Ken Foree (born February 29, 1948) is an American actor, best known as the protagonist Peter from the horror film Dawn of the Dead (1978) and as Roger Rockmore on the Nickelodeon television sitcom Kenan & Kel (1996–2000).

Ken Foree
Foree in 2024
Born (1948-02-29) February 29, 1948 (age 76)
OccupationActor
Years active1976–present
Websitekenforee.com

Early life and career

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Foree was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. The oldest of four boys, he began acting in the 1970s, appearing in films such as The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, The Wanderers, Dawn of the Dead, and Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. He also had roles in the films Knightriders, From Beyond, and The Dentist. In 1995, he starred in an episode of The X-Files. Foree also played Roger Rockmore, Kenan and Kyra's father on the Nickelodeon sitcom Kenan & Kel. In 2005, he played Charlie Altamont in the film The Devil's Rejects, starring opposite Sid Haig and Bill Moseley as the adopted brother of Haig's character. In 2007, he appeared in Rob Zombie's remake of the 1978 film Halloween.

Ken Foree appeared as himself in the 2008 novel Bad Moon Rising by Jonathan Maberry. Foree is one of several real-world horror celebrities who are in the fictional town of Pine Deep when monsters attack. Other celebrities include Tom Savini, Jim O'Rear, Brinke Stevens, James Gunn, Stephen Susco, Debbie Rochon, Joe Bob Briggs, and Mem Shannon.[1][2][3][4][5]

The horror-comedy film Shaun of the Dead contains a reference to Foree, as the film's main character is an employee of Foree Electronics.

Ken Foree announced on his Instagram account (@kenforee8) that he is currently working on a zombie horror comic called Descendants of the Undead.[6]

Foree Fest

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Foree attending Nightmare Weekend Richmond in October 2023

Foree has his own horror festival. Known as Foree Fest, the first event was held in the U.K. in 2007. A second took place in October 2009, and a third event was held in 2013.[7]

Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1976 The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings 'Honey', Potter's Goon
1978 Dawn of the Dead Peter Washington
1979 The Wanderers Black Sportsman
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Python Player Uncredited
1980 The Golden Moment: An Olympic Love Story Unknown
1981 Terror Among Us Prisoner TV movie
Elvis and the Beauty Queen Boxer TV movie
Knightriders John 'Little John'
Born to Be Sold Man TV movie
1986 From Beyond Buford 'Bubba' Brownlee
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling 'Big Joke'
1987 Terror Squad Deputy Brown
1989 True Blood Detective Charlie Gates
Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge Acardi
Death Spa Marvin
1990 Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III Benny
Taking Care of Business J.B., Prisoner Making Demands
Fatal Charm Willy Video
Without You I'm Nothing Emcee (M.C.)
Down the Drain Buckley
1991 Night of the Warrior Oliver
Diplomatic Immunity Del Roy Gaines
Hangfire Billy
The Heroes of Desert Storm Sergeant Leroy Ford
1992 Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story First USC Coach
1993 Joshua Tree Eddie Turner
1995 Sleepstalker Detective Rolands Video
1996 The Dentist Detective Gibbs
2004 Dawn of the Dead The Televangelist
2005 The Devil's Rejects Charlie Altamont
2006 Devil's Den Leonard
2007 Splatter Disco Shank Chubb Video
Halloween Joe 'Big Joe' Grizzly
Black Santa's Revenge Black Santa Short film
Brutal Massacre: A Comedy Carl
Brotherhood of Blood Stanis
2008 Dead Bones The Bartender
Cut, Print Jack Stanley Orlando Entertainment
2009 Zone of the Dead Mortimer Reyes
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Luke St. Luke (voice) Video
Live Evil Max
2010 D.C. Sniper John Allen Muhammad[8] Video
2011 Water for Elephants Earl
2012 The Lords of Salem Herman Jackson
Cut/Print Detective Jack Stanley
2015 The Divine Tragedies Homer
2016 The Rift John Smith
2017 The Midnight Man Hamilton
2020 John Henry B.J. Henry

Television

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Year Film Role Episode/s
1977 Kojak T.J. Smith "The Condemned"
1980 A Rumor of War The M.P. Miniseries
1981 The Dukes of Hazzard Rollo "State of the County"
1981–1982 Hill Street Blues Bubba Edwards / Holdup Guy With Shotgun 2 episodes
1982 Report to Murphy Walter 'Big Walter' 3 episodes
Tales of the Gold Monkey Hugo "Shanghaied"
1983 T.J. Hooker Bartender "Lady in Blue"
Remington Steele Herschel 'The Hammer' Sinclair "Steele Knuckles and Glass Jaws"
1984 The A-Team Dirkson "Chopping Spree"
Benson The Driver "The Little Hotel That Could"
Blue Thunder Alfie "The Island"
Santa Barbara Helicopter Pilot Episode #1.24
Riptide Maritime Patrole Front Desk Officer "Catch of the Day"
Knight Rider Danton "Knight in Disgrace"
1985 227 Marvin Grant "Honesty"
Hunter Louis McMahon "Guilty"
Knight Rider Spider-Man "Redemption of a Champion"
1989 Beauty and the Beast Morley "A Kingdom by the Sea"
1990 Quantum Leap The Brush "Pool Hall Blues"
Matlock Billy Leon "The Fighter"
1991 The Flash Whisper "Beat the Clock"
1992 General Hospital Kris Unknown episodes
1994 Renegade Clint "Hostage"
Viper Harley Trueblood
M.A.N.T.I.S. Unknown "Cease Fire"
1995 Babylon 5 (TV) P.F.C. Large "Gropos"
The X-Files Vincent Parmelly "The List"
1996 Due South Macon Lacroix "The Edge"
1996–2000 Kenan and Kel Roger Rockmore 60 episodes
2001 The Nightmare Room Coach "Locker 13"
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Pedestrian (voice) Video game
2008 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust Nate Keller Miniseries
2017 Dimension 404 Agent X "Polybius"

Video

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Year Film Role
1990 Fatal Charm Willy
1995 Sleepstalker Detective Rolands
2007 Splatter Disco Shank Chubb
2009 The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Luke St. Luke (voice)
2010 D.C. Sniper John Allen Muhammad[8]

References

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  1. ^ "BC Books Interviews Author Jonathan Maberry". Archived from the original on November 23, 2011.
  2. ^ Mayberry, Jonathan (2005). Bad Moon Rising. Pinnacle Press. ISBN 9781496705419.
  3. ^ "Horror Chronicles Features Debbie Rochon". Archived from the original on February 21, 2014.
  4. ^ "MTV Artist Focus On Tom Savini". MTV. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
  5. ^ "Horror Unlimited Ingrid Pitt Award - Debbie Rochon".
  6. ^ "Instagram".
  7. ^ "Ken Foree".
  8. ^ a b "Bad Boys 2, Ken Foree, Ulli Lommel, DC Sniper". Dread Central. January 12, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
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