Where are you from and where do you reside now?
I grew up in Ohio and I’ve been living in New York City since I came here to get my MFA in acting from Columbia.
What is your artistic discipline?
I’m an actor.
When did you become a Member?
Curt Dempster saw my work at the Dartmouth Summer Repertory Theatre in 1971 and asked me to become a founding member of EST… one of the greatest artistic gifts of my life. I thank you forever Curt!
What is one of your favorite EST Memories?
So many wonderful memories… The very first day we entered the theater… painting the walls with a full length cast on my leg and crutches ….because I’d been run down by a cab while riding my motorcycle…
The weekly gatherings of about 20 or 30 of us original members……performing the work of our extraordinary writers…
So many excellent plays , staged readings, workshops …with such generous, talented, intelligent ,supportive actors, playwrights and directors…an amazing community that I was .. and am…beyond thrilled to be a part of.
What is influencing or inspiring your artistry right now?
One of the many plays that I absolutely loved doing was The Short Changed Review… with an incredible director, playwright, and cast… one of the many times where I felt like we became such a close and loving family that it was heartbreaking to close(as it always is when you’re doing work with wonderful people and it comes to an end). But I got more work immediately, because the director Alan Schneider came to see it and cast me on the spot in Elie Weisel’s only Broadway play, “ Zalmen or The Madness of God,”
I’ve always loved theater … (I used to do plays all by myself in my backyard in Cleveland .. starting before kindergarten… with maple tree seedlings.. for hours). ….and I continue to see as much theater as I can. So great plays with wonderful actors. are as thrilling to me as they were when I was five and saw my very first play, Harvey. I never watched much TV (although I was fortunate enough to do quite a bit of television and film work in my career.) But in the last several years, I have also been inspired by some incredible acting and productions in many cable ( mostly) TV series.
Who are your artistic influences?
I went to Stanford as an undergraduate, and again was unbelievably fortunate that the Ford Foundation paid 20 Actor’s Studio actors and directors to work with us for three years. I always loved acting, but felt that because it was so much fun , I should really be doing something important…. until I saw the Actor’s Studio’s brilliant and moving production of The Cherry Orchard. It was seriously one of those life-changing moments… I felt like I had been hit by a truck and could barely breathe. …It was so extraordinary…. And from that moment on, I realized there was nothing more important to me than being an actor in the theater.
Plus, my first acting teacher, Glenn Cannon (from The Actor’s Studio) really believed in me and valued my work and taught me so much… Which might be the most important support any beginning actor could ever have ….to give them to the courage to continue in this profession. I am of course, forever indebted to Glenn.
What was the best play/film/TV you watched recently?
Best play/film/TV… Really impossible to say because I’ve seen so much great work… But this year I particularly loved Purpose and the Australian series Offspring.
What advice do you have for emerging theatermakers that you wish you knew?
As I keep saying, I think I was just extremely fortunate right from the beginning of my career. I was lucky enough, and I would of course advise everyone to work with ….(as much as possible,) …serious, kind, intelligent, supportive, generous, talented fellow artists. And I have done hundreds and hundreds of staged readings, workshops , participated in writers groups… all for free…. All of which were so valuable and contributed to my growth and career as an artist. So first of all, I would say work as much as possible with great people… even if it’s unpaid. If you can make your living in this business, that would be fantastic, but if not, earn money elsewhere, so you can continue as an artist.
I was fortunate enough to do a lot of theater, television and film work, commercial/industrial, and voiceover work, most of which I thoroughly loved and also of course paid the bills.
But I do believe it’s so so much harder for actors to make a living in this business today, than it was when I came along. I didn’t have to do this… but today I think it’s imperative that you produce your own work …connect with as many people as possible who have your values… and are supportive!! and get yourself out there as much as possible. We used to say an actor is someone who just doesn’t give up, and I believe that’s still true.
Also, I recommend getting involved in your unions. I have been on local and national boards and negotiating committees… for at least 25 years…mainly because I wanted to give back… I could never have been an actor without my unions. But of course, as they say, you can’t give it away… I made so many connections through my many years of union service that it also actually furthered my career in numerous ways .
So I can’t stress strongly enough how important our unions are for our profession… And if you have any time at all… sign up for a committee …volunteer… Get involved in in any way if at all possible.You will not only help your union , but yourself.
Sadly, since I’ve been an activist my whole life, and I’m urging fellow artists to get involved in our unions… I must also add that we have come to a devastating time in our country … so I will also urge you to get involved in trying to save our democracy.
What are you working on now?
These days, I am still acting in zoom plays, staged readings, voice overs and numerous workshops as a member of the Actors Center… and I am active in six union committees and am on the Central Labor Council……
but I am also spending as much time as possible participating in every resistance march… making phone calls …writing postcards …sending letters, etc. If you want to know how to get involved in small or large ways, I really recommend signing up for free emails from Robert Hubbell, Jessica Craven Chop Wood, and Heather Cox Richardson.
These are brilliant people who are informing us realistically about the extraordinary danger we are in today… with a Republican House , Senate, Presidency and a right wing leaning Supreme Court. But they also very helpful and hopeful… Robert Hubbell is especially inspiring… Letting us know that we will eventually prevail .. but the only way to save our democracy is with US…the people!! Every action we take will help and make a difference. The only way we can lose is if we do nothing.. so I urge you to not only get involved …but grab every person you know and get them involved too.
How can people connect with you?
I can be reached by text only at 917-674-7648. Finally, I have to express my extraordinary gratitude to Graeme Gillis and Estefania Fadul… co-artistic directors of EST and RJ Tolan, artistic director of Youngblood. They are doing a SUPERB job working their tuchus’s off to allow this fabulous theater to continue to not only survive, but also thrive.