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Revision as of 03:33, 3 September 2006
Stella Adler (February 10, 1901 – December 21, 1992) was an American actress, and for decades was regarded as America's foremost acting teacher.
Born in New York City, Adler was a member of the jewish-American Adler acting dynasty, the daughter of Sara and Jacob P. Adler, and the sister of Luther Adler, Jay Adler, and Charles Adler. She was the only American actor to be instructed in the art of acting by Konstantin Stanislavski. She was a prominent member of the Group Theatre, but differences of opinion with Lee Strasberg over the correct teaching of Stanislavki's System (later developed into Method acting) contributed to the ultimate break-up of the group.
Adler was Marlon Brando's first influential acting teacher. Brando met her through his sister, Jocelyn, who was studying drama with Adler, and he decided to take drama as well. Brando had been considered unsuitable for the army and had been expelled from the military school that his father had sent him to. Adler believed when she met Brando that he would be the best American actor in theater before the end of the year.
From 1926 until 1952 Adler appeared regularly on Broadway. She appeared in only three films, including Shadow of the Thin Man (1941).
She was three times married, first to Harold Clurman, the famous director and critic, (and co-member at the Group Theater, next to Horace Eleasheff, and last to Mitchell A. Wilson, the physicist and novelist who died in 1973.
She died in Los Angeles, California, from heart failure at the age of 91 in 1992, and was interred in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Glendale, New York.
The acting studio Adler founded still operates in New York City today. Her method, based on use of the actor's imagination, has been studied by many renowned actors, such as Robert De Niro, Martin Sheen, and Roy Scheider, in addition to Brando, who served as the studio's Honorary Chairman until his death. Adler's legacy continues with the work of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
Career on Broadway
All works are the original Broadway productions unless otherwise noted.
Stage appearances
- The Straw Hat (1926)
- Big Lake (1927)
- The House of Connelly (1931)
- 1931 (1931)
- Night Over Taos (1932)
- Success Story (1932)
- Big Night (1933)
- Hilda Cassidy (1933)
- Gentlewoman (1934)
- Gold Eagle Guy (1934)
- Awake and Sing! (1935)
- Paradise Lost (1935)
- Sons and Soldiers (1943)
- Pretty Little Parlor (1944)
- He Who Gets Slapped — revival (1946)
As director
- Manhattan Nocturne (1943)
- Sunday Breakfast (1952)