10 Famous Actors Who Trained At The Actor’s Studio
The Actors Studio has been operating in New York City since 1947, where hundreds of aspiring artists studied and eventually made their way as actors in Hollywood, Broadway, and beyond. Founded by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford and Robert Lewis, the organization focuses on training actors, directors, and playwrights. Here are 10 famous actors who have trained at the prestigious Actors Studio.
Al Pacino
The Godfather star attended The Actors Studio in 1966 where he studied under Lee Strasberg. After his time at The Actor’s Studio, Al Pacino went to star in films like The Godfather trilogy, Scarface, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and The Irishman.
Back in 2016, he was the guest star for the Inside the Actors Studio, a filmed seminar turned show for the Actors Studio Drama School hosted by James Lipton where famous actors, directors, and writers share their experience with their craft. He returned to the series for another interview in 2019. Currently, he shares Co-Presidency of The Actor’s Studio with actress Ellen Burstyn.
Jane Fonda
In 1958, Jane Fonda studied at The Actors Studio where she also learned from acting coach and actor Lee Strasberg. She went on to star in iconic films like 9 to 5, Klute, Coming Home, and the Netflix series Grace and Frankie. In 2005, she appeared on Inside The Actor’s Studio where she talked about her career.
Robert De Niro
Another Godfather star Robert De Niro made his way through The Actors Studio. The Academy Award winner appeared in films like Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Casino, Heat, Silver Linings Playbook, and The Irishman with Al Pacino. He guest starred on Inside the Actor’s Studio in 1998.
Marilyn Monroe
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The beloved star attended Lee Strasberg’s Actors Studio in 1955. While originally working as a model, Marilyn Monroe had dreams of becoming an actor. She had roles in films previous to her studies, but wanted to become more of a dramatic actor. She went on to star in Some Like It Hot, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, and much more.
Sidney Poitier
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The trailblazing actor, who was the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, attended training at The Actors Studio. Eventually, Sidney Poitier appeared in films like The Defiant Ones, Porgy and Bess, A Raisin in the Sun, and Lilies of the Field, To Sir with Love, and Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Sissy Spacek
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Scream queen Sissy Spacek trained at the prestigious Actors Studio in the early ’70s. She starred in films ranging from Badlands, Carrie, to the Loretta Lynn biopic Coal Miner’s Daughter.
“The irony is that I only studied there several months. I never got into scene class,” Sissy Spacek shares about her time at The Actors Studio with The Wall Street Journal. “But it impacted me deeply, so that when I did begin to work, putting my own life experiences into my work became the basis of everything I did.” She appeared on Inside The Actors Studio in 2002.
Bradley Cooper
In 1999, Bradley Cooper attended The Actors Studio. He then appeared in films like The Hangover, Silver Lining’s Playbook, Nightmare Alley, and A Star Is Born. Bradley Cooper made his debut as an interviewee in 2011 for Inside the Actor’s Studio. During the interview, he got a bit emotional, as more than 10 years prior, he was in the audience of this show, asking Sean Penn a question. What a full circle moment!
Sally Field
From 1973-1975, Sally Field studied at The Actors Studio. She would go on to star in Places in the Heart, Steel Magnolia’s, Forrest Gump, and more. She was interviewed on Inside the Actor’s Studio in 1994.
James Dean
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Cultural icon James Dean attended The Actors Studio in the early ’50s. In 1955, he would appear in Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant in 1956. While the actor died in a car crash in 1955, he posthumously earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in East of Eden.
Miriam Colon
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In 1953, Miriam Colon became the first Puerto Rican actress to be accepted in The Actors Studio. She starred in films like Scarface and various TV shows like Sanford and Sun and Gunsmoke. She also founded the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, the first bilingual New York City theatre.
Along with these 10, there are even more famous actors who studies at The Actors Studio and made it big. And there are more to come.