Exclusive: Wiseguy Actor Ken Wahl Files Lawsuit Over Lost Fortune
March 31 2009, Published 5:45 a.m. ET
Actor Ken Wahl--the ruggedly handsome actor best known for the late 80's television show Wiseguy - has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against his former business manager and the Screen Actors Guild.
The lawsuit alleges that Wahl's ex-manager Henry Levine entered into a secret business relationship with Wahl's then wife to take advantage of him and embezzle millions of dollars from his fortune.
Click here to read the court documents from Ken Wahl's lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Wahl claims he was unaware that Levine had selected his estranged wife's legal counsel when the two began divorce proceedings in 1991. Wahl says Levine encouraged Wahl to show "generousity towards his ex-wife and his infant son". The suit says Levine instructed Wahl to give his ex-wife their mansion in Malibu, as well as a home in Boston along with all its contents. Wahl also agreed to pay his former wife $7,000 a month in support.
The lawsuit says Wahl gave his ex-wife the money so that his son would be well-cared for, but instead, she squandered it on things like plastic surgery, vacations, massages and boyfriends.
In 1992, a year after his divorce, Wahl broke his neck in a fall down a staircase. He has suffered from chronic pain ever since, and hasn't worked as an actor since 1996. Wahl --who had battled alcoholism in the past -- is now broke and living on monthly disability checks.
The lawsuit also implicates the Screen Actors Guild for inappropriately taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from Wahl for the SAG pension fund.
The suit says that in April 2008, The IRS contacted Wahl and told him he owed $250,000 in back taxes from a risky tax shelter investment set up by Levine without his knowledge.
Wahl keeps out of the public spotlight and now lives in Arizona with his present wife, animal rights activist, Shane Barbi, a former Playboy Barbi Twin.
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Click here to see a gallery of photos of the Barbi Twins
Wahl -- who was nominated for Emmy Awards and actually won a Golden Globe -- is best known for the lead role of "Vinnie Terranova" on the television show Wiseguy from 1987 to 1990.
In 1989, Us Magazine named him the sexiest man on television.
In his lawsuit, Wahl is seeking millions of dollars in damages.
(Photo: Globe Photo)
