Julian Beck

Julian Beck was a renowned actor and co-founder of The Living Theatre.

Director | Miscellaneous Crew | Movie Actor

May 31, 1925

September 14, 1985

60

Julian Beck was a multifaceted American artist, known for his work as an actor, director, poet, and painter. He gained prominence as the co-founder and leader of the Living Theatre, the oldest experimental theatre group in the United States, which was recognized for its avant-garde and politically charged productions that defied societal norms and conventions. Some of Beck’s most renowned works include “The Connection,” “The Brig,” “Paradise Now,” and “The Mysteries and What’s So Funny?” He received an Obie Award for directing “The Connection” and was posthumously honored with an induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

In addition to his theatrical accomplishments, Beck also had a successful film career, with memorable roles in movies such as “Poltergeist II: The Other Side” and “The Cotton Club.” He was a published poet and authored non-fiction books as well. Sadly, Julian Beck passed away on September 14, 1985, at 60 years old, after a battle with stomach cancer.