James Lipton was Born …:
… on September 19, 1926, in Detroit.
Growing up with James:
An artistic child, one can gather, as his talents and interests in all things creative are clearly evident from his illustrious career. He spent a decade studying theatrical arts under renowned actors Stella Adler, Harold Clurman and Robert Lewis. Lipton has studied modern dance and ballet, as well as voice and singing. Over the course of his career, he has garnered three honorary doctorates, as well as a recipient of the French Republic's Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
James' First Job & The Early Years:
Lipton’s first acting gig was on Broadway in “The Autumn Garden,” a play by Lillian Hellman. That cascaded into a well of roles in film and television, including the part of Dan Reid, the Lone Ranger's nephew, during the early 1940s on the radio version of The Lone Ranger. Most recently, he has had a recurring role as an acting obsessed prison guard on the cult classic and since cancelled Arrested Development.
He has had an illustrious career that has included writing gigs in all shapes and forms. He was a writer on several soap operas, including Another World, The Edge of Night and Guiding Light, the latter on which he also acted for a decade. He wrote story and lyrics for two Broadway play (Sherry! and Nowhere to Go But Up) and a handful of books.
Lipton’s television directing credits include a bevy of Bob Hope specials, as well as Jimmy Carter’s Inaugural Gala, the first Presidential concert ever televised, and the first television entertainment special originating from the People’s Republic of China, The Road to China.
Becoming a Talk Show Host:
In 1994, Lipton took his love for his craft, as well as his love for teaching, and created a forum with which to showcase that to the world: Inside the Actors Studio. He has interviewed more than 200 actors, directors and writers since that time – and is still going strong. Most people do not realize that the show is, in fact, part of a master’s degree program at the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University – a program Lipton created more than a decade ago while vice-president of the Actors Studio
What Does the Future Hold?:
In October (2007), Lipton will see published his half behind-the-scenes, half autobiography “Inside Inside”. In the book, Lipton recounts his life, puts himself in the interviewee’s chair, and discusses the why behind his intense preparation for Inside the Actors Studio – two weeks ahead, 400 blue cards, and more.
Beyond that? Boy – the sky’s the limit. And even that’s a stretch, since Lipton already has his pilots license.
And Just for Fun:
- Married to Kedakai Turner Lipton, vice president at Corcoran Real Estate Group in New York. Famously, she will not let Lipton get a tattoo.
- Is an avid horseman and has won numerous showjumping championships.
- Is a pilot – and discusses such in interviews with fellow pilots Harrison Ford, John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
- Is parodied time and again, most notably by Will Ferrell when he was on Saturday Night Live and Will Sasso during his stint on MadTV.
- Has no qualms with making fun of himself, proven by hilarious turns on Arrested Development as an acting obsessed prison guard, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, playing himself in a slew of skits.
