Biography
Lyle Kessler (born April 11, 1936) is an American playwright, screenwriter and actor, best known internationally for his 1983 play Orphans.
== Career ==
=== Actor ===
Born in Philadelphia, Kessler began his career as an actor. His first professional appearance was in the Philadelphia premiere of the play Waiting for Godot, appearing opposite Bruce Dern. He has subsequently appeared in several films, including James Dean (portraying Lee Strasberg, under whom he had studied at the Actors Studio).
=== Writer and director ===
Kessler studied acting with Lee Strasberg and was accepted into the Director's Unit of the Actors Studio, where he wrote and directed his first one act play, The Viewing, which he subsequently directed at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York.
==== Playwright ====
Kessler's most well known plays include his first full-length work, The Watering Place, and Orphans.
The Watering Place (written in 1969) premiered on Broadway and starred Shirley Knight and William Devane.
Orphans (1983) was directed by Gary Sinise and opened at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre before starting its successful Off Broadway run. Albert Finney won the Olivier Award for his performance in the London West End production of Orphans.
Kessler's other plays include:
Perp (2019) premiering at The Barrow Group in March 2019, directed by Lee Brock
House on Fire (2018) which premiered at Palm Beach Dramaworks, directed by Bill Hayes
Robbers (1987) which has been performed at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut starring Judd Hirsch
Possession (1976) which was premiered by the Ensemble Studio Theatre, directed by James Hammerstein.