Vivian Nathan

Biography

Vivian Nathan was an American actress who helped found the Actors Studio in 1947 and sat on its board of directors until 1999; she also taught acting there, and Kim Stanley was among her students. Raised in Queens, she drew the attention of the producer John Golden in 1944 and made her Broadway debut in 1948, directed by Elia Kazan, in Sundown Beach. She was in the first Broadway stagings of Tennessee Williams's The Rose Tattoo in 1951 and of Camino Real in 1953, and took a Clarence Derwent Award in 1955 as the Charwoman in Anastasia. She made her film debut opposite Clark Gable in Teacher's Pet (1958) and later appeared in The Young Savages and Klute (1971), as Jane Fonda's psychiatrist. Her television work included Studio One, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Playhouse 90.

98years old at death

Born October 26, 1916New York City
Died April 3, 2015Lillian Booth Actors Home
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Vivian Firko (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 4
Career span: 14 years1957 to 1971

Every film, newest first

1971KluteIMDb rating 7.1
1961The Young SavagesIMDb rating 6.9
1958Teacher's PetIMDb rating 7.1
1957The Defender (Studio One)IMDb rating 7.9

Genres

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Early training
Vivian Nathan was a founding member of the Actors Studio when Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg established it in 1947, and she later taught acting there, with Kim Stanley among her students.
First role
Nathan made her Broadway debut in 1948 under Elia Kazan's direction in the Actors Studio production of Bessie Breuer's Sundown Beach, still billed as Firko.

Vivian Nathan movies on Netflix

Klute1971IMDb rating 7.1as Psychiatrist
The Young Savages1961IMDb rating 6.9as Mrs. Escalante
Teacher's Pet1958IMDb rating 7.1as Mrs. Kovac
The Defender (Studio One)1957IMDb rating 7.9as Mrs. Gordon

Worked with

Vivian Nathan shares two films with Milton Selzer, 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.

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Milton Selzer

David J. Stewart

Bess Flowers

Donald Sutherland

Burt Lancaster

Jane FondaAlan J. PakulaDirector, 1 film George SeatonDirector, 1 film

John FrankenheimerDirector, 1 film

Films together

Milton Selzer2 films together, 1957 to 1961
Milton Selzer's page
- The Young Savages1961IMDb rating 6.9Nathan as Mrs. EscalanteSelzer as Dr. Walsh
- The Defender (Studio One)1957IMDb rating 7.9Nathan as Mrs. GordonSelzer as 2nd Guard
David J. Stewart2 films together, 1957 to 1961
David J. Stewart's page
- The Young Savages1961IMDb rating 6.9Nathan as Mrs. EscalanteStewart as Barton
- The Defender (Studio One)1957IMDb rating 7.9Nathan as Mrs. GordonStewart as Dr. Victor Wallach
Bess Flowers1 film together, 1958
Bess Flowers's page
- Teacher's Pet1958IMDb rating 7.1Nathan as Mrs. KovacFlowers as Bongo Club Patron
Donald Sutherland1 film together, 1971
Donald Sutherland's page
- Klute1971IMDb rating 7.1Nathan as PsychiatristSutherland as John Klute
Burt Lancaster1 film together, 1961
Burt Lancaster's page
- The Young Savages1961IMDb rating 6.9Nathan as Mrs. EscalanteLancaster as Hank Bell
Jane Fonda1 film together, 1971
Jane Fonda's page
- Klute1971IMDb rating 7.1Nathan as PsychiatristFonda as Bree Daniels
Alan J. PakulaDirector, 1 film, 1971
All films by Alan J. Pakula
- Klute1971IMDb rating 7.1Nathan as Psychiatrist
George SeatonDirector, 1 film, 1958
All films by George Seaton
- Teacher's Pet1958IMDb rating 7.1Nathan as Mrs. Kovac
John FrankenheimerDirector, 1 film, 1961
All films by John Frankenheimer
- The Young Savages1961IMDb rating 6.9Nathan as Mrs. Escalante

Awards

One award and honor.

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Vivian Nathan's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
1955	Clarence Derwent Awards		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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