ACTOR · BORN 1901 · DIED 1982

Lee Strasberg

Born

17 November 1901, Budzanów, Austria-Hungary

Died

17 February 1982

Known for

The Godfather Part II (1974), ...And Justice for All (1979), The Cassandra Crossing (1976), The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (1992)

20 archived facts · 4 topics · 1 source · Last reviewed Sep 2026

10 Interesting Facts About Lee Strasberg

1. #002

   The actor Martin Landau stated that Strasberg was extremely demanding and rigorous as an acting teacher. According to Landau, Strasberg's insistence that actors push themselves toward flawless performances was always right. This disciplined approach had a significant impact on his students' careers.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
2. #003

   Lee Strasberg served as the chief teacher and director of the Actors Studio for more than thirty years. During that time he trained giants of American cinema such as Al Pacino, Ben Gazzara, Martin Landau, Eli Wallach and Ellen Burstyn. He never taught Marlon Brando, however, the man who made 'method' acting famous; Brando worked with Stella Adler. Even so, Brando supported the Studio and regularly attended its classes.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
3. #004

   On 13 February 1982, the Night of 100 Stars charity event held at Radio City Music Hall in New York was both Lee Strasberg's last film appearance and his last public appearance. At the event he danced in a chorus line with his students Al Pacino and Robert De Niro alongside the world-famous Radio City Rockettes dance troupe. The moment was a poignant finale to Strasberg's artistic life.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
4. #006

   In her will, Marilyn Monroe left Lee Strasberg full control over 75% of her estate, in gratitude for the guidance and kindness he showed her both before and after she became a star. That control included the licensing of Monroe's image. Today Strasberg's widow, Anna Strasberg, manages this combined legacy and earns millions of dollars a year in licensing revenue from advertisers' use of Monroe's image.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
5. #007

   Lee Strasberg and his student Al Pacino appeared together in two films: the 1974 production The Godfather Part II and the 1979 production And Justice for All. These two films are regarded as among the finest examples of a mentor-protégé relationship on screen.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
6. #008

   By playing the Jewish gangster Hyman Roth in The Godfather Part II, Lee Strasberg became one of the rare instances of a Jewish actor playing a Jewish gangster. Previously, Jewish actors such as James Caan, Abe Vigoda and Eli Wallach had portrayed Italian mafia figures, while the Italian actor Alex Rocco had played a Jewish mafia character. Strasberg's casting is seen as a step that broke the conventions of the era.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
7. #011

   Lee Strasberg was buried in Westchester Hills Cemetery, located in the village of Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester County, about 20 miles north of New York City. He lies in the same plot as his second wife, Paula Strasberg, who died in 1966 at about the age of 57. Westchester Hills is a Jewish cemetery where many famous entertainment and performing arts figures are also buried.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
8. #014

   On 27-28 October 1999, the Christie's auction house sold a large portion of Marilyn Monroe's personal belongings at auction. In her will, Monroe had wished for Strasberg to distribute these items among her friends and colleagues. Strasberg largely failed to carry out this distribution, however, and upon his death ownership of the items passed to his last wife, Anna Strasberg, who had never met Monroe. The auction was a major event for Monroe's fans and collectors.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
9. #018

   Lee Strasberg's biography appears on pages 766-768 of the first volume (1981-1985) of the encyclopedia 'The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives'. The work was published in New York in 1998 by Charles Scribner's Sons and documents the lives of important figures who left their mark on American cultural history.

   INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

   Sources (1)

   1. IMDb — IMDb

   ·Share·Report
10. #020

    In the production 'She-Wolf in Hollywood: The Story of Maria Ouspenskaya' (2024), Lee Strasberg is remembered as one of the famous actress Maria Ouspenskaya's students. The film deals with Ouspenskaya's life in Hollywood and her influence on her students.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    Sources (1)

    1. IMDb — IMDb

    ·Share·Report