco is murdered and accused Viki is charged with and tried for his apparent murder. With guilt festering in her conscious, Karen testifies midway through Viki's trial, delivering a scene named as one of the most memorable moments in television by TV Guide.[2] Coming to Viki's defense, Karen breaks down at the stand, unable to corroborate a timeline of her whereabouts without admitting to her dealings with Marco. Light's Karen lashes out on the stand at the prosecutor, revealing her secret life of prostitution to jurors and, for the first time, to her now-husband Larry. Upon hearing of the revelation, Larry requests an immediate divorce from Karen, to which she concedes.
Karen finds refuge while living in the boarding house of Ina Hopkins. There, she discovers Marco Dane is still alive and living under an assumed identity. During this time, Karen is raped by Brad Vernon and pulled into a stolen-baby debacle with her sister Jenny. Karen is then troubled by menacing Llanview Hospital doctor, Ivan Kipling. Dr. Kipling, a prominent surgeon and one her former clients, feared she would expose him. Ivan unsuccessfully attempts to kill Karen who, upon escaping, is taken to the hospital where an unknowing Dr. Kipling receives Karen as his trauma victim. After treating her, Ivan develops an unhealthy infatuation with Karen, for which his is unable to attempt to murder her again, instead leaving Llanview with the looming threat. Ivan later returns to menace Karen again, brainwashing Larry to undermine the integrity of his extended family and namely Karen. It was during this odd caper that Karen met government agent Steve Piermont. Upon their meeting in 1983, Karen said a final goodbye to rehabilitated former husband Larry and enemy-turned-friend Marco, leaving Llanview to enter witness protection and a romantic relationship Steve in Canada.