Elizabeth Kemp (November 5, 1951 – September 1, 2017) was an American actress, theatre director, and acting coach. She began her screen career playing Betsy in the television series Love of Life in 1973. She performed on stage many times as well as directing a number of productions in the US as well as internationally. She went on to become an acting coach and faculty member of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.
Elizabeth Kemp | |
|---|---|
 Kemp in 2011 | |
| Born | November 5, 1951 Key West, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | September 1, 2017 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, acting coach |
| Years active | 1973–2017 |
Early life and education
editElizabeth Kemp was born on November 5, 1951 in Key West, Florida, the daughter of Nancy Jean (Haycock) and Joseph Clifton Kemp, a business executive and U.S. Navy officer and test pilot stationed at the Pentagon.[1]
Kemp showed talent as a child painter from age 13–16, and graduated from high school with a special award for creative achievement. At 16 she applied to the Rhode Island School of Design, but was told to wait a year.[citation needed]
She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Actors Studio in New York City, under Lee Strasberg.[2]
Career
editActing career
editKemp was in the original cast of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, which began at the off-Broadway The Actors Studio[when?] before moving to Broadway, where it became a long-running hit.[3] Her mentor, Elia Kazan, took Tennessee Williams to see Kemp in the show, when Williams was looking for an actress to play Baby Doll in the world premiere of one of his last plays, Tiger Tail.[4] After the performance, Williams gave her the part, and she worked closely with him in developing the role.[3] In 1978, she appeared on Broadway in a minor part in Once in a Lifetime.[5]
She made her television debut in the series Love of Life in 1973.[1]
In 1980, Kemp made her feature film debut in the horror film He Knows You're Alone, opposite Caitlin O'Heaney and Tom Hanks.[6]
Directing
editAs a stage director, Kemp was responsible for many productions at The Actors Studio, including The Glass Menagerie, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and the world premiere of Edward Allan Baker's Free Gift Inside. Internationally, Kemp directed The Stronger and Homesick at Strindberg's Intimate Theater in Stockholm, and Dreamstories at The Claude LeLouch Theatre Cine 13 in Paris and La Spazia Teatro in Rome.[citation needed]
Teaching
editKemp left Los Angeles and returned to New York City, where she worked odd jobs, including waiting tables at a restaurant.[3] Soon after, she began teaching acting at the Strasberg Institute, then became a member of the Acting Faculty—and later, chair[7]— of The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University.[3][8]
At the Actors Studio Drama School, Kemp was a mentor to student actors like Bradley Cooper[3][9] and Poorna Jagannathan. She worked across the country at The California Actors Theatre in San Francisco, Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C., Center Stage in Baltimore, and Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia.[citation needed]
She was also an artistic associate and tutor at 16th Street Actors Studio in Melbourne, Australia.[10]
Personal life
editKemp married actor Michael Margotta in New York City in 1984.[11] They separated in June 1991 and later divorced.[a]
Death
editKemp died of cancer on September 1, 2017,[12][13] in Venice, Los Angeles, at age 65.[14] She received several public tributes from former students Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman and Lady Gaga.[14]
The 2018 film A Star Is Born is dedicated to her memory.[citation needed]
Recognition and awards
editKemp became a lifetime member of The Actors Studio in 1975.[15]
She received the GLAAD Award for her work on L.A. Law (1986).[citation needed]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | He Knows You're Alone | Nancy | |
| 1982 | The Clairvoyant | Virna Nightbourne | |
| 1988 | Sticky Fingers | Nancy | |
| 1988 | Police Story: Burnout | Patricia | Television film |
| 1990 | Family of Spies | Kay | |
| 1990 | Challenger | Jane Smith | Television film |
| 1991 | Murderous Vision | Ellen Green | Television film |
| 1992 | Mom I Can Do It | Jane Morris | |
| 1992 | Venice/Venice | Interviewee | |
| 1995 | Animal Room | Shelly's Mom | |
| 2005 | Pills | Margaret Nolan | Short film |
| 2012 | Thanks Dad | Mom | Winner: Final 8 "TROPFEST", 2012 |
| 2013 | Manito: Brother's Sacrifice | Lori | Short film |
| 2014 | Welcome to New York | Florence | |
| 2015 | Emperor of the Free World | Olympias | |
| 2017 | A Crack in Everything | Constance Marshall |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-1977 | Love of Life | Betsy Crawford | Series regular |
| 1979 | Skyways | Rosemary | Episode: "Bird Strike" |
| 1981 | I Can Jump Puddles | Receptionist | Episode: "Getting Your Breath" |
| 1988 | Vietnam War Story | Lynn | Episode: "Dusk to Dawn" |
| 1990 | Thirtysomething | Kate | Episode: "The Distance" |
| 1990 | Eating | Nancy | |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Maggie Barnes | Episode: "The Nut Before Christmas" |
| 2001–3 | Law & Order | Laila Jacobs / Debbie Grimes | Episodes: "School Daze", "Blaze" |
Notes
edit- ^ A 2012 CNN profile notes Kemp's divorce, but a year or date is not given, nor is it available in public records; the New York City Marriage Licenses Index, however, lists Margotta and Kemp's marriage as being in 1984.
References
edit- ^ a b "Elizabeth Kemp Biography". FilmReference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
- ^ Kershaw, Sarah (May 6, 2009). "Actors Use Dreams to Understand Characters They Play - The Role of Their Dreams - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Leopold, Todd (February 13, 2012). "Actress' role of a lifetime: Being a mentor - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
- ^ "La Magnani! Arrives Off-Broadway March 22nd at Arclight Theatre" Archived August 29, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Italian Cultural Institute of New York. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ "Once in a Lifetime". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ Mastroianni, Armand, and Scott Parker. He Knows You're Alone audio commentary (DVD). Warner Bros. 2004.
- ^ Hornaday, Ann (February 22, 2009). "Special Affects: If the Stars Make You Forget Who They Are, That's Greatness". The Washington Post. Gold Standard. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "About". Elizabeth Kemp Official Site. Archived from the original on September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 18, 2015). "How Bradley Cooper's Acting Coach Taught Him to "Relax"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ "Elizabeth Kemp | 16th Street". www.16thstreet.com.au. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015.
- ^ "New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995," database, FamilySearch (19 June 2017), Michael J Margotta and Elizabeth Kemp, 1984, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States; from Reclaim The Records, The NYC Marriage Index (http://www.nycmarriageindex.com : 2016); citing New York City Clerk's Office.
- ^ "Hugh Jackman and Lady Gaga pay tribute to acting coach". BBC. September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Donn, Emily (September 4, 2017). "Actress/Teacher Elizabeth Kemp Passes Away at 65". ScreenRant. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ a b "Elizabeth Kemp, Actress and Influential Teacher at the Actors Studio, Dies at 65". The Hollywood Reporter. September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
External links
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