Lee Strasberg
Biography
Lee Strasberg was an American actor and acting coach who helped found the Group Theatre in 1931. Born in Budaniv and brought to the United States in 1909, he became director of the Actors Studio in New York City in 1951. There he taught his interpretation of Stanislavski's system, known as the Method, and author Mel Gussow considered him the father of method acting in America. He trained performers including Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro. As an actor, he was best known as the gangster Hyman Roth in The Godfather: Part II (1974), a role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in The Cassandra Crossing (1976), ...And Justice for All (1979), and Going in Style (1979). In 1966, he helped create Actors Studio West in Los Angeles.
80years old at death
- Born Budaniv
- Died New York City
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Israel Lee Strassberg
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 5 years1974 to 1979
Every film, newest first
- 1979...And Justice for AllIMDb rating 7.4
- 1979Going in StyleIMDb rating 7.1
- 1976The Cassandra CrossingIMDb rating 6.3
- 1974The Godfather: Part IIIMDb rating 9.0
Genres
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Early training
Strasberg quit the Clare Tree Major School to train at the American Laboratory Theatre under Maria Ouspenskaya and Richard Boleslawski, who had studied with Stanislavski. In 1925 he made his first professional appearance in Processional, a Theater Guild play.
First role
A relative gave Strasberg a small role in a Yiddish-language show put on by the Progressive Drama Club. He then joined the drama club at the Chrystie Street Settlement House, and at 23 he enrolled in the Clare Tree Major School of the Theater.
A first
Strasberg helped start the Group Theatre in 1931 with theater directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford. People praised it as America's first true theatrical collective.
A change of course
In 1951 Strasberg became the studio's artistic director. Through his teaching and theories on acting, he transformed how Americans trained for the stage and screen, working with performers including Kim Hunter, Marilyn Monroe, Julie Harris, Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Ellen Burstyn, and Al Pacino.
Lee Strasberg movies on Netflix
Worked with
Lee Strasberg shares two films with Al Pacino, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Al Pacino's page
Dominic Chianese's page
Robert De Niro's page
Robert Duvall's page
Martin Sheen's page
Burt Lancaster's page
All films by Francis Ford Coppola
All films by Norman Jewison
All films by George P. Cosmatos
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.