Synopses & Reviews
An intimate portrait of the award-winning TV show Inside the Actors Studio and James Lipton's life as its founder and host, this irresistible memoir offers behind-the-scenes close-ups of hundreds of celebrated artists.
Taking viewers behind the curtain at the world-renowned theatrical institution that has given America and the world two generations of legends, from Brando, Monroe, Dean, and Newman to Pacino, De Niro, Burstyn, Hoffman, and Nicholson, Inside the Actors Studio has delivered more than two hundred compelling craft interviews. Receiving twelve Emmy nominations in twelve years, and seen on the Bravo Network in more than 80 million homes and around the world in 125 countries, the series owes its reputation to the unique insights it offers into the celebrated skills and often intimate revelations of its guests, under the knowledgeable prodding of its host James Lipton. Now, with Inside Inside, Lipton hands all of us a backstage pass.
You'll witness Christopher Reeves's courage as he confronts the obstacles of his first television appearance after his accident; glimpse Harrison Ford, aka Indiana Jones, with a serious case of stage fright; and discover how Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese came up with the historic mirror scene in Taxi Driver, You'll laugh out loud as Lipton squares off with his Saturday Night Live doppelganger Will Ferrell, and then laugh even harder as Robin Williams and Mike Myers bring their rapier-sharp humor to the Inside stage.
Woven throughout are the events and adventures of Lipton's own life, including a childhood role on The Lone Ranger; acting classes with the legendary teachers Stella Adler, Harold Clurman, and Robert Lewis; and a flourishing career as a producer working with the likes of Bob Hope and the President of the United States. From his marriage to Kedakai Lipton (whose picture graces the Miss Scarlet card in the game of Clue), to celebrity-filled days and nights in New York, Paris, and London, this is the story of a life spent in the world of art and artists, and dedicated to the wide-ranging crafts of writing, acting, directing, and producing.
Inside Inside is a unique glimpse into a star-bedecked world. Its a sincere and passionate tribute to the arts and artists we admire. Its an invaluable primer for students of the theatrical arts. And its an utterly irresistible read.
Review
"The anecdotes from the fine actors who have appeared on Inside the Actors Studio and the manifold insights into the craftsmanship of acting together justify the purchase of this exemplary book. An unqualified hit among this season's theatrical offerings." Library Journal
Review
"There are great, colorful stories about every side of show business here. James Lipton lets it all go; his openness about himself, and artists of all stripes, is refreshing." Paul Newman
Review
"James Lipton is the most penetrating and compassionate interviewer I've ever known, but, more importantly, a terrific guy." Anthony Hopkins
Synopsis
A REVEALING BEHIND-THE-SCENES PORTRAIT OF THE AWARD-WINNING TV SHOW INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO AND ITS CREATOR AND HOST JAMES LIPTON Each week Inside the Actors Studio takes the unique insights and intimate revelations of its celebrated guests into 84 million homes on the Bravo network and 125 countries. Now, with Inside Inside, James Lipton, the 2007 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Emmy, is handing every one of us a backstage pass.
You will witness in unprecedented close-up the wit, wisdom and candor of a galaxy of stars, from Paul Newman to Barbra Streisand, Al Pacino, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Ellen Burstyn, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Martin Scorsese, Sharon Stone and many, many more, and marvel at the comic inventions of Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Will Ferrell as James Lipton on the Inside stage.
With the same candor he demands of his guests, James Lipton reveals a life that began under the tutelage of a poet, his father, and a teacher, his mother; continued in the orbit of three theatrical giants, Stella Adler, Harold Clurman and Robert Lewis; and, as writer and producer, took him to the White House with two presidents, the Great Wall of China with Bob Hope, and a wild flight at the controls of an Alaskan bush plane, on his journey to Inside the Actors Studio.
About the Author
James Lipton is the creator, executive producer, writer and host of Inside the Actors Studio, which is seen in 84 million homes in America on the Bravo network, and in 125 countries, and has received twelve Emmy nominations.