25 Facts About James Lipton

Louis James Lipton was an American writer, actor, talk show host, and dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City.

James Lipton was the executive producer, writer, and host of the Bravo cable television series Inside the Actors Studio, which debuted in 1994.

Louis James Lipton was born on September 19,1926, in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Betty, a teacher and librarian, and Lawrence Lipton, a journalist and beat poet.

James Lipton's parents divorced when Lipton was six, and his father abandoned the family.

James Lipton worked in high school as a newspaper copy boy for the Detroit Times and as an actor in the Catholic Theater of Detroit and in radio.

Shortly after graduating high school, James Lipton portrayed Dan Reid, the Lone Ranger's nephew, on WXYZ Radio's The Lone Ranger.

James Lipton initially studied to be a lawyer in New York City, and turned to acting to finance his education.

James Lipton wrote for several soap operas: Another World, The Edge of Night, The Best of Everything, Return to Peyton Place and Capitol.

James Lipton studied for two and half years with Stella Adler, four years with Harold Clurman, and two years with Robert Lewis.

James Lipton started studying voice and dance, and choreographed a ballet for the American Ballet Theatre.

James Lipton portrayed a shipping clerk turned gang member in Joseph Strick's 1953 film, The Big Break, a crime drama.

James Lipton wrote the book and lyrics for the 1962 Broadway musical Nowhere To Go But Up.

In 1981, James Lipton published his novel, Mirrors, about dancers' lives.

James Lipton later wrote and produced it as a made-for-television movie.

In 2004,2005,2013, and 2019, James Lipton appeared on several episodes of Arrested Development as Warden Stefan Gentles.

James Lipton played "himself" as Brain Wash, interviewer of the monster Eva's acting teacher in the Paris-Vietnam animated film Igor.

James Lipton created a project within the Actors Studio Drama School: a non-credit class called Inside the Actors Studio, where successful and accomplished actors, directors and writers would be interviewed and would answer questions from acting students.

In September 2018, James Lipton stated that he was stepping down from the program after more than 24 years.

Between 1954 and 1959, James Lipton was married to actress Nina Foch.

James Lipton was married to Kedakai Turner Lipton, a model and real estate broker, from 1970 until his death.

James Lipton was the book and illustration designer for Lipton's book, An Exaltation of Larks, The Ultimate Edition.

James Lipton stated in interviews that he was a pilot, certified in Airplane Single Engine Land planes.

James Lipton had been flying since 1980 and learned in a Cessna 152 and 172, at Van Nuys Airport.

James Lipton was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

James Lipton died of bladder cancer at his home in Manhattan on March 2,2020, at the age of 93.