Milton George Katselas American director and famous Hollywood educator Date of Birth: 22.12.1933 Country: USA

Biography of Milton George Katsalas

Milton George Katsalas, an American director and renowned Hollywood educator, spent over 20 years working at one of Los Angeles's oldest theater schools, The Beverly Hills Playhouse. Throughout his career, he was a recognized leader in the entertainment industry, known for his talent as a director, brilliant mentorship, and his skills as a writer and artist. He trained stars of the film industry such as Gene Hackman, Jason Beghe, Jenna Elfman, George Clooney, Alec Baldwin, Giovanni Ribisi, Tom Selleck, Michelle Pfeiffer, Ted Danson, Gene Reynolds, Tyne Daly, Mel Harris, Catherine Bell, Sofia Milos, and many others.

Milton George Katsalas was born on December 22, 1933, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Greek immigrant parents who owned a small restaurant near the Westinghouse Electric factory. When Milton was 14 years old, his father purchased a movie theater and became the director of a local theater troupe composed of Greek actors. Later, Milton changed his surname from "Katsalas" to "Katselas."

After graduating from high school, Milton pursued his passion for theater and enrolled at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Tech, which is now known as Carnegie Mellon University. During a trip to New York, he managed to sneak into a class taught by the famous acting teacher Lee Strasberg and encountered the renowned director of Greek descent, Elia Kazan, on the street. Speaking to Kazan in Greek, Milton made an impression and was invited by Kazan to join him once he finished college. True to his word, after graduating in 1954, Milton studied under Strasberg and became Kazan's student.

After collaborating with several other famous directors, including Joshua Logan, Joseph Anthony, and Sanford Meisner, Katselas began his independent work. He started with a successful original off-Broadway production of Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story," followed by another critically acclaimed play, Michael Shurtleff's "Call Me By My Rightful Name." In 1969, his Broadway production of Leonard Gershe's play "Butterflies Are Free" earned him a Tony Award nomination. In 1972, he directed the film adaptation of the play, starring Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert, which received an Oscar Award and Golden Globe.

In 1973, he collaborated again with Gershe and Albert on the film adaptation of "40 Carats." Among his other directorial works are Broadway productions of Tennessee Williams' "Camino Real" and "The Rose Tattoo," Chekhov's "The Seagull," and David Rabe's "Streamers" and "Romeo and Juliet" in Los Angeles, all of which received awards for his direction. Katselas's books, "Dreams Into Action" and "Acting Class: Take a Seat," gained international recognition.

Katselas became a devoted Scientologist, joining the teachings of Ron Hubbard in 1965. Through his seminars, he attracted many Hollywood celebrities to the Church of Scientology. Milton Katselas passed away on October 24, 2008, at the age of 74, in one of Los Angeles's medical centers.