Larry Moss (acting coach)
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.
History
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. He switched to teaching after he started having stage fright before shows.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. 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.
Moss founded The Larry Moss Studio with Michelle Danner. Larry Moss no longer teaches at the Edgemar Center for the Arts. He works internationally as a private acting coach.