Jason English
Notable People Named Karen
by Jason English - January 4, 2008 - 10:12 AM

karenenglish.jpgToday is my sister Karen’s birthday. (Happy Birthday, Karen!) The anniversary of her birth is a good time to start a new feature, which we’re calling “Notable People Named _______.”

The concept is pretty simple: If you know of a notable person with that name, leave a comment explaining why he or she belongs on our list. They need not be famous. Beloved teachers or old roommates or nice waitresses are all welcome.

If we’re going to create the definitive list of notable Karens, we’d better get started. We’ll alternate boys and girls through the alphabet, like weatherpeople do with hurricanes.

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Comments (49)

  1. And I’ll start things off by nominating my lovely and Stanford-educated sister, Karen English. She is a great writer, does not complain when my dog jumps on her, has a contagious laugh, and has never made me feel bad about my inferior intelligence.

    Happy Birthday!

    posted by Jason on 1-4-2008 at 10:15 am

  2. I knew a Karen and she is the sexiest person on the face of the earth. Other than just being nice, she deserves to be on this list, as she is the most notable person name Karen that I know. I can’t go into detail, but I think you all know.

    posted by Curtis on 1-4-2008 at 10:19 am

  3. My Aunt Karen is extraordinary for a lot of reasons, but one of the big ones is that she beat breast cancer and has been cancer-free for 12 years now! Plus she is the nicest and most genuine person you will ever meet!

    posted by Missy on 1-4-2008 at 10:28 am

  4. I’m going to nominate Karen Carpenter-the musician, Karen Shepard- the author, the Karen people of Burma (I think it’s better if you add them as a group rather than individually).

    posted by Mangesh on 1-4-2008 at 10:39 am

  5. I’m not going to nominate anyone, but because my name is Karen, I will be checking back here regularly! My favorite James Taylor song has always been “Carolina in My Mind,” because he says “Karen, she’s a silver sun/You best walk her way and watch it shine.”

    posted by Karen on 1-4-2008 at 10:51 am

  6. I was going to nominate Karen Carpenter as well, for having had an amazing voice and for being a good female drummer.

    I also nominate my old friend Karen Templeton, who passed away a year ago at the age of 21. She was always smiling and cheering people up, and I still miss her.

    posted by Molly W. on 1-4-2008 at 10:51 am

  7. Karen Kohoutek. The only poet/librarian extraordinaire I know who shares a name with a comet that was supposed to destroy the earth.

    posted by EV on 1-4-2008 at 10:54 am

  8. How about Karen Black? She save all those people on the plane in Airport ’75 (ok, so she had a little help from Charleton Heston).

    posted by Beth on 1-4-2008 at 10:55 am

  9. Karen Moore, the mother of one of my best friends. She was a teacher and gave me a ride home from school all of the time. It wasn’t really voluntary, though. I’d just hang out with my friend Jennifer in her room after school until I missed my bus and she really had no choice but to give me a ride. So rude of me. Thanks Karen Moore :)

    posted by Stacy on 1-4-2008 at 10:57 am

  10. In light of the new Indiana Jones movie, how about Karen Allen?

    posted by Anita on 1-4-2008 at 10:59 am

  11. Karen Cheng is one of the most innovative, interesting, clever people I’ve never met. :) http://www.karencheng.com.au

    posted by Nicole on 1-4-2008 at 11:04 am

  12. My name is also Karen and sadly I haven’t discovered too many notable Karens… however there was a short-lived sitcom in the 60s called “Karen” and the Beach Boys (yes!) recorded the short 1-minute-or-so intro song. I downloaded it back in the days of Napster but it may be found on iTunes now.

    Here’s a short sample of the Karen-boasting lyrics: “There is no one greater north or south of the equator/Karen’s always in our world/She’s alarming but disarming and a really very charming modern girl”. A great pick-me-up to listen to on a lousy day. :)

    posted by Karen B on 1-4-2008 at 11:12 am

  13. I nominate our very special Karen (last name not given by her request) who always keeps us laughing and who lets us be mean to her (and writes about it to the world at meanthingstheysaytome.blogspot.com) because she knows we love her dearly!

    posted by Angela on 1-4-2008 at 11:12 am

  14. Karen Valentine–Room 222! Am I hopelessly old, or does someone other than me remember her?

    posted by Lori L. on 1-4-2008 at 11:15 am

  15. My sister’s name is Karen and today is my birthday =). Yes, she’s an extraordinary person, but since it’s my birthday, I’m going to say I’m pretty special too! Haha… =P

    posted by Christine on 1-4-2008 at 11:31 am

  16. Lori L – you are not alone! I remember Karen Valentine and Room 222. I thought she was so cool and I wanted to be just like her. Wonder whatever happened to her?

    posted by JaneM on 1-4-2008 at 11:43 am

  17. I will nominate my sister’s best friend from grade school, Karen Hunt. Sadly and tragically, she was on the Pan Am flight that was bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. I was quite young at the time and didn’t know her well, but she was a lovely person and I wish she was still here with us.

    posted by Keeker on 1-4-2008 at 11:45 am

  18. I would have to nominate my fellow Canadian, Karen Kain. She is “one of Canada’s finest and most internationally renowned ballet dancers”. She danced for almost 30 years (practically unheard of)as a principle ballerina, has received honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, Trent, McMaster, UBC, Brock and York. She was also awared the Order of Canada and the Govenor General’s Performing Arts Award, and is now the Artisitc Director of the National Ballet of Canada. Basically she is a pretty big deal :)

    posted by Katie on 1-4-2008 at 11:45 am

  19. Karen Killilea. She was born in 1940 and was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Her mother wrote two books about the family, which I still re-read occasionally. I’ve also done some research and found out some interesting “where are they now” facts about the Killileas.

    posted by Kara on 1-4-2008 at 11:56 am

  20. I nominate Karen Morgan, my daughter’s speech therapist. Day by day, my daughter is exponentially closer to being comprehensible, thanks to the wonderful and enjoyable time she spends with her Miss Karen.

    posted by Alice on 1-4-2008 at 12:10 pm

  21. I nominate my momma, Karen. She’s smart, funny, encouraging, a great grandmother to my niece and nephew and all around great lady.

    posted by Lindsey on 1-4-2008 at 12:39 pm

  22. My sister…although she didn’t find out her legal name was Karen until her wedding day. It seems my parents decided after they brought her home from the hospital to name her Kristin instead–and just marked up the change to her birth certificate with a sharpie marker, but never followed thru in any legal way. Although she had been known her whole 28 years up to that point as Kristin, the priest wouldn’t waiver from the printed birth certificate–so she had to take her vows in front of God and everyone by saying–I, Karen. We still laugh about it–she still doesn’t see the humor.

    posted by liz on 1-4-2008 at 1:11 pm

  23. My wife, who gives Karens of the world a good name every day.

    posted by Griner on 1-4-2008 at 1:33 pm

  24. Does Keren count? I know several Kerens who totally rock, including rocker Keren Ann .

    There’s also Keren Gottesman, an old friend from London/Israel/NYC. Maybe she’ll google herself, find this, and give me a shout out!

    posted by David on 1-4-2008 at 1:41 pm

  25. Nominate Karen, the awesomely lame chick from the MTV commercials.

    posted by emily on 1-4-2008 at 1:48 pm

  26. Karen Hill. “Are you crazy Karen? Are you crazy?”

    posted by Artie on 1-4-2008 at 1:57 pm

  27. Another Karen here. I’m going to take credit for being Curtis’s Karen even though I don’t know any Curtis-es. Otherwise I’m disqualified.

    posted by Karen on 1-4-2008 at 2:21 pm

  28. I nominate Karen Acree. My BFF since 10th grade.(30yrs ago!!) She’s a gem!! Here’s to you Karen!!

    posted by Marci on 1-4-2008 at 2:37 pm

  29. I can’t believe no one has mentioned the Dane Cook Karen joke! I mean, it’s not meant to glorify Karen’s or anything… but now whenever I hear Karen I think of this joke. And everyone has a friend named Karen, and I’m sure being Karen and hearing this joke, you’re a mini-celeb for a moment.

    The joke, if you’ve never heard it:

    “There is one person, in every group of friends, that nobody f-ing likes.
    You basically keep them there, to hate their guts.
    When that person is not around the rest of your little base camp,
    your hobby, is cutting that person down.

    Example: “Karen, is always a douchebag.”

    Every group has a Karen and she is always a bag of douche.
    And when she’s not around, you just look at each other and say,
    “God, Karen, she’s such a douchebag!”.
    Until she walks up, then you’re like,

    “Hey, what’s up Kar-? Kar-. What’s up Kar-?”

    There’s always that one person – and I’m lookin’ out and some of guys
    are like “Umm, I disagree.”
    Well you’re the person – You’re the person nobody likes.”

    LOVE Dane Cook!

    posted by Kelly J on 1-4-2008 at 3:00 pm

  30. Karen O of the Yeah, yeah, yeahs. Love, love, love her and the band. Great energy, very unique. I wish I had her voice!

    posted by ashley on 1-4-2008 at 3:13 pm

  31. Kelly J– the Karen joke! Ugh! I made friends with this girl and she and her boyfriend both LOVE Dane Cook. It wasn’t until a few months in (after we reached that “honesty” stage in our friendship) that she admitted that they regularly referred to me as “Karen the douchebag” in private conversation– all in good fun and with love, of course.

    posted by Karen B on 1-4-2008 at 3:14 pm

  32. Oh! I agree with Angela, aka #13! That Karen is the best Karen EVER, other than Karen on “Will and Grace”, on whom Karen #1 did a paper in college. So that should , like, double count. lol :D

    posted by Suzanne on 1-4-2008 at 4:52 pm

  33. My Mom said she named me after a Mousketeer. I nominate her, wherever she is.

    posted by Karen on 1-4-2008 at 5:05 pm

  34. My ex gf Karen who I still miss allot. She had a very infectious smile that always used to cheer up my day.
    She was one of the sexiest nerds I have ever meet. :D
    If only we hadnt lived 1000′s of miles apart, bvgger.

    posted by Mike on 1-4-2008 at 5:37 pm

  35. Yes, anita, what about Karen Allen?

    I LOVE Karen Allen! She’s both hot and cute at the same time. Not many people can pull that off.

    Plus, Indiana Jones!

    posted by Moon on 1-4-2008 at 6:22 pm

  36. The Mouseketeer is Karen Pendleton. She was one of the youngest of the group, and was always paired with Cubby. Sadly, she was in a car accident in 1983 which left her paralyzed from the waist down.

    posted by Kara on 1-4-2008 at 11:15 pm

  37. I am with #7. What words can one use to describe the wordsmith?

    posted by Sis on 1-4-2008 at 11:44 pm

  38. I nominate my cousin’s wife Karen. She is a gorgeous woman who is awesome and followed my cousin clear across the country while he goes to law school. Plus she’s hilarious, and he’s happier with her than I’ve ever seen him.

    posted by Janel on 1-4-2008 at 11:52 pm

  39. The main character in my most recently written novel, Karen Hall. Throughout the course of the book, she had a zombie boyfriend, her friends turned in to zombies, and a trip to the Sahara desert.

    posted by Allegra on 1-5-2008 at 12:35 pm

  40. Karen Walker – NZ designer.. talented lady..

    http://www.karenwalker.com

    posted by sam on 1-6-2008 at 5:12 pm

  41. What about Karen Blitzen, aka Isak Dinesen? Back in the day she wrote some amazing fiction.

    posted by Jody on 1-6-2008 at 10:23 pm

  42. My grandma! She’s a really cool lady.

    posted by natalie on 1-6-2008 at 11:14 pm

  43. Karen Valentine should also be remembered for her numerous appearances on Love, American Style!

    posted by ediew on 1-8-2008 at 3:10 pm

  44. ME!

    posted by Lewis on 1-11-2008 at 8:15 am

  45. Clicked on wrong link oops.

    posted by Lewis on 1-11-2008 at 8:16 am

  46. I nominate my best friend Karen G. Best person on the planet and if she ever goes – I’m going with her. :)I don’t want to be here if she’s not with me.

    posted by Denise on 1-11-2008 at 11:33 am

  47. My sister in law, Caryn, is one of the nicest people I know.

    And I have a friend, Karen, who is the most adventerous.

    posted by Hannah on 1-11-2008 at 1:19 pm

  48. I nominate a friend of mine…Karen Keller. I met her on a state band trip. It was really odd how we met, but thats another story. Its been 3 months since then and we are still talking. She is one of the nicest, funniest people i know. She is an awesome woman of God. Which that in itself is just the most outstanding part. We live 300 miles apart, and i havent stopped thinking about her since the day i met her. No other girl has ever had that effect on me. I belive she is a very notable Karen.

    posted by Mitchell on 8-10-2008 at 4:05 pm

  49. Whoopie Goldberg, aka Karen Johnson and what about the country Karen on the Road to Mandalay? When I was young there were so few, now Karens are everywhere. Very unsettling.

    posted by Karen on 12-20-2008 at 3:51 pm

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