MICHAEL CHEKHOV

Michael Chekhov's unique contribution to acting has been one of the best kept secrets of the theatrical world. Born in 1891, Michael, nephew of Anton Chekhov, became one of Russia's most honored actors. He was considered one of the best students of Stanislavsky, and he and Vakhtangov ardently worked on improving of the system of their great teacher.

By 1928, as head of the Second Moscow Art Theater, Chekhov's innovative directing and teaching had provoked such severe criticism by the Communist government, he was forced to flee the country for safety. 

There followed ten years of wandering through Europe, with sojourns in Germany, France, Latvia, Lithuania and finally England. There, with the support of Beatrice Straight and the Elmhirst Family, Chekhov established his first training school in English. The onset of World War II inspired the Elmhirsts to move the school to Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1938. Here and in New York, Chekhov trained numerous members of the Group Theater and the Actors Studio before moving to Los Angeles in 1942.

Michael Chekhov was deeply respected by his peers- Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg, Herbert Berghof, Morris Carnovsky and Harold Clurman. His books "On The Technique of Acting" and "Lessons for the Professional Actor" are recommended for all actors, teachers, writers and directors. He received an Oscar nomination for Hitchcock's "Spellbound" and spent his last 13 years, acting in films and coaching some of our greatest actors in film history.