Luther Adler (born Lutha Adler; May 4, 1903 â€" December 8, 1984) was
an American actor best known for his work in theatre, but who also
worked in film and television. He also directed plays on
Broadway.Adler was born on May 4, 1903, in New York City. He was one
of the six children of Russian Jewish actors Sara and Jacob P. Adler.
His father was considered to be one of the founders of the Yiddish
theatre in America. His siblings also worked in theatre; his sister
Stella Adler achieved fame as an actress and drama teacher. His
brother Jay also achieved some renown as an actor.Adler's father gave
him his first acting job in the Yiddish play, Schmendrick, at the
Thalia Theatre in Manhattan in 1908; Adler was then 5 years old. His
first Broadway plays were The Hand of the Potter in 1921; Humoresque
in 1923; Monkey Talks in 1925; Money Business and We Americans in
1926; John in 1927; Red Rust (or Rust) and Street Scene in 1929.In
1931 Adler became one of the original members of the Group Theatre
(New York), a New York City theatre collective formed by Cheryl
Crawford, Harold Clurman, and Lee Strasberg. The founders, as well as
the actors in the group, "tended to hold left-wing political views and
wanted to produce plays that dealt with important social issues." The
collective lasted for ten years, had twenty productions, and served as
an inspiration for many actors, directors, and playwrights who came
after it. During those years, the Group's members included Luther,
Luther's sister and brother, Stella Adler and Jay Adler, Elia Kazan,
John Garfield, Paul Green (playwright), Howard Da Silva, Harry Morgan
(billed as Harry Bratsburg), Franchot Tone, John Randolph, Joseph
Bromberg, Michael Gordon, Will Geer, Clifford Odets and Lee J. Cobb.
Elia Kazan considered Adler to be the best actor working in the
company.
an American actor best known for his work in theatre, but who also
worked in film and television. He also directed plays on
Broadway.Adler was born on May 4, 1903, in New York City. He was one
of the six children of Russian Jewish actors Sara and Jacob P. Adler.
His father was considered to be one of the founders of the Yiddish
theatre in America. His siblings also worked in theatre; his sister
Stella Adler achieved fame as an actress and drama teacher. His
brother Jay also achieved some renown as an actor.Adler's father gave
him his first acting job in the Yiddish play, Schmendrick, at the
Thalia Theatre in Manhattan in 1908; Adler was then 5 years old. His
first Broadway plays were The Hand of the Potter in 1921; Humoresque
in 1923; Monkey Talks in 1925; Money Business and We Americans in
1926; John in 1927; Red Rust (or Rust) and Street Scene in 1929.In
1931 Adler became one of the original members of the Group Theatre
(New York), a New York City theatre collective formed by Cheryl
Crawford, Harold Clurman, and Lee Strasberg. The founders, as well as
the actors in the group, "tended to hold left-wing political views and
wanted to produce plays that dealt with important social issues." The
collective lasted for ten years, had twenty productions, and served as
an inspiration for many actors, directors, and playwrights who came
after it. During those years, the Group's members included Luther,
Luther's sister and brother, Stella Adler and Jay Adler, Elia Kazan,
John Garfield, Paul Green (playwright), Howard Da Silva, Harry Morgan
(billed as Harry Bratsburg), Franchot Tone, John Randolph, Joseph
Bromberg, Michael Gordon, Will Geer, Clifford Odets and Lee J. Cobb.
Elia Kazan considered Adler to be the best actor working in the
company.
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