Who Is Karen Reuter? Full Bio, Career, Marriage, & More Facts

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Who Is Karen Reuter? Full Bio, Career, Marriage, & More Facts
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Karen Reuter is a late make-up artist, who is primarily known for her work in Orange Is the New Black. Besides, she has worked in dozens of other TV series including Mercy, The Beautiful Life: TBL, Project Runway, & others.

With her years-long career in the TV industry, she achieved immense fame. But besides all her professional achievements, Karen was a married woman and also had children with her husband. Unfortunately, she died in 2019, but what was the reason for her death.

In this article, we are going to reveal some interesting details about her career, parents, marriage, & several other unexplored details. Let’s start.

Karen Reuter Wiki, Parents, Early Life

A professional make-up artist, Karen was born on January 22, 1957, in Little Falls, New Jersey, USA. She was the daughter of her late father Robert Richard Reuter and late mother Rose Mary (Abbrescia) Reuter.

Karen Reuter's Mother Rose Mary Reuter
Karen Reuter’s Mother Rose Mary Reuter

Growing up Karen spent a large part of her life in her hometown along with her parents. And needless to say, she shared a great relationship with both of them.

Talking about her education, she is a graduate of Passaic Valley Regional High School. It was soon after her schooling that she picked up a career as a make-up artist.

She Has a Younger Sister

Karen was not the only child to her parents but rather has a younger sister named Sue Reuter. Her younger sibling is married to James Wynd and they have two kids together Erin and Adrienne.

Death

Unfortunately, Karen is no more in this world. She died on January 24, 2019, at her home in South Orange, New Jersey, USA. In fact, her death came two days after her 62nd birthday. She reportedly died of cancer.

Her memorial service was held around a week later on Saturday, February 2, 2019, at 10:00 AM at Liquid Church Mountainside, 1180 Spruce Drive, Mountainside, NJ 07092.

Following her death, the Orange Is the New Black star Kate Mulgrew shared a heartfelt message via a Twitter post. She addressed her as a one-eyed woman and called her warm, kind, & brave. Check out the post here.

Karen Reuter Career: She Was A Successful Make-Up Artist

As we said, Karen had been leading a successful career as an artist in the movie and TV industry. She began her career as a hairstylist in the 1986 TV series A Case of Deadly Force. Shortly after, she found a job as a make-up artist in the 1989 series Enemies, A Love Story.

She found her first major project as a co-key make-up artist in the kids’ show, “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” where she worked from 1986-1990. With all the recognization from the series, she eventually became part of numerous other TV series like The Sopranos, Project Runway, The Big Gay Sketch Show, The Beautiful Life: TBL, & numerous others.

Karen Reuter Photo As a Young Woman
Young Karen Reuter

Besides, Reuter also played an important role as a make-up artist in Orange Is the New Black, & Rise, for both of which she has been highly praised. In fact, for her contribution as a make-up artist, she was also nominated alongside Michal Biggar for the TV and New Media Series Contemporary Make-Up award by the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards back in 2015

She Is Also An Author

Well, Karen Reuter is not just a make-up artist but also an author. Back in 1998, she was presented as one of the co-authors of the book named Read My Lips: A Cultural History of Lipstick.

The book decodes the cultural and historical significance of lipsticks. Moreover, the book also notes the use of lipsticks by women in the ancient Egyptian papyrus.

Karen Reuter Was Married To Her Second Husband In 2017

Well, Karen had been married twice in her life. Prior to her death, she was married to her second spouse Steven Kozlowski. As per her Facebook page, they married on Sept 2, 2017, in a beautiful wedding ceremony, unfortunately, just 18 months before her death.

Karen With Her Second Husband Steven Kozlowski On The Wedding Day
Karen Married Steven in 2017; Photo From The Wedding Day

The marriage was held among their family members and friends. Well, Reuter started the day as the best day of her life just next to the day she became a mom. The beautiful make-up artist also shared a photo from the occasion where she walks down the aisle hand in hand with Steven. In the caption, she wrote,

Sept 2 2017. Next to becoming a mom , this was the best day ever !!

Though they got to live as a married couple for a very short span, they had been together for over 5 years.

Reuter Had Four Children From Her First Marriage

Prior to Steven, Karen was married to her first husband Ralph Fabbo. While the former couple has not revealed much about their marriage together, they reportedly were in a marital bond for a while.

Reuter's First Husband Ralph Fabbo
Reuter’s First Husband Ralph Fabbo

In fact, Karen from her marital relationship with Ralph welcomed four children Eden, Anton, Damon, and Simone Fabbo. Well, all her kids are grown-ups and are already doing great in their lives.

One of her daughters, Eden is a mak-up artist & hair stylist just like her. Similarly, her other daughter Simone is a Resident Nurse at Overlook Medical Center.

Karen Reuter Had Four Children With Her First Husband
Karen Reuter’s Four Children

Adorable.

Karen Loved Teaching Her Make-up Skills & Was a Follower of Jesus

Weel, Karen was a big follower of Jesus and the path he lend to us. Thus, she also worked as a volunteer at the Liquid Church in Nutley, New Jersey. Not only this but she also loved sharing all the skills and knowledge she had acquired over the years.

Back in 2011, she even visited Columbia High School, in South Orange, where she taught her skills to others.

She Was Very Active On Social Media

Like most celebrities, Karen Reuter loved being on social media. She was pretty active on Facebook and Instagram. Well, through her Insta posts, she loved flaunting her skill and also often shared photos of her kits.

Besides, on her Facebook, she has shared numerous photos of her family & friends.