‘Cagney & Lacey’ Star John Karlen Dies at 86

John Karlen, the Emmy-winning actor known for his role as Harvey Lacey on CBS crime drama “Cagney & Lacey,” died on Wednesday of congestive heart failure while in hospice care. He was 86.

The actor, who first rose to fame for replacing James Hall as Willie Loomis on the daytime gothic soap “Dark Shadows,” was nominated for three consecutive years for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama from 1985 to 1987 and won in 1986. He went on to reprise his role as Harvey in four “Cagney & Lacey” made-for-TV movies in 1994, 1995, and 1996, respectively.

Born John Adam Karlewicz on May 28, 1933, in Brooklyn, Karlan was a Korean War veteran before turning to acting. He made his Broadway debut in Tennessee Williams’ “Sweet Bird of Youth” in 1960.

His other TV roles include guest appearances on shows like “All in the Family,” the original “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Waltons,” “Kojak,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “Mad About You.

Karlen is survived by his son Adam and ex-wife Betty.