Alan Mandell, the acclaimed actor known for his work on stage and screen, has died at the age of 98. The veteran actor passed away on Tuesday at his home in Westwood, Los Angeles, his family confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
“He was a brilliant manager and producer, which made him sought after for the way he could put on a production, run a theater company, run a business,” Daniel Segura, Mandell’s main assistant for the past 10 years, told The Hollywood Reporter.
“As an actor, he just had a lyricism to him that was poetic. Hearing him do Beckett, I was always blown away by his musicality. He could deliver it to an audience that all of a sudden got it.”
Born on December 27, 1927, in Toronto, Canada, Mandell spent decades building himself a remarkable career in theater, becoming one of the best-known interpreters of playwright Samuel Beckett’s work. His journey began in the early 1950s, and he would go on to perform in some of the most memorable productions of his career.
One of the most important moments came in 1957, when Mandell took part in a production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at San Quentin State Prison in California.
At the time, Mandell was a member of the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop, led by Jules Irving and Herbert Blau, and starred in the play portraying the slave Lucky.
He played Lucky in front of around 1,400 inmates. The production later helped inspire the creation of the San Quentin Drama Workshop, which Mandell co-founded with inmate Rick Cluchey. The two would go on to work with many actors inside the prison walls, helping them fulfill their dreams.
Esteemed actor Alan Mandell dies at 98
His connection with Beckett continued for years. He even worked directly with the Irish playwright, who helped direct him in productions of Waiting for Godot and Endgame.
In 2012, he received an Ovation Award, and Mandell’s connection with Waiting for Godot would never fade. In fact, last year, actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, who at the time were preparing to play Estragon and Vladimir in their revival of Waiting for Godot at the Hudson Theatre on Broadway, reached out to Alan Mandell for his expertise. They met in his home.
Although theater remained his greatest passion, Mandell also appeared in several films and television shows. Movie fans may remember him as Rabbi Marshak in the Coen brothers’ 2009 film A Serious Man. He also appeared in Shortbus and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
His television credits included roles in shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man, Cannon and Grey’s Anatomy. Even late in life, Mandell continued sharing his knowledge and experience with other performers. He recently offered advice to Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter ahead of their Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.
Important figure in the Los Angeles theater community
Mandell’s contribution to theater extended far beyond his own performances. He also helped shape the Los Angeles theater community as an actor, director and arts supporter.
He was married to Elizabeth Heller, who died in 1997. Mandell leaves behind two children and three grandchildren.
Rest in peace, Alan Mandell. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
Read more:
