Larry Moss (acting coach)

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Larry Moss is an American actor, director and acting coach. He wrote the acting textbook, The Intent to Live, and has directed numerous theatre productions, most notably The Syringa Tree and Holding the Man.[1]

History[edit]

He first began his acting career in New York starring in Upstairs at the Downstairs and appearing on Broadway in West Side Story, Drat! The Cat!, God's Favorite, So Long, 174th Street, The Robber Bridegroom, and I Love My Wife.[2] He switched to teaching after he started having stage fright before shows.[3]

He taught at Juilliard and Circle in the Square in New York. He originally came to Los Angeles to train C. Thomas Howell for The Hitcher. After Helen Hunt thanked him in her acceptance speech after winning an Oscar in 1997 for As Good as It Gets, the A-List demand for Moss' coaching increased.[4] He coached Hilary Swank in her Academy Award-winning performances in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby, Michael Clarke Duncan for his Oscar-nominated performance in The Green Mile, Hank Azaria's Emmy winning turn in Tuesdays with Morrie, and Tobey Maguire in Seabiscuit. He worked with Leonardo DiCaprio on his Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winning portrayals in The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street, as well as on DiCaprio's Oscar nominated turn in Blood Diamond, and The Departed.[5][6][7]

Moss founded The Larry Moss Studio (now The Acting Studio at Edgemar Center for the Arts) with Michelle Danner. Larry Moss no longer teaches at the Edgemar Center for the Arts. He works internationally as a private acting coach.[1]

Method[edit]

He studied his craft under Stella Adler, Sanford Meisner and Warren Robertson.[3]

Director[edit]

Larry Moss has also directed a number of film and theatre productions including The Syringa Tree, Dos corazones both as a play and on film, Beast on the Moon, and Runt of the Litter, a 2002 play which was written and starred professional American football player Bo Eason.[8] In 2014 Moss directed a Los Angeles production of the Australian classic Holding the Man for The Australian Theater Company.[9] The production was met with strong critical praise citing Moss' direction and the performances of the cast. His next project will be a biographical film about Montgomery Clift entitled Monty Clift with Matt Bomer signed to play the title role.[10]

Credits[edit]

Year Film Role/Position Notes
1984-1985 Sherlock Hound Voice Titular character
1986 The Hitcher Production Consultant
1990 Revenge Dialect Coach
1991 The Quarrel Dialogue Coach
1998 Lethal Weapon 4 Dialect Coach
Dos Corazones Director (Theater and Film)
1999 Lansky Dialect Coach (TV)
2000 Committed Dialect Coach
Thirteen Days Additional Dialect Coach
2001 The Affair of the Necklace Acting Consultant
2002 The Syringa Tree Director (Theater / TV Movie)
2002/07 Runt of the Litter Director New York (Theater)
2004 Michael Blanco The Acting Coach
Mementos Self (Special Thanks for Inspiration)
2006 Miracles and Mystery: Creating the Green Mile Self
2008 E! True Hollywood Story Himself
2009 The Process Executive Producer/ Himself
"Filmnut" Himself
2010 Char·ac·ter: The Interviews Himself
2011 Relative Insanity Director
2014 Holding the Man Director Los Angeles (Theater)
In a Dark Dark House Director Los Angeles (Theater)
2015 Monty Clift Director (Film)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "'A Dark, Dark House' Director Larry Moss Discusses Coaching Hilary Swank, Leonardo DiCaprio". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. ^ "Lawrence John Moss – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  3. ^ a b Moss, Larry (2004). The Intent to Live: Achieving Your True Potential as an Actor. Bantam, New York. ISBN 0-553-80207-0.
  4. ^ "Even A-List Actors Need A Coach" USA Today, 17 February 2005
  5. ^ "Legendary Coach Larry Moss: A Rare Interview". Podomatic. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  6. ^ "Insights from Acting Coach Larry Moss". Casting Frontier. 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  7. ^ "'A Dark, Dark House' Director Larry Moss Discusses Coaching Hilary Swank, Leonardo DiCaprio | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
  8. ^ "RUNT OF THE LITTER comes to the Bushnell" The Bushnell, 17 September 2009
  9. ^ "The Australian Theater Scene Moves to Los Angeles" Backstage, 17 March 2014
  10. ^ "Monty Clift on IMDB" IMDB - Monty Clift

Other sources[edit]

  • Rand, Ronald and Luigi Scorcia (2007). Acting Teachers of America: A Vital Tradition. Allworth Press, New York. ISBN 1-58115-473-9.

External links[edit]