Karen Olivo
KO,[1] formerly known as Karen Olivo, (born August 7, 1976) is an American stage and television actor, theater educator, and singer.
KO
August 7, 1976
Actor, theatre educator, singer
1997–present
In 2008, KO originated the role of Vanessa in In the Heights on Broadway. The following year, they won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for their performance as Anita in a revival of West Side Story. KO is the first and only actor to win a Tony Award for a performance in West Side Story. From 2016 to 2017, KO portrayed the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Chicago production of Hamilton.[2][3] In 2019, KO originated the leading role of Satine in the Broadway adaptation of Moulin Rouge! and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Early life[edit]
KO was born on August 7, 1976, in the South Bronx, New York City.[4] KO's father is of Puerto Rican and Native American descent, and their mother is of Dominican and Chinese descent. They were raised in Bartow, Florida and attended the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in nearby Lakeland, Florida, and later the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music. They left school before their final year to join the original Broadway production of Rent.[4][5]
Career[edit]
1997–2006: Early career and Broadway debut[edit]
KO began their professional career in 1997 when they joined the original Broadway production of Rent. They joined as a replacement swing, also understudying the roles of Mimi and Maureen. The following year they joined the first national tour of Rent, dubbed the "Angel Tour", as a replacement swing once again. In late 1998, KO began playing Mimi on the tour, and they continued in the role until leaving the show in January 1999. They moved back to New York City in 1999[4] but did not receive any roles outside of a small part in As the World Turns before joining the regional try-out of the musical Brooklyn in 2003.[6][7] Before Brooklyn transferred to Broadway the following Fall, KO took part of a regional staging of Children of Eden and filmed guest roles for All My Children and Law & Order.[8] The musical Brooklyn open on Broadway in October 2004 and closed in June 2005.[9] Following its closure, KO joined the cast of the Brazilian-themed off-Broadway musical Miracle Brothers, which closed in October 2005.[10] The following year they had small roles in NBC's Conviction and the independent film Adrift in Manhattan, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007.
Personal life[edit]
KO is married to Jim Uphoff, with whom they have two step-children. KO and Uphoff, a marketing manager and former New York theater sound technician, married in September 2014.[20][4] Until 2012, KO was married to Broadway actor Matt Caplan.
In 2013, while taking a break from acting, KO moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where they and Uphoff share a home they call their "home base".[4] Both KO and their husband have family in Madison.[30] KO has previously lived in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles.[4][20][18]
In 2021, Olivo announced via Instagram that they are non-binary and use they/them pronouns.[31] [32]