Jay W. Jensen (August 4, 1931 â€" February 17, 2007) was a Miami
Beach, Florida, drama teacher known as "The Teacher to the Stars".
Jensen is credited with inspiring the acting talents of such
well-known actors as Andy GarcÃa and Mickey Rourke.Jensen was born in
Irvington, New Jersey. He was the only child of John W. and Thelma
"Billie" Jensen. His father was a musician in a nightclub band, and
his mother was a nightclub manager. As a child, he developed a love of
film and drama. During his school years, he studied ballroom dancing
and acting. In 1950, his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida,
where he earned an Associate of Arts degree from St. Petersburg
College.Jensen moved to Miami, where he graduated from the University
of Miami with a BA in Education. In 1953, he left Florida to live and
study in Havana, Cuba. While in Cuba, Jensen studied at the University
of Havana. Upon his return to Miami in 1954, he began teaching at
Little River Junior High School.After teaching for three years, Jensen
decided to accomplish his dream of being a motion picture actor and
"go to Hollywood and get discovered." Along with his widowed mother,
Thelma, and his cat Dracula, he flew to Los Angeles.
Beach, Florida, drama teacher known as "The Teacher to the Stars".
Jensen is credited with inspiring the acting talents of such
well-known actors as Andy GarcÃa and Mickey Rourke.Jensen was born in
Irvington, New Jersey. He was the only child of John W. and Thelma
"Billie" Jensen. His father was a musician in a nightclub band, and
his mother was a nightclub manager. As a child, he developed a love of
film and drama. During his school years, he studied ballroom dancing
and acting. In 1950, his family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida,
where he earned an Associate of Arts degree from St. Petersburg
College.Jensen moved to Miami, where he graduated from the University
of Miami with a BA in Education. In 1953, he left Florida to live and
study in Havana, Cuba. While in Cuba, Jensen studied at the University
of Havana. Upon his return to Miami in 1954, he began teaching at
Little River Junior High School.After teaching for three years, Jensen
decided to accomplish his dream of being a motion picture actor and
"go to Hollywood and get discovered." Along with his widowed mother,
Thelma, and his cat Dracula, he flew to Los Angeles.
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