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Geoffrey Horne

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For the British author of detective stories, see Gil North.
Geoffrey Horne
Geoffrey Horne in Esterina (1959)
Born (1933-08-22) August 22, 1933 (age 91)
US Embassy, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Occupation(s)Actor, acting coach
Years active1955–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1958; div. 1962)​
Children9[1]

Geoffrey Horne (born August 22, 1933) is an American actor, director, and acting coach at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. His film and television credits include The Bridge on the River Kwai, Bonjour Tristesse, The Strange One, Two People, The Twilight Zone (episode "The Gift", 1962), and The Outer Limits (as Wade Norton in "The Guests" episode, 1963).

Early life

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Horne was born in Buenos Aires on August 22, 1933,[2] to American parents (his father was a businessman in the oil trade). When he was five, he went to live with his mother in Havana. Ten years later, he was sent to "a little school in New England for troubled children," in his words.[3] He attended the University of California, where he decided to be an actor.[3]

Career

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Horne moved to New York where he appeared in an off-Broadway flop, then began to get regular work on television, including an adaptation of Billy Budd. He also joined the Actors Studio.[3]

In July 1956, he successfully auditioned for a small role in The Strange One (1957), whose cast was composed entirely of Actors Studio alumni.[4] The film was not a huge hit but was widely acclaimed; it marked the film debut of Ben Gazzara and George Peppard.[5] The film was produced by Sam Spiegel, who then cast Horne in a role in The Bridge on the River Kwai in January 1957.[6]

Spiegel signed Horne to a long term contract - one film per year for five years. "I know Sam wouldn't send me down the river," said Horne. "He's a man of great taste and talent. And the best of the independents to be linked up with, what with all the old-time studio executive types on the way out...I'm not sure I have what it takes to be a star...Time will tell."[3]

Otto Preminger borrowed him for a role in Bonjour Tristesse but he made no further films with Spiegel.[7] He then made Tempest in Yugoslavia.[8]

A life member of the Actors Studio,[9] Horne was almost cast as Bud Stamper in Splendor in the Grass by director Elia Kazan, but the role eventually went to Warren Beatty.[10]

In 1980, he appeared in a New York production of Richard III.[11] In 1981, he joined the cast of Merrily We Roll Along, and became the oldest cast member.[12] He appeared as Dr. Bird in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial produced by the Stamford Center for the Arts in 1983.[13]

Selected filmography

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Theatre

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References

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  1. ^ "Geoffrey Horne | LSTFI Faculty".
  2. ^ Lamparski, Richard (1985). Whatever Became of ... ? All New Ninth Series: 100 Profiles of the Most Asked about Personalities from Television Series, Documentaries, and Movies. Crown. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-517-55541-5. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Thompson, Howard (25 January 1958). "Horne Minus the Blues: Level-Headed Young Actor Hits Mark After Appearing in Three Pictures". The New York Times. p. 5.
  4. ^ Godbout, Oscar (July 16, 1956). "Disney Will Film Novel About Dog: Buys Rights to 'Old Yeller'-- Production Team Changed for 'Red Nichols Story' Fox to Release 55-mm. Film Of Local Origin Syria Bans 'South of Algiers'". The New York Times. p. 17.
  5. ^ Nelson, George (July 29, 1956). "Focusing on New Faces: 'End as a Man' Serves as First Movie Stint for Young Director and Cast Gambling Man Like Old Times at Work". The New York Times. p. 5.
  6. ^ Pryor, Thomas M. (January 28, 1957). "6 FILMS PLANNED BY AM-PAR CORP.: $3,000,000 Will Be Invested in Medium-Budget Movies During Next Half Year Of Local Origin". The New York Times. p. 18.
  7. ^ "Fox Buys Novel". The New York Times. 24 June 1957. p. 19.
  8. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (June 20, 1958). "Ritz Will Become Legit House Again: Zevin Takes Two-Year Lease; Edith Piaf Biography Planned". Los Angeles Times. p. 21.
  9. ^ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN 978-0025426504.
  10. ^ Fonda, Jane (2009-04-09). "From Emma Willard to Lee Strasberg All in One Night". Jane's Blog. Retrieved 2012-12-12. "He and I auditioned together for Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass for the roles that Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood eventually ended up with."
  11. ^ Shepard, Richard F. (August 11, 1980). "Theater: Michael Moriarty as Richard III". The New York Times. p. C17.
  12. ^ "Geoffrey Horne Joins 'Merrily' Cast; Geoffrey Horne Joins 'Merrily We Roll Along'". The New York Times. 13 Nov 1981. p. C34.
  13. ^ Gussow, Mel (January 21, 1983). "THEATER: 'CAINE MUTINY'". The New York Times. p. C4.
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