Karen is one of the kids who built Frosty the Snowman in the Rankin/Bass special of the same name. She, along with Hocus Pocus the rabbit, accompanies Frosty on his journey to the North Pole. She was the only one of the kids who was named in the special.
Karen first appears when her class is supposed to be entertained by Professor Hinkle, but after his act proves to be a flop, she and her classmates go outside to build a snowman, whom Karen suggests they name "Frosty". After being brought to life by Hinkle's magic hat, Frosty finds himself in danger of melting because of the temperature rising, so Karen and her friends decide to bring him to the North Pole. On the way to the train station, Karen explains Frosty's situation to the Traffic Cop who stops them along the way. Unfortunately, since the kids have no money for tickets, Frosty instead chooses to stow away in the refrigeration car of a small freight train, with Karen and Hocus Pocus, Hinkle's rabbit, accompanying him, unaware that Hinkle is after them to get his hat back.
However, because of the cold temperature in the car to preserve the cargo, Karen starts to freeze, and catches a cold. The three friends disembark, and Frosty is forced to carry Karen through a snowstorm to try to escape Hinkle. Hocus rallies the forest animals to build a fire for Karen. As she warms up by the fire, Frosty decides to watch over Karen before Santa Claus, who he believes will bring Karen home and him to the North Pole, arrives.
At nightfall, Hinkle arrives, puts out the campfire, and demands the hat back. To flee from him, Frosty slides down a hill with Karen on his back. At the bottom, they find a greenhouse growing Christmas poinsettias, where Frosty carries Karen inside so she can warm up despite the risk of melting. Unfortunately, Hinkle catches up and holds the door shut, causing Frosty to melt inside.
Hocus brings Santa Claus to the greenhouse to assist Frosty, only to find Karen crying beside the melted Frosty. However, Santa consoles her and reveals to Karen that Frosty is made from Christmas snow, which never truly disappears and returns every winter. Karen is delighted when Santa opens the greenhouse door and a gust of winter wind reassembles Frosty. When Hinkle again demands his hat back, Hocus seeks Karen for protection while Santa deals with the inept magician. After offering a fair compromise to Hinkle, Santa restores Frosty to life, much to Karen's joy. However, Santa has to take Frosty back to the North Pole with him, but first brings Karen back to her home. While Karen is unhappy to part ways with Frosty, she is assured that Frosty would return next Christmas to lead Karen and her classmates in another parade.
Sometime before the special first aired (possibly a last-minute change made during post-production), Karen's dialogue (originally provided by the late June Foray) was re-dubbed by another actress, possibly in order to fit her characteristics. (Foray's original vocals for Karen were, however, released on the album Santa Claus is Comin' to Town and Frosty the Snowman: The Original Television Soundtrack Recordings.) However, Rankin/Bass forgot to change the credits, so for many years and decades her replacement actress remained unknown. It wasn't until December 2017 that sources started listing Suzanne Davidson (best known for her lead role as Susie in the 1973 TV remake of Miracle on 34th Street as well as the original actress to play Betsy on As the World Turns) as the replacement voice for Karen.
Despite her prominent role in the original special, Karen (along with the other kids from the original special) was oddly absent from the sequel, Frosty's Winter Wonderland.