It seems that the phrase "in an undated photograph" is increasingly showing up in NYT obits. Those of us of a certain age want to know when these photographs were taken, and I think we'd prefer a mediocre photo with a date rather than a better one without it.
7
A very pompous prig but very enjoyable nonetheless.
3
I remember the episode with Will Smith, when an audience member asked Mr. Smith something like, could Mr. Lipton get jiggy with it? And Smith answered along the lines of, well, he could, but there'd better be an ambulance waiting nearby. The whole audience laughed, and so did Lipton. He took his jabs in style.
3
Glad to see Lipton led a good, long life. Much funnier and quirkier than he presented in the show, according to this obit. Sad, though, that the reporter can only think of "smart" actors as male. Glad that was not Lipton's approach.
7
His persona included all of the traits of critics accuse him and it worked to allow him to move perspective as needed in the interview, while never making it about him. He sure could have taught Chris Matthew a lot! He brought out the real person he interviewed, with insight, intelligence, respect, experience, and dry wit. Would that there was someone close to his approach and talent in this selfie world of 'Entertainment tonight'.
9
I once met Mr. Lipton at the old Barnes and Nobles bookstore in Lincoln Square. He was very down-to-earth and friendly. He seemed like a very nice man.
About a decade ago, I read his book "Inside Inside." It was a great revelation about aspects of his life and had summaries of very many of his interviews with the great performers and movie-makers. If only there was someone as good to have interviewed him.
14
What, no mention of Stefan Gentles, the warden of Orange County Prison and would-be suitor of Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development? Only one man dared call him a coward--and that man, my friends, was Brian Doyle-Murray. (RIP, James Lipton)
2
I enjoyed Mr. Lipton on the show and off, including his reaction to the send-ups of him on SNL. He happily played along with these friendly jabs and, to me, that is a sign of real class. Being able to laugh at yourself is a much-underrated, endearing quality. Are you listening, Mr. Trump?
13
I was always amazed at the amount of research Mr. Lipton must have done prior to interviewing his guests. He had such an enormous amount of personal information and insight about them that it often caught the interviewee off-guard. It provided, however, for an enormously entertaining interview. He was a master interviewer, resulting in many personal (and sometime) emotional responses and revelations from his guests. More recently, Inside the Actors Studio has not been the same without him.
7
One. Of the more enjoyable aspects for me was the audience. It. WAS “inside the actors’ studio” and the eager faces of the students in the audience and their intelligent questions were an important part of the program.
6
Please, please, please include mention of his wonderful, and completely idiosyncratic book “An Exaltation of Larks”. This compendium of terms of venery has been a source of unalloyed joy at the natural poetry of English.
4
@L. Adams, yes!
1
just this past Sunday , I was with a friend and she had on Inside the Actor's Studio on Ovation. Both of us , said we missed James Lipton, his shows were so much better than what is put out now.
4
An Exaltation of Larks is not technically about the etymology of the terms, it is a compendium of collective nouns "a parliament of owls) " a pride of lions" an "ostentation of peacocks," a "smack of jellyfish," and a "murder of crows".
1
The Actor’s Studio was a great show to watch with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket. But it wouldn’t have been as good without Mr. Lipton. May he RIP.
4
What I always thought was so incredibly unique and different with this show was that every interview was a masters class in acting held in an auditorium, filled with aspiring actors.
While "Inside the Actors Studio" was great entertainment for us folks at home, watching from our easy chairs and recliners, every interview held invaluable learning tools and lessons for the many students in attendance.
I was always impressed that so many big name actors would take time from their busy schedules to talk and meet and discuss with not just James Lipton, but also the students of their many varied experiences as an actor.
I can think of no one else other than James Lipton who could have successfully pulled off such a successful and enjoyable encounter, week after week after week.
14
Great showman, smart interviewer. I didn't always understand what he said (English is my second language), but he was most enjoyable, smart and kind to the people he interviewed.
3
What a great person and show. I looked forward to seeing each and hearing those interesting questions.
2
Wow, gone.
3
Being a great interviewer requires listening with humble humane empathy to the human answers to your questions.
Lipton was clearly a master of that craft in a profession designed for masking your personal individual emotional, mental and physical reality behind and nside of a character.
Being an insider aka actor and writer certainly helped him.
16
What a loss...I will miss the intellectual content he brought to television and the acting profession in general. A class act...
12
He was brilliant and it was a very refreshing show. Just two people and a table. Not a lot of trimmings. That style will not exist again.
12
Enjoyable show,real gentleman,just an education for the people watching must of been helpfulfor people in that field starting out.
4
James Lipton’s interviews were designed for a grown up audience interested in a serious profile of the guest rather than the usual stuff designed for half witted gossip addicted audience. He got the best out of his guests because the guests were treated like real people rather than “stars.”
My favorite interview..,,Robin Williams. Lipton would ask a question and Williams would answer it, spontaneously, as only Williams could. A true genius....and Lipton sat back and let Williams demonstrate it to the world.
I wish there were more Liptons.
20
When I heard about his death, Robin Williams immediately came to mind. Unforgettable hour with two unforgettable gentlemen.
1
@SAH Similarly, the Mike Myers interview. Chevrons! I have never laughed harder nor been so impressed with spontaneous creativity. Can't think of another interviewer with the ability to create a space for the interviewees to feel so free to just let it all hang out.
2
The interview with Robin Williams is the funniest, wittiedy television I can remember, and I'm having a hard time remembering any movie, show, or performance I've ever seen that was funnier.
2
What has stayed with me maybe more than others (except Paul Newman's early interview) was John Travolta.
I saw a gentle man, a thoughtful and polite man who described the hard work that went into dancing, and I realized he'd been put through no fault of his own into a category of shallow and studly when he was truly an actor of great depth and kindness.
7
Mr. Lipton never engaged in gossip. He only asked the actors about their process of approaching a role. I believe that is why a lot of actors appeared on the show. And that's why he was such a class act and great interviewer.
14
I was never a big fan of Faye Dunaway. I thought she was a great actress but somehow her personality irritated me UNTIL I saw her on Inside The Actors Studio. James Lipton brought something out in her and I was completely smitten. That was his genius.
11
@Buzzardbob
I had a similar opinion of Ms Dunaway until I say the same interview. Yes, you are so right about Mr. Lipton's ability to ask the questions and then let the guest respond. I was amazed at Ms. Dunaway's candour. I have the upmost respect for her now. I couldn't wait until Mr. Lipton's next show. I truly miss his style. Rest in Peace Janes.
5
"Inside" never failed to entertain. It was a real gem.
14
I wish Ovation could obtain and replay the first few seasons of "Inside The Actor's Studio". His interviews with Paul Newman, Shelly Winters and others were insightful classics. RIP James Lipton.
26
A real class act. Rest In Peace, Mr. Lipton.
15
This is really sad news. Inside the Actor's Studio was a great show for James Lipton's interviews, but also for the opportunity it gave actors and writers in training to participate by asking the superstars of stage and screen their own questions, a format which so often provided occasion for great hilarity as well as a sobering degree of honesty concerning a career choice only the very boldest and most fearless among us will ever wholeheartedly pursue.
19
The only thing better than his interviews were Will Ferrell's impersonation of them. Funny!
6
"...he kept the discussion on an intellectual plane. . . . Nonetheless, the show became a hit."
Oh my aching yesteryear.
34
Before Will Ferrell 's Lipton was Dan Aykroyd's critic, Leonard Pinth-Garnell ("Stunningly ill-advised!"), and Aykroyd's send up of Vincent Price. Could never get the two Aykroyd creations out of my mind while watching Lipton. Though hats off to Ferrell's prat fall with the chair, its own cow bell of a moment.
2
This is a wonderful obituary for James Lipton, and it brings back many memories of his hosting some great television. Although a fan of Lipton, I had no idea of the breadth of his experience or his entrepreneurial talent which actually saved Actors Studio.
The only television personality who exuded the same kind of knowledgeable charm as James Lipton came more than a decade earlier. His name was Alistair Cooke, a British broadcaster who became an American.
Like James Lipton, Alistair Cooke was lampooned and satirized frequently, and like Lipton he enjoyed the humor and played along. There is no substitute for style.
35
Another exceptional man and brilliant at what he did. Listened to many of his "Letter From America" weekly radio broadcasts which were insightful and unique. His America television series very well made and narrated. Used to watch James years ago and delighted you recognised and noted the similarities found in two classy men. A lovely contribution to the discussion. RIP James.
1
If we live in the best of times and the worst of times, James Lipton, with his understanding of the world of basically the theatre and all that comes with it, is a glowing and glamorous part of the best of time. I liked him and hope he rests in peace.
18
He and Robert Osborne were two of my favorites to watch and listen to. Both had a unique manner in picking out what mattered in the movie business.
21
@A reader
I watch a movie on TCM almost every day and Robert Osborne is often on my mind. Last night I watched the film Laura, and I know it was Mr. Osborne's favorite.
5
Great comments. Who owns these? A great series for PBS.
15
Every episode is a master class in interviewing and the lost art of really listening to people. For performance artists, Mr. Lipton’s work will always be an incredible resource on talent, inspiration and craft. #RIP
28
They just don't make 'em like James Lipton anymore.
There is such a shortage of elegance, class, style, intelligence and confidence across the board, regardless the profession.
You will be equally remembered as you will be missed by so many. Godspeed Mr. Lipton.
28
Well written, but with one acceptable, but notable omission. As a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild Conversations series "Jimmy Lipton" (as we knew him from the soap opera world) regularly attended since its inception. After one particularly compelling interview on stage at SAG HQ with F. Murray Abraham, I spoke to the other organizers lamenting the event was not captured on tape for posterity (all such are now recorded and sent to the SAG library). Mr. Lipton was greatly interested in this concept, and what became his famous show was largely modeled after what his fellow actors had been doing (and developing) for 6 years prior to his show's debut. He did his show very well. Ours continues at the Robin Williams Center on West 54th under the guise of the relatively newly formed Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
16
Wow....what a great life lived, while leaving a wonderful legacy. I had no idea of the extent of his activities outside of the show until reading the obits now appearing online. A real survivor in the arts and a Renaissance man on both sides of the camera as well as in academia. Bravo, maestro, you took the life you were given and ran with it.
22
My favorite thing about his show was that discussions were always about the craft. He did not dwell on personal issues or gossip. Always about the craft.
I always learned something by watching his show.
RIP.
47
We should have a special place such as “National Treasure” personalities such as Mr. Lipton, Mrs Julia Child, Ms Aretha Franklin, and many of those amazing human beings that brought happiness to our lives.
44
Rest In Peace. I used to love watching him interview. So charismatic and warm.
24
James Lipton was such a brilliant host. He knew how to bring out the very best in every guest. He knew when to simply sit and listen and allow his guest to expound on something or in the case of Robin Williams, allowed his genius to unfold in Robin's own unique way.
My two favorite parts of his show were the same questions he asked each guest at the close of his interview but before opening the questions up to the audience. And the second part was the music composed by Angelo Badalamenti. It held such a bittersweet and tender melody. I can't help but hear it in my head as I read the wonderful obit by Jo Caven McGinty.
James Lipton was a class act and will be deeply missed.
Thank you NYT for showcasing this wonderful man.
I will miss him dearly.
68
The author missed mentioning Lipton’s iconic interview with Dave Chappelle, where Dave basically gave the studio audience a lecture on the dark side of celebrity. Also his interview with Robin Williams was simply amazing in that it allowed for an illustration of Robins genius.
31
I enjoyed the show, but one thing that bothered me was Lipton's attitude about cute female starlets. For them, his voice would assume a cute, baby-talky, ooey-gooey inflection that was so patronizing I couldn't keep listening.
11
Thank you, James Lipton, for ennobling public discourse at a time when many talk show hosts were dragging it lower.
As the old aphorism goes, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Approach an interviewee confrontationally, you can expect them to retreat within themselves; treat them sympathetically, and they'll WANT to share their innermost secrets with you.
Some may have called that 'unctuous'; I call it basic human decency.
May you rest in peace, sir.
42
R.I.P., Mr. Lipton. You have been and will be sorely missed.
17
I love that book, and have given it as a gift to several people. I was also fond of his brief turn as the prison warden in "Arrested Development". Sad day.
9
Rest in peace.
Great interviewer.
Loved the old show/interviews (before actors rehearsed their answers to sound cool).
14
Such a delightful show . I loved when he turned to the audience, saying nothing, after a surprising comment or
revelation from the guest. He brought out the best in them.
Bernard Pivot whose questionnaire was really Proust's originally, invited Lipton to the final episode of his wonderful show Bouillon de Culture. You could see that Lipton was thrilled sitting among the who's who of French culture.
15
Eternal rest, James Lipton, a class act in every respect. Thanks for the memories.
This viewer will never forget Robert De Niro's answer to one of Mr. Lipton's reliably revealing questions, about the guest's expected first thought upon entering the afterlife:
"Well, if God exists, He's got a lot of explaining to do."
31
A true gentleman and a genius. I have played his interview with Robin Williams for my grandsons and they roar with laughter every time. Hope the two are having tea or gin and tonic in heaven tonight.
46
RIP. Mr. Lipton was a consummate professional. Prepared and brought the best out of the subjects of his interviews. Kind and compassionate, yet direct without being condescending.
22
Inside the Actors Studio did more to dignify and uplift the art of acting and the actors within it than anything else I have seen or read. I.m.o., Lipton's chief accomplishment was in destroying the myth that actors are less intellectual and less smart than non-actors -- especially given the fact that in almost all of the interviews I saw (which were many), the actors had not only not attended college, but many had also not finished high school. Their insights into life were brilliant -- on the order of the greatest poets from the 16th through 20th centuries. Secondarily, Lipton was able to showcase many other talents these actors had pursued or were pursuing -- music, dance, studio art, musical composition, writing, and directing. I hope that the show will always remain accessible to the public. Thank you, sir, for your gift to the art community.
33
Old fashioned interviews in a relaxed setting. Mr.Lipton never competed with his guests and always allowed them the freedom to fairly and fully express themselves. Wonderful memories. He will be missed. RIP. Mr. Lipton.
30
@Milton Lewis
your fellow hamiltonian brian linehan did much the same thing in pre internet days when it was hard to get info at the drop of a hat.
he seemed to get every important actor&director alive at that time.
2
@brupic You are absolutely correct. Thank you for remembering.
@Milton Lewis
no problem. you know who i am, right? harold's son. saw you at fortino's a while ago.
I've never laughed so hard in my life as during his interview with Robin Williams. I also immensely enjoyed it when he let Kevin Spacey perform his impressions of Al Pacino & Christopher Walken, to mention but a few.
18
What a gentleman. My wife and I loved "Inside" and Lipton's ability to reveal the everyman at the core of genuinely great actors. I would never have guessed he was 20 years my senior.
23
Years ago, Inside the Actors Studio was our sole reason for subscribing to cable TV.
27
I’m just amazed that he was 93. Could of fooled me.
78
I know right? That means he was in his late seventies in the photos!
5
HAVE. Could HAVE fooled you.
7
we lost a good human there...
21
I loved that we learned so much about Lipton's guests' histories, foibles, demons, loves, and aspirations. He humanized them and in turn was humanized, too. Godspeed, Jim Lipton.
And as an English teacher, I must applaud this paragraph, redundancy notwithstanding: "Mr. Lipton was also one of the most castigated talk-show hosts on television. Critics described him variously as pompous, sycophantic, unctuous, oleaginous and obsequious."
23
@LARS A rich vocabulary potpourri, indeed! Love it.
11
All due respect, but Mr. Lipton made interviews with amazing performing artists almost unwatchable with what I in all honesty can only describe as his groveling flattery.
10
@Arthur Lundquist
I respectfully disagree, because (see my other comment here upon approval) Lipton let the actors speak for themselves. Whether he introduced them with flattery or not was immaterial to me, because when they spoke, they themselves revealed their perceptiveness and creativity.
34
@Arthur Lundquist
With the utmost respect Mr. Lundquist, while James Lipton may have appeared as if he was "groveling in his flattery" when interviewing his plethora of professional actors, I firmly believe he was as star struck as many people are when in the presence of shear genius like Robin Williams, Paul Newman, Meryl Streep and Steven Spielberg - just to name a few.
I also firmly believe he admired their talents and knew how to direct the interview in which the actor set the tone and shared as much or as little as they were comfortable with Mr. Lipton and his audience.
I never saw one interview in which Mr. Lipton tried to "set up" an actor to either embarrass or shock them into revealing something overly personal. His question were never controversial. He had a knack at making his guests feel comfortable and welcomed.
But then, I never appreciated nor saw the magic in the Three Stooges, so I guess in the end, to each his or her own.
24
@Arthur Lundquist I have to agree, with respect. He must have been doing something right to get all his mega-star guests to appear, perhaps because he always acted the fawning, star-struck host.
4
Just a few weeks ago watched Arrested Development, where he hilariously played a prison warden for a few episodes. He never seemed to take himself too seriously - a lesson we can all benefit from. RIP!
22
NO ONE in that show could take themselves too seriously: Charlize Theron, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Liza Minelli, Scott Baio, Carl Weathers, Tommy Tune . . . & many others. That’s why I love it.
2
And his interview of Dave Chapell. The best.
12
While pompous, I did enjoy his interview questions.
RIP sir.
7
@The Deli Rama (Ham on Wry) You are SO fortunate ! And I absolutely love your nom de plume.
3
I truly enjoyed "Inside the Actor's Studio."
I never knew how funny Clint Eastwood is until I saw Mr. Lipton's interview of him.
And I laughed until I cried during his interviews of Robin Williams and Mike Meyers.
Now he knows the answer to the question "If you ever get to heaven, what do you hope to hear God say?"
BTW, I think, in Mr. Lipton's case, it was "Here is a fresh stack of blue cards. What do you want to know?"
29
@VB
Let me check with my people and I'll get back to you on that.
Mr. Lipton was one of the best interviewers around. He was able to elicit some surprising comments and insights from his subjects. I enjoyed watching him work and knowing how deeply he cared about the craft of acting.
You can't think about Mr. Lipton and not remember the wonderful questions he'd ask his subjects based on Bernard Pivot's questions. It was charming. Who doesn't want to utter their favorite curse word on national television?
And finally, there was the ever-present stack of blue cards amassed from all of his research. Who does that these days?
Mr. Lipton, we were in on the joke. We loved you.
19
I attended Jim Lipton's earlier New School "classes" when he first began the series. I remember taking copious notes during the (mostly) two-hour sessions (still have the comp books filled with insights). Lipton got his guests (at the time, he also included writers and directors, like Neil Simon and Arthur Penn) to talk in-depth about their craft. Along with Simon and Penn, I got to sit down front and "converse" with many, like Dennis Hopper, Matthew Broderick, Sally Field, and Robert Redford. I remember sitting near Norman Mailer, who attended Hopper's interview. Jim Lipton started it all, did it best, and will be sorely missed.
86
Really enjoyed James Lipton’s show and other projects, of which there were many. Great loss to the theatre and movies.
17
We loved that he was pompous and personified all those other adjectives that are quoted in the obituary (many of which I never heard of before). How could his obituary miss his connection with France, and his award of the Republic's Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, in 2016. A big omission, me thinks.
46
This is sad, indeed.
Mr Lipton understood actors and his empathy sometimes came across as sycophantic— which it wasn’t in truth!
After Dick Cavett (whose shows I still watch), he was the only interviewer/host who got actors to reveal their core and personalities. And talk about their craft in their own way— not what others think but how they do what they do!
51
Loved Inside The Actor’s Studio. Mr. Lipton was droll, charming and well prepared in his interviews. He focused on art and craft rather than gossip. How refreshing. Rest In Peace.
67
I was fortunate enough to attend the taping of his interview with Terri Hatcher when I was a student at Pace University. A consummate gentleman, Mr. Lipton's conversation with Ms. Hatcher was incredibly thoughtful, illuminating, and informative. He will be missed.
20
I enjoyed watching his shows, but never saw them in real-time, only on YouTube.
His mannerisms were odd, but not that odd for a self-confident intellectual, somewhat reminiscent of what Oscar Wilde would sound like in a funny mood. At times he seemed to be mocking himself, esp. when fiddling with his ever-present blue cards.
The thing I liked least about him what his beard, but his mind sparkled.
7
One of the great moments: Mr. Lipton's interview of Robert DeNiro, and there's a young unknown acting student, a few rows back in the audience, hanging on every word. I guess some of Mr. DeNiro's insights stuck - the kid was none other Bradley Cooper!
80
A gentleman from another era. You can't find this type of well versed and intelligent people anymore.
From the few shows I have seen, I liked the one with Dustin Hoffman. The agony to make it and do your job well when they were discussing the Graduate it still inspires me.
RIP Mr. Lipton.
You may come in through the door
32
I’ve been an avid fan of Inside the Actor’s studio since it premiered in 1994, largely due to Mr. Lipton’s unique manner of interview. You could tell how much actors appreciated his interest in their craft and this translated clearly onscreen to the viewer at home. Only Elwy Yost came close to Mr. Lipton’s style. What a loss to the teaching world. An even greater loss to the acting world. I can only hope that his legacy will live on.
28
James Lipton was one of a kind, a superb interviewer with vast knowledge of all aspects of the entertainment industry - both theater and film. Although a bit quirky, I always enjoyed his interviews. Condolences to his family and James, God may truly have had the last laugh!
28
I watched so many times...I thought his style unique and greatly contributed to so many wonderful interviews. Hope someone picks up the reruns...I would watch them all again...it was his talent...
49
Great, clever line to end the obit!
Also, he was married to Nina Foch?! Wow. She played the wealthy art collector in "An American in Paris," trying to court the Gene Kelly character.
Thank you for an interesting obit.
23
@Francine
I didn't know he was married to Nina Foch either. I loved her in Executive Suite, which had an amazing cast including William Holden, Frederic March, and Barbara Stanwyck. I believe this is the film Ms. Foch received her Oscar nomination for.
2
@jeanne maiden
Thanks for sharing the good factoids with all of us. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Foch
I will always remember his interviews with Robin Williams. James left his ego behind and let Robin show how interactive and brilliant his creativity was. I will miss him.
61
@AD
I thinktha interviw with Robin Wlliams, bwas one of Lipton's best, because he made itone of Robin's best. I too saw these shows only on you Tube, I hope they will be archived and in re-runs, for educaton of both dramatic arts students and for politicians.
4
His videos were a Master Class to me. If one had enough training or basic actor's instinct (and maybe even that wasn't necessary) to understand the acting craft concepts being discussed, the simplest offhand comment might often contain the most important of teachings.
I lost track of the number of times his guest, when asked "How important is it to you to listen to your scene partner", would simply answer "It's everything" as they moved on to the next question.
38
I loved this show so much and still remember episodes with some of my favorite actors, artists. He was a wonderful interviewer; despite his quirks, he had an incredible talent for getting his guests to open up and reveal themselves. RIP Mr Lipton.
35
I enjoyed watching Mr. Lipton's interview with Dave Chappelle several years back. He was also a great and frequent guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
11
I loved his show. He was great!
13
He got his guests to open up, without being the subject of the conversation, and that's what a good host does. In fact that's what a good president should do. Trump fails.
14
@Andrew Macdonald
You nailed why Lipton was a good host. His interviews should be studied by anyone who has to do interviews.
I didn't watch the show often but my favorites are his illuminating interviews of Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross and that of Robin Williams which was so funny that Lipton could not keep his usual straight face.
19
He was funny, perceptive and always entertaining. James will be missed!
74
@Mary Pat : Absolutely one of the best interviewers, ever!
4