Karin Konoval
Karin Konoval is a seasoned stage and screen actor known for her diverse roles across film and television. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, she initially trained as a dancer before transitioning to acting while studying theater history at the University of Alberta. Konoval made her television debut in 1986 and quickly established herself with notable appearances in series like "The X-Files," where she portrayed iconic characters in memorable episodes. She gained significant recognition for her role as the orangutan Maurice in the "Planet of the Apes" film series, starting with "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" in 2011, which utilized motion-capture technology to bring her performance to life.
Throughout her career, Konoval has showcased her ability to play unusual and unsettling characters across various genres, including dark science fiction and fantasy. In addition to her film work, she has maintained an active presence on television, appearing in series such as "Supernatural," "Bates Motel," and "The Good Doctor." Outside of acting, she is an artist and has created a series of paintings inspired by her experiences in the industry. Living in Vancouver, Konoval has also taken on advocacy for orangutans, reflecting her deep commitment to environmental and wildlife conservation.
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Subject Terms
Karin Konoval
Actor
- Born: Baltimore, Maryland
Contribution: Karin Konoval is a veteran stage actor who has appeared in a variety of television and film roles, notably Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), as well as the television miniseries Tin Man (2007) and two fan-favorite episodes of The X-Files, in 1995 and 1996.
Background and Career
Karin Konoval was born in Baltimore, Maryland. When she was a child, her family moved from Baltimore to Edmonton, Alberta. Konoval originally trained as a dancer; however, she became interested in acting while studying theater history at the University of Alberta. After graduating, she moved toVancouver, British Columbia, the center of the Canadian television industry, to pursue acting as a profession.
Konoval made her television debut in the 1986 made-for-television movie Firefighter, in which she played a secretary. She went on to play small roles in a number of series, including Wiseguy in 1989 and Danger Bay in 1990. Twice in 1987 and once in 1991, she appeared in 21 Jump Street, the series that launched the career of actor Johnny Depp.
In the early 1990s, Konoval continued to make guest appearances in television series and was often asked to play unusual and unsettling characters. In 1996, she appeared in the popular science-fiction series Sliders as a fortune teller. Two of Konoval’s most notable early roles were in the hit paranomal series The X-Files (1993–2002). In 1995, she played a character named Madame Zelma in “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose,” widely regarded as one of the best episodes of the series; she then returned to the show in 1996 to play the mother of the inbred Peacock clan in the popular episode “Home.” Konoval’s portrayal of Mrs. Peacock became one of her most recognized and iconic roles. Following a revival that saw the show continue with a tenth season in 2016, Konoval was brought back to make an appearance in an episode of the eleventh season, which aired in 2018.
Meanwhile, Konoval appeared in a number of other dark science-fiction series in the 1990s and early 2000s, including The X-Files’s sister show Millennium in 1997 and 1998, Strange World in 1999, and The Dead Zone in 2003 and 2004. Her first major role came in 2007, when she played the part of the wicked witch in the Sci-Fi Channel (later Syfy) miniseries Tin Man, which starred Zooey Deschanel and Alan Cumming.
Following Tin Man, Konoval continued to appear in various television shows, including Stargate: Atlantis in 2008 and Supernatural and The Good Wife in 2009, as well as numerous television movies. Also in 2009, Konoval played the role of the president’s secretary in the big-budget disaster film 2012, about the potential global collapse predicted by some because of misinterpretations of the ancient Mayan calendar.
Konoval’s largest role up to that point was that of the orangutan Maurice in the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), which tells the story of the events that led to the establishment of the world depicted in the 1968 film Planet of the Apes and subsequent spinoffs. Konoval’s character, like the other apes in the film, was rendered using motion-capture technology, which transferred her physical performance to the computer-generated character. Konoval spent time in zoological parks studying the behavior of live orangutans for the role, in addition to reading about their behavior and listening to recordings of orangutan vocalizations. The film was a major box-office and critical success. Konoval continued to appear in a variety of television series as well, including Fringe in 2011, the anthology series R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour in 2011 and 2012, and Continuum in 2013.
Following her reprisal of the character Maurice in the sequel Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), Konoval maintained a presence on television in a range of made-for-television films as well as appearances in a number of shows. Between 2015 and 2017, she had roles in the series Arrow (2015), Bates Motel (2016), Lucifer (2016), and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2017) as well as the made-for-television films Where's My Baby? (2016) and Maternal Instinct (2017). In addition to once again playing Maurice, this time in the franchise iteration War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), she appeared in the family film Woody Woodpecker (2017), portrayed a nurse in several episodes of the ABC medical series The Good Doctor (2018–19), and had guest roles in the series Beyond (2018) and Supergirl (2019). In 2024, the actress reprised the role of Maurice in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Impact
Konoval has played a minor role in a variety of film and television products and has developed a reputation for being able to play unusual characters. Her role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, in addition to giving her greater visibility, also inspired her to become an advocate for orangutans, an endangered species.
Personal Life
Konoval lives in Vancouver and has performed in a variety of theatrical productions, both in mainstream theater and with smaller, independent companies. She is also an artist and has created a series of paintings called auditions 2day! based on life in the acting business, which have been exhibited at the Waterfront Theatre in Vancouver.
Bibliography
Askwith, Mark. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes Set Visit.” Space. Bell Media, 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
“Booking: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes—King Talent Inc.” Kabookit. Blogger, 1 Apr. 2013. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
"Karin Konoval." Internet Movie Database, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm0465269/?ref‗=fn‗al‗nm‗1. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Konoval, Karin. Interview by Matt J. Horn. Matt J. Horn. WordPress.com, 17 Aug. 2011 Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
Konoval, Karin. “BC BuzZ: Karin Konoval—Actor & Artist.” Vancouver Observer. Observer Media Group, 14 June 2011. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
Smith, Pam Goldberg. “Baltimore Spotlight: May–June.” Examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group, 31 May 2012. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.