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{{Short description|American actor, stage director, poet, and painter (1925–1985)}}
[[Image:julian_beck.jpeg |thumb|250px|right|Julian Beck 1969 <sub>
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
<br> By ]''</sub>]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = JulianBeck.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|5|31}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S. <!-- No boroughs/neighborhoods, just cities per format -->
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|9|14|1925|5|31}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| resting_place = ]
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|stage director|poet|painter}}
| years_active = 1943–1985
| spouse = {{Marriage|]|1948}}
| children = 2
}}
'''Julian Beck''' (May 31, 1925 – September 14, 1985) was an American actor, stage director, poet, and painter. He is best known for co-founding and directing ], as well as his role as Reverend Henry Kane, the malevolent preacher in the supernatural horror film '']'' (1986)


== Early life ==
'''Julian Beck''' (], ]&ndash;], ]) was a ] ], ], ], and ].
Beck was born on May 31, 1925, in the ], to Mabel Lucille (née Blum), a teacher, and Irving Beck, a businessman. He was named after Julia Beck (née Blum), his mother's sister and his father's first wife, who had died in the ].<ref>], ''The Living Theatre: Art, Exile, and Outrage'', Grove Press, New York, 1995, {{ISBN|0-8021-1558-6}}, p. 11</ref>


He was born in the ] section of ] in ]. and briefly attended ], but dropped out to pursue writing and art. He was an ] painter in the 1940's, but his career turned upon meeting his future wife. In 1943, he met ] and quickly came to share her passion for ]; they founded ] in 1947. He briefly attended Yale University, but withdrew to pursue writing and art. He was an ] painter in the 1940s, but his career turned upon meeting his future wife. In 1943, he met ] and quickly came to share her passion for theatre; they founded ] in 1947.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gussow |first1=Mel |title=The Living Theater Returns to Its Birthplace |url=https://nyti.ms/3A6lrVP |work=The New York Times |volume=133|issue=45924 |date=January 15, 1984 |page=H6}}</ref>


== Career ==
Beck co-directed the Living Theater until his death. The group's primary influence was ], who espoused the ], which was supposed to shock the audience out of complacency. This took different forms. In one example, from ]'s '']'', a drama about ], actors playing ]s wandered the audience demanding money for a fix.
Beck co-directed the Living Theatre until his death. The group's primary influence was ], who espoused the ], which was supposed to shock the audience out of complacency. This took different forms. In one example, from ]'s '']'' (1959), a drama about drug addiction, actors playing ]s wandered the audience demanding money for a fix.
The Living Theatre moved out of New York in 1964, after the ] (IRS) shut it down when Beck failed to pay $23,000 in back taxes. After a sensational trial in which Beck and Malina represented themselves, they were found guilty by a jury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Richard |title=Jury Finds Becks Guilty in Tax Case; Living Theater Couple Face Fines and Jail Terms |url=https://nyti.ms/3A6insR |work=The New York Times|date=May 26, 1964 |volume=113|issue=38839 |page=L45 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Bruce |title=Judith Malina, Founder of the Living Theater, Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/11/theater/judith-malina-founder-of-the-living-theater-dies-at-88.html |work=The New York Times |date=10 April 2015}}</ref>


Beck's philosophy of theatre carried over into his life. He once said "We insisted on experimentation that was an image for a changing society. If one can experiment in theatre, one can experiment in life." He was indicted a dozen times on three continents for charges such as disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, possession of narcotics, and failure to participate in a civil defense drill.<ref name=obit/>
The Living Theater moved out of New York in 1974, after the ] shut it down when Beck failed to pay $23,000 in back taxes. After a sensational trial, in which Beck and Malina represented themselves, they were found guilty by a jury.


Besides his theatre work, Beck published several volumes of poetry reflecting his ] beliefs; two non-fiction books: ''The Life of the Theatre'' and ''Theandric''; and made several film appearances, with small roles in '']'' (1967), '']'' (1969), '']'' (1984), and '']'' (1986). He had a role as the main antagonist in '']'' (1986), which was released posthumously. Beck also appeared in an episode of '']'' that aired 13 days after his death.
Julian Beck's philosophy of theatre carried over into his life. He once said, "We insisted on experimentation that was an image for a changing society. If one can experiment in theatre, one can experiment in life." He was indicted a dozen times on three continents for charges such as ], ], possesion of narcotics, and failing to participate in a ] drill. Beck and Malina were life partners in an ], and Beck had a long-term relationship with Ilion Troya, a male actor in the company.


== Personal life ==
Besides his theatre work, Beck published several volumes of ] reflecting his ] beliefs, two non-fiction books: ''The life of the theater'' and ''Theandric,'' and had several ] appearances, with small roles in ''Emergency'', ''],'' '']'', '']'', and a major role in '']''.
Beck and Malina had an ], and Beck had a long-term relationship with Ilion Troya, a male actor in the company. Malina and Beck shared a lover in Lester Schwartz,<ref>], ''The Living Theatre: Art, Exile, and Outrage'', Grove Press, New York, 1995, {{ISBN|0-8021-1558-6}}, p. 120</ref> a shipyard worker who was the third husband of ] acolyte ].<ref>, '']'', February 26, 2008</ref> Beck and Malina had two children, Garrick and Isha.


=== Death ===
Beck was diagnosed with ] in 1983, and died 18 months later at ] in ] at the age of 60. He was survived by his wife, a brother, and two children, Garrick and Isha. Beck was interred at ], in ].
Beck was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 1983, and he died two years later on September 14, 1985 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, aged 60.<ref name=obit>{{cite news |last1=Freedman |first1=Samuel |title=Julian Beck, 60, Is Dead; Founded Living Theater |url=https://nyti.ms/3k6WhkI |work=The New York Times |volume=134 |issue=46535 |date=September 17, 1985 |language=en}}</ref>


In 2004, 19 years after his death, Beck was inducted into the ]. Judith Malina was inducted to the Hall of Fame the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/ae/20040128fameweb0128p1.asp|title=Theater honors put women in the spotlight|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 28, 2004|access-date=May 4, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060009/http://old.post-gazette.com/ae/20040128fameweb0128p1.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References==
*''Julian Beck, 60, is dead; Founded Living Theater'', by ], '']'', ], ]


== Filmography ==
==External links==
* ''Narcissus'' (1958) – Narration (voice)
*{{imdb name|id=0065191|name=Julian Beck}}
* ''The Queen of Sheba Meets the Atom Man'' (1963)
* ] biography
* '']'' (1967) – Tiresia
* ''Après la Passion selon Sade'' (1968)
* '']'' (1968)
* '']'' (1969) – Dying Man (segment "Agonia")
* '']'' (1983), a documentary about The Living Theatre.
* '']'' (1984) – Sol Weinstein
* '']'' (1985) – J.B. Johnston ("Prodigal Son" episode)
* '']'' (1986) – Dinner Guest (posthumous release)
* '']'' (1986) – Rev. Henry Kane (posthumous release)


== References ==
{{Reflist}}


== Further reading ==
]
* (344 boxes) are housed in the Yale University ].
]
* , at the ] at the University of Texas at Austin.
]

]
== External links ==
]
{{commons category|Julian Beck}}
]
* , held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, ]
]
* {{IMDb name|65191}}
]
* {{iobdb name|15749}}
* {{Find a Grave|7026602}}

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Latest revision as of 19:28, 23 December 2024

American actor, stage director, poet, and painter (1925–1985)

Julian Beck
Born(1925-05-31)May 31, 1925
New York City, U.S.
DiedSeptember 14, 1985(1985-09-14) (aged 60)
New York City, U.S.
Resting placeCedar Park Cemetery, New Jersey
Occupations
  • Actor
  • stage director
  • poet
  • painter
Years active1943–1985
Spouse Judith Malina ​(m. 1948)​
Children2

Julian Beck (May 31, 1925 – September 14, 1985) was an American actor, stage director, poet, and painter. He is best known for co-founding and directing the Living Theatre, as well as his role as Reverend Henry Kane, the malevolent preacher in the supernatural horror film Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

Early life

Beck was born on May 31, 1925, in the Washington Heights, Manhattan, to Mabel Lucille (née Blum), a teacher, and Irving Beck, a businessman. He was named after Julia Beck (née Blum), his mother's sister and his father's first wife, who had died in the influenza pandemic of 1918.

He briefly attended Yale University, but withdrew to pursue writing and art. He was an abstract expressionist painter in the 1940s, but his career turned upon meeting his future wife. In 1943, he met Judith Malina and quickly came to share her passion for theatre; they founded The Living Theatre in 1947.

Career

Beck co-directed the Living Theatre until his death. The group's primary influence was Antonin Artaud, who espoused the Theatre of Cruelty, which was supposed to shock the audience out of complacency. This took different forms. In one example, from Jack Gelber's The Connection (1959), a drama about drug addiction, actors playing junkies wandered the audience demanding money for a fix. The Living Theatre moved out of New York in 1964, after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) shut it down when Beck failed to pay $23,000 in back taxes. After a sensational trial in which Beck and Malina represented themselves, they were found guilty by a jury.

Beck's philosophy of theatre carried over into his life. He once said "We insisted on experimentation that was an image for a changing society. If one can experiment in theatre, one can experiment in life." He was indicted a dozen times on three continents for charges such as disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, possession of narcotics, and failure to participate in a civil defense drill.

Besides his theatre work, Beck published several volumes of poetry reflecting his anarchist beliefs; two non-fiction books: The Life of the Theatre and Theandric; and made several film appearances, with small roles in Oedipus Rex (1967), Love and Anger (1969), The Cotton Club (1984), and 9½ Weeks (1986). He had a role as the main antagonist in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), which was released posthumously. Beck also appeared in an episode of Miami Vice that aired 13 days after his death.

Personal life

Beck and Malina had an open marriage, and Beck had a long-term relationship with Ilion Troya, a male actor in the company. Malina and Beck shared a lover in Lester Schwartz, a shipyard worker who was the third husband of Andy Warhol acolyte Dorothy Podber. Beck and Malina had two children, Garrick and Isha.

Death

Beck was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 1983, and he died two years later on September 14, 1985 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, aged 60.

In 2004, 19 years after his death, Beck was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Judith Malina was inducted to the Hall of Fame the same year.

Filmography

References

  1. John Tytell, The Living Theatre: Art, Exile, and Outrage, Grove Press, New York, 1995, ISBN 0-8021-1558-6, p. 11
  2. Gussow, Mel (January 15, 1984). "The Living Theater Returns to Its Birthplace". The New York Times. Vol. 133, no. 45924. p. H6.
  3. Johnston, Richard (May 26, 1964). "Jury Finds Becks Guilty in Tax Case; Living Theater Couple Face Fines and Jail Terms". The New York Times. Vol. 113, no. 38839. p. L45.
  4. Weber, Bruce (April 10, 2015). "Judith Malina, Founder of the Living Theater, Dies at 88". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Freedman, Samuel (September 17, 1985). "Julian Beck, 60, Is Dead; Founded Living Theater". The New York Times. Vol. 134, no. 46535.
  6. John Tytell, The Living Theatre: Art, Exile, and Outrage, Grove Press, New York, 1995, ISBN 0-8021-1558-6, p. 120
  7. Obituary of Dorothy Podber, The Daily Telegraph, February 26, 2008
  8. "Theater honors put women in the spotlight". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 28, 2004. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2014.

Further reading

External links

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