Arthur Storch
Arthur Storch was an American actor, theatre director, and educator. A life member of The Actors Studio, he founded Syracuse Stage in 1974 and served as its artistic director for 18 years, establishing it as a major regional theater. Storch directed over 50 productions there while simultaneously serving as Chair of the Syracuse University Drama Department and teaching where he developed the influential "Syracuse Model" of actor training. His Broadway career spanned four decades as both an actor and director. He also appeared in films including The Exorcist and mentored actors like Frank Langella.
Early life
Arthur Storch was born on June 29, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School. He enlisted in the United States Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served in World War II. He was involved in the Invasion of Normandy and advanced deep into Germany by the war's end.After his service, he studied drama at The New School under Erwin Piscator in the 1940s. In 1952, Storch joined The Actors Studio, where he trained alongside Marlon Brando and Julie Harris in method acting.
Career
Early acting career
After studying at The Actors Studio, Storch began his career as an actor in the 1950s. He appeared in several Broadway productions including Michael V. Gazzo's A Hatful of Rain and the original production of Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana.His Broadway acting credits also included The Egghead and The Disenchanted, establishing him as a character actor in dramatic roles.
Directing and Syracuse Stage
Storch founded Syracuse Stage in 1974 as a professional theater integrated with Syracuse University's drama program - an innovative model later adopted by Yale and Juilliard. As artistic director until 1992, he:- Directed 50+ productions including the world premiere of Tribute, which transferred to Broadway
- Developed new works like Frank Langella's Cyrano
- Taught acting using his signature text-analysis approach
Film and later work
Storch appeared as the psychiatrist in William Friedkin's horror classic The Exorcist. He continued acting sporadically in film and television through the 2000s, while also teaching at The New School in New York.Teaching
Storch served as a professor at Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts from 1974 to 1992, where he developed his signature approach combining Stanislavskian principles with rigorous text analysis. He pioneered the "Syracuse Model," integrating professional regional theatre with academic training - an approach later emulated by programs like Yale and Juilliard.His notable contemporary Frank Langella and student Taye Diggs frequently cited his transformative mentorship:
Storch's pedagogical approach directly influenced his professional work. His 1978 production of Tribute, developed through Syracuse Stage's academic-theatre pipeline, transferred to Broadway with its "razor-sharp comic timing" intact. This synergy between classroom and stage became a hallmark of his tenure.
Personal life
Storch was married five times; Brook Hanna, Vergel Cook, Virginia Kiser, Cynthia Martin, & Peggy McEvoy and had three children, Max, Alexander & Bess. His son Max followed him into theatre as a production manager.Death and legacy
Storch died from natural causes on March 5, 2013, in Manhattan. In 2014, Syracuse Stage:- Established the **Arthur Storch Award for Outstanding New Play**
- Named its mainstage in his honor
- Premiered a WCNY-TV documentary about his career
Tributes
Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
As actor
- A Hatful of Rain - Broadway
- The Egghead - Broadway
- The Disenchanted - Broadway
- The Night of the Iguana - Broadway
As director