Ken Wahl, a tall, dark, and down-to-earth leading man often cast in streetwise roles, came to acting with no formal training or prior experience. His big break came when he landed the part of Richie Gennaro, a street gang member in Philip Kaufman’s The Wanderers (1979). Though his film career has been sporadic and uneven since then, Wahl has had a few notable roles. Following his debut, he was well-cast as Paul Newman’s partner in Daniel Petrie’s Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981), though the film itself was ultimately unsatisfying. He was then paired romantically with Bette Midler in Jinxed! (1982), a pairing that didn’t quite gel, as the off-screen tension between the two seemed to bleed into their performances.
Ken Wahl took on his first leading role in an action film with The Soldier (1982), but unfortunately, his performance came across as flat and one-dimensional. However, he found more success in Sidney J. Furie’s Purple Hearts (1984), where he was repositioned as a romantic lead. In that film, Wahl played a doctor in Vietnam who falls for a nurse, portrayed by Cheryl Ladd. He later reunited with Furie for The Taking of Beverly Hills (1991), which aimed to cast him as an action hero but ultimately fell short. His second collaboration with Daniel Petrie, The Favor (shot in 1990, released in 1994), saw Ken Wahl playing the love interest of both Harley Jane Kozak and Elizabeth McGovern, though the film itself failed to make a strong impression.
When it comes to Ken Wahl’s filmography, fans and critics alike often point to The Wanderers (1979) as his standout performance—definitely the highest rated movie in Ken Wahl’s career. It’s clear that Ken Wahl brought a compelling energy to that role, helping the film earn its strong reputation over the years. On the other hand, Purple Hearts (1984) tends to come up as the lowest rated film associated with Ken Wahl. While it had its moments, it didn’t quite resonate the same way, especially when compared to Ken Wahl’s earlier success. Overall, Ken Wahl has had a varied career, but these two films really highlight the range of his on-screen journey.