Karl Edward Makinen Jr. was born in the vibrant borough of Queens, New York, to Marilyn and Karl Sr., affectionately known as Detective "Eddie" Makinen, a dedicated member of the New York Police Department. When Karl Jr. was just two years old, his family relocated to Long Island, where he would spend his childhood engaging in various outdoor activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating on the picturesque Lake Ronkonkoma.
Growing up alongside his three brothers, Michael, Shawn, and Josef, Karl Jr. was the third of the four siblings and often found himself seeking attention, which he would frequently obtain by acting out and making his parents laugh. One particularly memorable incident involved Karl Jr. imitating his father yelling at his brothers, which brought immense joy to their great-grandmother, a 90-plus-year-old woman.
As a child, Karl Jr. developed a passion for performing, which he would later channel into his involvement in school plays. He took on leading roles in productions such as Guys and Dolls, Fools, and Dracula, earning him a scholarship that he used to hone his craft in New York City. Alongside his actor friend Chris Franjola, Karl Jr. attended HB studios, where they both pursued their dreams of becoming professional actors.
After booking some extra work and being turned down for a few Broadway shows, Karl Jr. and Franjola contemplated their futures, with Karl Jr.'s father urging him to join the New York Police Department, a career path that Karl Jr. ultimately rejected. Instead, the two friends decided to take a chance on Hollywood, buying a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and leaving their families behind.
With less than two thousand dollars between them, nowhere to stay, and no connections in the city, Karl Jr. and Franjola struggled to make ends meet. Conversations with their families were often dominated by Karl Jr.'s father, who continued to push him to take the LAPD test and become a police officer, much to Karl Jr.'s frustration.
Despite the challenges they faced, Karl Jr. eventually found success in the entertainment industry, landing small parts in B films and eventually quieting his father's pleas when he received a guest-starring role on the hit TV show NYPD Blue, playing the character of Jimmy Clayton, a cop killer. Since then, Karl Jr. has appeared in over thirty film and television roles, taking on a wide range of characters, from cops to bad guys, and occasionally, a nice guy.
