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Arthur Storch
American actor (1925–2013) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Arthur Storch (June 29, 1925 – March 5, 2013) was an American actor, theatre director, and educator. A life member of The Actors Studio, he founded Syracuse Stage in 1974 and served as its artistic director for 18 years, establishing it as a major regional theater. Storch directed over 50 productions there while simultaneously serving as Chair of the Syracuse University Drama Department and teaching where he developed the influential "Syracuse Model" of actor training. His Broadway career spanned four decades as both an actor (A Hatful of Rain, The Night of the Iguana) and director (Tribute, Norman, Is That You?). He also appeared in films including The Exorcist (1973) and mentored actors like Frank Langella.
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Early life
Arthur Storch was born on June 29, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family.[^1] He attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Like many of his generation, he enlisted in the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor, crossed Normandy early in the campaign, and advanced deep into Germany by the war's end.
After his service, he studied drama at The New School under Erwin Piscator in the 1940s.[^2] In 1952, Storch joined The Actors Studio, where he trained alongside Marlon Brando and Julie Harris in method acting.[^3]
[^1]: "New York, New York City Births, 1846–1909". FamilySearch. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
[^2]: Hirsch, Foster (1984). A Method to Their Madness: The History of the Actors Studio. W.W. Norton & Co. p. 112. ISBN 978-0393014231. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
[^3]: "Studio Actors Give Plays". The New York Times. 1954-05-18.
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Career
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Early acting career
After studying at The Actors Studio,[1] Storch began his career as an actor in the 1950s. He appeared in several Broadway productions including Michael V. Gazzo's A Hatful of Rain (1955)[2] and the original production of Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana (1961).[3]
His Broadway acting credits also included The Egghead (1957)[4] and The Disenchanted (1958),[5] establishing him as a character actor in dramatic roles.
Directing and Syracuse Stage
Storch founded Syracuse Stage in 1974 as a professional theater integrated with Syracuse University's drama program - an innovative model later adopted by Yale and Juilliard.[6] As artistic director until 1992, he:
- Directed 50+ productions including the world premiere of Tribute (1978), which transferred to Broadway
- Developed new works like Frank Langella's Cyrano (1986)
- Taught acting using his signature text-analysis approach[7]
Under his leadership, Syracuse Stage became a regional powerhouse, premiering works as Patrick Meyer's, K2 (1984), and Frank Langella's Cyrano (1986).[8]
Film and later work
Storch appeared as the psychiatrist in William Friedkin's horror classic The Exorcist (1973). He continued acting sporadically in film and television through the 2000s, while also teaching at The New School in New York.
Teaching
Storch served as a professor at Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts from 1974 to 1992, where he developed his signature approach combining Stanislavskian principles with rigorous text analysis.[9] He pioneered the "Syracuse Model," integrating professional regional theatre (through Syracuse Stage) with academic training - an approach later emulated by programs like Yale and Juilliard.[10]
His notable contemporary Frank Langella and student Taye Diggs frequently cited his transformative mentorship:
"Arthur demanded we mine the text for clues—every punctuation mark mattered. He'd say, 'If you're pretending, the audience will know.'"
— Frank Langella, Syracuse University Magazine (2015)[11]
Storch's pedagogical approach directly influenced his professional work. His 1978 production of Tribute, developed through Syracuse Stage's academic-theatre pipeline, transferred to Broadway with its "razor-sharp comic timing" intact.[12] This synergy between classroom and stage became a hallmark of his tenure.
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Personal life
Storch was married five times; Brook Hanna, Vergel Cook (actor), Virginia Kiser (actor), Cynthia Martin, & Dr.Peggy McEvoy and had three children, Max, Alexander & Bess. His son Max followed him into theatre as a production manager.[13]
Death and legacy
Storch died from natural causes on March 5, 2013, in Manhattan.[14] In 2014, Syracuse Stage:
- Established the **Arthur Storch Award for Outstanding New Play**
- Named its mainstage in his honor
- Premiered a WCNY-TV documentary about his career[15]
Tributes
Following his death, Frank Langella recalled Storch as "a fierce advocate for actors and new plays," while Syracuse Stage artistic director Robert Hupp stated, "Arthur built this theater with sheer will and artistic integrity."[16] The Drama League honored him posthumously for his contributions to regional theatre.[17]
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Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
As actor
- A Hatful of Rain (1955) - Broadway (Replacement)
- The Egghead (1957) - Broadway (Howard Wagner)
- The Disenchanted (1958) - Broadway (Understudy)
- The Night of the Iguana (1961) - Broadway (Original cast)
As director
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References
External links
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