Karen Arthur (born August 24, 1941) is an American television and film director, producer, and actress.[2] She directed more than 40 feature and made-for-television movies, miniseries, and television series. In 1985 she become the first woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.[3]
Arthur began her career as an actress appearing in the 1967 romantic comedy film A Guide for the Married Man and later co-starred in the drama film Winning (1969). She made several guest-starring appearances on television series such as Get Smart, The Wild Wild West, The Big Valley, Mannix and The Streets of San Francisco before making her directorial debut with the 1975 crime drama film, Legacy receiving special prize at the Locarno Film Festival.[4] She later directed feature films The Mafu Cage (1978) and Lady Beware (1987).
Arthur was born in Omaha, Nebraska.[5] She changed her name from Karen Jensen to Karen Arthur after her moving to Hollywood in mid-1960s.[1] She made her television debut appearing in an episode of NBC sitcom The Monkees in 1966 and the following year featured in the romantic comedy film A Guide for the Married Man. In 1969, Arthur played a supporting role in the drama film Winning opposite Paul Newman.[1] She also made more than 15 guest-starring appearances on television series such as The Wild Wild West, The Big Valley, That Girl, Get Smart, The Doris Day Show, Mannix, Ironside and The Streets of San Francisco.
In 1975, Arthur made her directorial debut with the crime drama film Legacy starring Joan Hotchkis. She later directed three more feature films, including Lady Beware (1987) and The Mafu Cage (1978),[2] but the majority of her work has been in television, where she has had a long and prolific career directing television movies and series. In 1976 she directed one of episodes of Rich Man, Poor Man Book II and in 1979 directed her first made-for-television movie Charleston. In 1983 she directed Australian miniseries Return to Eden, the mini-series was a huge ratings success.[6][7] She worked as a episodic director on Hart to Hart, Remington Steele, Emerald Point N.A.S. and most notable Cagney & Lacey (8 episodes). In 1985, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series (for an episode of Cagney & Lacey).[2][8]
Arthur directed many various made-for-television movies and miniseries, such as Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story (1984), A Bunny's Tale (1985), The Rape of Richard Beck (1985), Bridge to Silence (1989), Fall from Grace (1990), Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story (1995), Dead By Sunset (1995), True Women (1997) and A Will of Their Own (1998).
She is currently a resident of the town of Springfield, Vermont.[9]