- Born
- Died
- Birth nameIsrael Lee Strassberg
- Height5′ 5″ (1.65 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 The Godfather Part II (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. Krecaum(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."
- His generally quiet, mild mannered persona
- Strasberg lost the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of mob financier Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II (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, although Brando did support the Studio and regularly attended its formal and informal functions.
- One of the few Jewish actors to portray a Jewish gangster, the character Hyman Roth, in The Godfather Part II (1974). Previously, Jewish actors (James Caan, Abe Vigoda, Eli Wallach) had portrayed Italian mob figures, and Italian actors (Alex Rocco) had portrayed Jewish mob characters.
- In her last will and testament, Marilyn Monroe left Strasberg total control of 75% of her estate, including the licensing of Monroe's image, in gratitude for his mentorship and kindness, both before and after she became a star. Today, Strasberg's widow, Anna Strasberg administers the combined estates, which earn millions of dollars in licensing fees annually, from advertisers or marketers use of Monroe's image, such as the long running J'adore Parfum line, co-starring the deceased Marilyn Monroe and the very much alive Charlize Theron.
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