Irene Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Irene Gilbert was an German
-born American
actress and school director, who co-founded the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles
with actress Joanne Linville in 1985. She also served as the Academy's director for approximately 20 years after the school's establishment.
Gilbert was born Irene Liebert in Germany on August 25, 1934. She immigrated to New York City
with her parents, Gaston and Lucie Liebert, just before the outbreak of World War II
. Her parents were killed by a drunk driver when she was just five years old. She was raised by her aunt and her four older brothers.
She changed to name to Irene Gilbert when she began her acting
career, because she reportedly felt that Gilbert seemed "movie-star-esque." Her acting career extended into the late 1980s. Her television
credits included roles in Cannon
, Barnaby Jones
and Emergency!
in the 1970s.
Gilbert became friends with New York City-based acting coach, Stella Adler
, during the 1960s. In 1985, Gilbert and actress Joanne Linville pursued Adler to open a branch of the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles. Gilbert, Linville and Adler are considered the school's co-founders. Gilbert who also serve as the school's director for twenty years.
A fire at the school, which was originally located in a small theater at Hollywood Boulevard
and Argyle Avenue, forced the school's temporary closure in 1991. The school's building was further threatened with demolition
to make way for a proposed subway line at the time of Stellar Adler's death in 1992.
Gilbert moved and reopened the school in 1994 at a building which was once the Embassy Club, a private club during the 1930s located at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. She continued to teach acting at the school and produce stage productions. The Steallar Academy of Acting and Theater in Los Angeles has named one of its theaters, the Irene Gilbert Theatre, in honor of her contributions.
Irene Gilbert died at her son's home in Eureka, California
, of complications from Alzheimer's disease
on May 21, 2011, at the age of 76. She was survived by her son, Randall Garrett Herzon.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and school director, who co-founded the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with actress Joanne Linville in 1985. She also served as the Academy's director for approximately 20 years after the school's establishment.
Gilbert was born Irene Liebert in Germany on August 25, 1934. She immigrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with her parents, Gaston and Lucie Liebert, just before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Her parents were killed by a drunk driver when she was just five years old. She was raised by her aunt and her four older brothers.
She changed to name to Irene Gilbert when she began her acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
career, because she reportedly felt that Gilbert seemed "movie-star-esque." Her acting career extended into the late 1980s. Her television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
credits included roles in Cannon
Cannon (TV series)
Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976.The primary protagonist was the title character, Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad....
, Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones is a television detective series starring Buddy Ebsen and Lee Meriwether as father- and daughter-in-law who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles. A spin-off from Cannon, the show ran on CBS from January 28, 1973 to April 3, 1980, beginning as a midseason replacement...
and Emergency!
Emergency!
Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
in the 1970s.
Gilbert became friends with New York City-based acting coach, Stella Adler
Stella Adler
Stella Adler was an American actress and an acclaimed acting teacher, who founded the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles with long-time protege Joanne Linville, who continues to teach and furthers Adler's legacy...
, during the 1960s. In 1985, Gilbert and actress Joanne Linville pursued Adler to open a branch of the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles. Gilbert, Linville and Adler are considered the school's co-founders. Gilbert who also serve as the school's director for twenty years.
A fire at the school, which was originally located in a small theater at Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
and Argyle Avenue, forced the school's temporary closure in 1991. The school's building was further threatened with demolition
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
to make way for a proposed subway line at the time of Stellar Adler's death in 1992.
Gilbert moved and reopened the school in 1994 at a building which was once the Embassy Club, a private club during the 1930s located at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. She continued to teach acting at the school and produce stage productions. The Steallar Academy of Acting and Theater in Los Angeles has named one of its theaters, the Irene Gilbert Theatre, in honor of her contributions.
Irene Gilbert died at her son's home in Eureka, California
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, of complications from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
on May 21, 2011, at the age of 76. She was survived by her son, Randall Garrett Herzon.