Alexander Zale(1931-2020)

Alexander Zale (aka J. Zakkai) has performed a variety of compelling roles while working with cutting-edge theatre ensembles, playwrights, and directors. He began his acting career in the role of Solly in 1959 with the Living Theatre's international hit, The Connection, by Jack Gelber, and went on to play George Garga in Brecht's In the Jungle of Cities and Rico Veri in Pirandello's Tonight We Improvise. Following two European tours with the Living Theatre, he stayed in Italy to work with Vittorio Gassman's company, Teatro Popolare Italiano, and traveled with it to the Aldwych Theatre in London. After returning to the U.S., he got involved with the off-off-Broadway movement, then in its infancy, at the Judson Poet's Theater and La Mama. During this time, he wrote his first play, Vapors, which was presented at the O'Neill Playwrights Conference. He went on to perform at several regional theaters, including The Arena Stage, in Washington, D.C. Back in New York, he was cast as Beaujo in Sam Shepard's Geography of a Horse Dreamer at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Ellen Stewart, founder of La Mama, introduced him to director Andrei Serban. So began an artistic collaboration that led to his appearance as Jason in Serban's highly successful production of Medea, which, after a run in New York, toured Europe. He then took on the title role in Serban's Agamemnon at Lincoln Center, which was also presented at the Delacorte. Following that he appeared as Sender in The Dybbuk, directed by Joe Chaikin at Joseph Papp's Public Theatre. Back at La Mama, he was Azdak in Brecht's Caucasian Chalk Circle, then the title role in Goethe's Faust, Part 1, both directed by German director, Fritz Bennewitz. He then went to Los Angeles for the first time to work in film and television, and returned to New York to appear as Burgandy in Henry V, as well as Tanchum in The Golem, both at the Delacorte. At the Center Stage in Baltimore, he played the lead role of Victor Mehta in David Hare's A Map of the World, then worked with director Daniel Sullivan at the Seattle Rep in Red Square as Roosevelt Weinglass. Alexander moved to Los Angeles, where he continues to perform in theatre (Morocco, Ondine, The Disputation, Taking Sides, Flags, The Cherry Orchard) as well as film and television.