Karen Olivo Biography: Husband, Age, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Awards, Broadway Shows
Karen Esther Olivo, better known as Karen Olivo and now professionally known as KO, is a renowned American musical-theatre actor, singer, and theatre educator.
They rose to Broadway prominence in In the Heights, West Side Story, Hamilton, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical, earning a Tony Award for West Side Story.
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| Real Name: | Karen Esther Olivo |
| Stage Name: | KO |
| Born: | August 7, 1976 (age 50 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | New York City, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Puerto Rican, Native American, Dominican, Chinese |
| Height: | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Mr. and Mrs. Olivo |
| Spouse: | Jim Uphoff |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | 2 step-children |
| Occupation: | Actor, singer, theatre educator |
| Net Worth: | $5 million |
Early life and education
Karen Olivo was born on August 7, 1976, in the South Bronx, New York City, and is 50 years old. Their father was of Puerto Rican and Native American descent, while their mother was of Dominican and Chinese descent. KO spent childhood in the South Bronx before being raised in Bartow, Florida, alongside two sisters.
KO‘s ethnicity is Puerto Rican, Native American, Dominican, and Chinese. They began performing at about six years old and became deeply interested in musical theatre during childhood. KO attended the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Lakeland, Florida, before studying at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.
Career
Karen Olivo began their professional theatre career in the late 1990s, joining Rent as a Broadway performer and later touring nationally as Mimi. Their early work established a foundation for a career centered on musical theatre, leading to appearances in productions such as Brooklyn and In the Heights.
Their performance earned the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, making KO the first actor to win a Tony for a performance in West Side Story. They later played Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago production of Hamilton and originated Satine in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical, receiving another Tony nomination.
In 2020, KO shifted their professional focus toward education and subsequently became an associate professor and director of music theatre at Northwestern University, where they mentor emerging theatre artists and develop educational approaches for musical-theatre training.
Awards and nominations
- Tony Award — Best Featured Actress in a Musical, West Side Story — Winner, 2009
- Tony Award — Best Actress in a Musical, Moulin Rouge! The Musical — Nominee, 2020
- Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Ensemble Performance, In the Heights — Winner, 2008
- Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, West Side Story — Nominee, 2009
- Astaire Award — In the Heights — Winner, 2008
- Broadway.com Audience Award — West Side Story — Winner, 2009
Personal life
Karen Olivo, 50 years old, is married to Jim Uphoff. The couple married in September 2014, and Uphoff has worked in marketing and previously worked as a theatre sound technician.
Karen Olivo was previously married to Broadway actor Matt Caplan, with their marriage ending in divorce in 2012. KO and Uphoff have two step-children. In 2021, KO publicly identified as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. Their height is 173 cm (5 ft 8 in).
Net worth
Karen Olivo‘s net worth is $5 million USD. Their income has come primarily from Broadway and other theatrical performances, television and film appearances, music, and theatre education.
Filmography
- Adrift in Manhattan
- The New Twenty
- Generation Um…
- Harry’s Law
- Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It
Discography
- Leave
- In the Heights Original Broadway Cast Recording
- West Side Story 2009 Broadway Revival Cast Recording
- Hamilton Original Chicago Cast Recording
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical Original Broadway Cast Recording
What People Ask
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