- Born
- Died
- Birth nameIsrael Lee Strassberg
- Height1.65 m
- Famed acting teacher Lee Strasberg was born Israel Strassberg in Budzanov, Austria-Hungary (now Budanov, Ukraine). Brought to America as a child, he had a brief acting career, before becoming one of the founders of the Group Theatre in 1931, directing a number of plays there. His greatest influence, however, was through the Actors Studio, where he became director in 1950. A proponent of "method" acting, which he adapted from the "system" brought to America by Konstantin Stanislavski's disciple--and Marlon Brando's mentor--Stella Adler, he influenced several generations of actors, from James Dean to Dustin Hoffman. Film audiences would know him best as gangster Hyman Roth in Le Parrain, 2ᵉ partie (1974).- IMDb mini biography by: christian
- SpousesAnna Strasberg(January 12, 1968 - February 17, 1982) (his death, 2 children)Paula Strasberg(March 11, 1935 - April 29, 1966) (her death, 2 children)Nora Z. Krecaun (Cohen)(October 29, 1926 - November 25, 1929) (her death)
- Children
- ParentsBaruch Meyer StrassbergIda Diner
- RelativesScarlett Strasberg(Grandchild)Jennifer Jones Strasberg(Grandchild)
- Teacher and managing director of the Actor's Studio for more than 30 years, especially well known for teaching "The Method."
- Strasberg lost the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of mob financier Hyman Roth in Le Parrain, 2ᵉ partie (1974) to Robert De Niro's portrayal of Young Vito Corleone in the same film.
- According to actor Martin Landau, Strasberg was a hard taskmaster as an acting teacher, but Landau said regardless, Strasberg was always right in pushing an actor to deliver an excellent performance.
- As the primary teacher and director of the Actors Studio for more than 30 years, he trained many of the great American actors: Al Pacino, Ben Gazzara, Martin Landau, Eli Wallach, Ellen Burstyn, etc. He never taught Marlon Brando, who made the "method" famous. Brando studied with Stella Adler. Although Brando did support the Studio and regularly attended some of it's formal and informal classes.
- On February 13, 1982, Strasberg made what was both his final filmed appearance, and his final public appearance, at the Night of 100 Stars (1982) benefit for the Actors Fund at Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, in Manhattan, New York City, where, along with protégées Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, he danced in the chorus line with the world renowned The Radio City Rockettes.
- In 1909, at age 7, he emigrated with his family to the United States, although he did not become a citizen until 1936.
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