Karl E. Makinen Jr. is an American actor born in Queens, New York, to a Swedish/Finnish father and an Italian/Irish mother. He was raised on Long Island in Lake Ronkonkoma before moving to Los Angeles at age 20 to pursue a career in acting. Karl has appeared in over 60 film and television projects and continues to work steadily at the network and studio level. He is currently recurring on 9-1-1, and has held recurring roles on The Walking Dead, Perry Mason, Twin Peaks, Desperate Housewives, The Unit, Prison Break, and Strange Angel. He has recently guest starred on Tracker, S.W.A.T., and American Horror Story, adding to an extensive list of network credits. Karl’s first major break came on Season One of NYPD Blue, a milestone made especially meaningful by his family’s deep ties to law enforcement. His father and brother both served as NYPD detectives, an influence that has shaped the grounded, authoritative presence he often brings to screen. His feature film credits include The Call of the Wild opposite Harrison Ford, Thirteen Days with Kevin Costner, Houdiniwith Mark Ruffalo, as well as roles in Joe Dirt, The Princess Diaries, and The House of Sand and Fog.

Karl lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Victoria Makinen, and their two children.