Paul Kent (October 13, 1930 â€" October 7, 2011) was an American actor
and the founder/artistic director of the Melrose Theatre in West
Hollywood.Kent was born as Paul Inglese on October 13, 1930 in
Brooklyn, New York. He studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and
briefly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. In
1958, he and his parents moved from New York to California, where he
trained under Sanford Meisner and later assisted Meisner with his
classes. The two became close friends and colleagues during Meisner's
life, and when Meisner left Los Angeles to go back to New York, he
left his teaching methods to be carried on in the West by Kent who
consequently taught acting for many years through his theater.Kent
played a part in the formation of Lucille Ball's Desilu Workshop,
where he became the first acting student signed by the workshop.
According to Hedda Hopper, when Kent appeared at the workshop to help
a female friend at an audition, he was discovered by Ball and promptly
signed to an actor-stage manager contract. Kent's acting roles during
this period included a small part in an episode of December Bride in
1957.In 1964, Kent founded the Melrose Theater in West Hollywood with
the assistance of fellow actors including Tom Troupe, Carole Cook,
Richard Bull and Don Eitner. Funds for the theater were partially
raised by a guest appearance with Lucille Ball and Gary Morton on
Password.
and the founder/artistic director of the Melrose Theatre in West
Hollywood.Kent was born as Paul Inglese on October 13, 1930 in
Brooklyn, New York. He studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse and
briefly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. In
1958, he and his parents moved from New York to California, where he
trained under Sanford Meisner and later assisted Meisner with his
classes. The two became close friends and colleagues during Meisner's
life, and when Meisner left Los Angeles to go back to New York, he
left his teaching methods to be carried on in the West by Kent who
consequently taught acting for many years through his theater.Kent
played a part in the formation of Lucille Ball's Desilu Workshop,
where he became the first acting student signed by the workshop.
According to Hedda Hopper, when Kent appeared at the workshop to help
a female friend at an audition, he was discovered by Ball and promptly
signed to an actor-stage manager contract. Kent's acting roles during
this period included a small part in an episode of December Bride in
1957.In 1964, Kent founded the Melrose Theater in West Hollywood with
the assistance of fellow actors including Tom Troupe, Carole Cook,
Richard Bull and Don Eitner. Funds for the theater were partially
raised by a guest appearance with Lucille Ball and Gary Morton on
Password.
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