WHO HAS HEADED THE ACTORS STUDIO?
The Actors Studio was founded in 1947 by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford and Robert Lewis in New York. Lee Strasberg served as Artistic Director in New York from 1951 until his death in 1982. In 1967, Mr. Strasberg began spending half of each year in California moderating sessions and continued doing so until 1982. Ellen Burstyn and Al Pacino became co-Artistic Directors for the following year. Ms. Burstyn then served as Artistic Director until March 1988. Paul Newman became President of the Studio from 1982 through 1994. Frank Corsaro served as Artistic Director from April 1988 through June 1995. Arthur Penn followed Mr. Corsaro as Artistic Director and President from June 1995 until 1998. In 1994 Mr. Penn stepped down as President at which time, Ellen Burstyn, Harvey Keitel and Al Pacino formed the Presidential Troika beginning in 1994 and remain as such currently. Estelle Parsons served as Artistic Director from 1998 until the summer of 2003. There were no Artistic Directors in New York
