David Staller

Staller was born in Glencoe, Illinois. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, studied acting under Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen, and studied cello at the University of Southern California.{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/03/david-staller-robert-osborne-partner-boyfriend-who-is-married-dead-biography-broadway-director-producer-tcm/|title=David Staller, Robert Osborne's Partner: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|first=Daniel S.|last=Levine|date=March 6, 2017}}

His godmother was British actress Hermione Gingold. As a tribute to her, Staller named Gingold Theatrical Group after her.{{Cite web|url=http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/humanitarianism-g-b-shaw-and-the-gingold-theatrical-group/|title=The Gingold Theatrical Group- Peaceful Activism Lives|first=Alix|last=Cohen|date=November 22, 2017|website=Woman Around Town}}

As an actor, Staller's appearances on Broadway include Cabaret, where he originated the role of Ernst Ludwig in the 1987 revival, Evita, and Hello, Dolly!{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/David-Staller/|title=David Staller Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos|website=www.broadwayworld.com}}

Staller has made over 50 appearances Off-Broadway, including performances in Gas Light, for which he received a Drama League Citation for Distinguished Performer, Mrs. Warren's Profession, The Bald Soprano, and Hay Fever.{{Cite web|url=https://irishrep.org/show/2006-2007-season/gaslight/|title=Gaslight}}

Staller became the first person to direct all of George Bernard Shaw's 65 plays, including his last unfinished work, Why She Would Not, wherein Staller commissioned writers Israel Horovitz, David Cote, Michael Feingold, Jeremy McCarter and Robert Simonson to write their own endings to the piece.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/theater/02shaw.html|title=For Shaw's Last Play, Choice of Final Scenes|first=David|last=Belcher|newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 1, 2009}}

Staller has directed ten off-Broadway plays by George Bernard Shaw for Gingold Theatrical Group: The Devil's Disciple (2024), Arms and the Man (2023), Candida (2022), Mrs. Warren's Profession (2021), Caesar and Cleopatra (2019), Heartbreak House (2018), Widowers' Houses (2016), Major Barbara (2014), You Can Never Tell (2013) and Man and Superman (2012). All productions have been filmed by the New York Public Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatricalindex.com/person/david-staller|title=David Staller, Director, Adaptation, Performer|website=www.theatricalindex.com}}

Staller continues to write, particularly as a script doctor for several film and television production companies. He wrote his own one man show, Noel and Cole, which he performed at multiple venues, including Carnegie Hall.{{Cite journal |last=Dietrich |first=R. F. |date=2008 |title=David Staller's "Project Shaw" |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/2/article/256041/summary |journal=SHAW The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=239–243 |issn=1529-1480}} Using an extensive amount of research, Staller has adapted all of George Bernard Shaw's for Gingold Theatrical Group using Shaw's original hand-written manuscripts, letters, production scripts, notes, and in-person interviews with many of those who knew and worked with him including Maurice Evans, Robert Morely, Wendy Hiller, Rex Harrison, Deborah Kerr, and others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2014/10/21/the-shaw-must-go-on-david-staller-makes-the-case-for-the-writers-many-facets/|title=The Shaw Must Go On: David Staller Makes the Case for the Writer's Many Facets|first=Wendy|last=Smith|date=October 21, 2014|website=AMERICAN THEATRE}}

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In 2006, Staller founded Gingold Theatrical Group, a New York based theater company that presents works based on George Bernard Shaw's humanitarian precepts. They present monthly script-in-hand performances at New York City’s Symphony Space, produce off-Broadway productions, and partner with several New York educational programs.{{Cite web|url=https://gingoldgroup.org/about-us/|title=About Us | Gingold Theatrical Group|website=gingoldgroup.org|access-date=2020-02-06|archive-date=2020-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206173338/https://gingoldgroup.org/about-us/|url-status=dead}}

Staller has directed performances of all of Bernard Shaw’s 65 plays.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amny.com/entertainment/david-staller-q-a-on-george-bernard-shaw-s-first-play-with-project-shaw-1-11627568/|title=David Staller Q&A: On George Bernard Shaw's first play|first=Matt|last=Windman|website=amNewYork|date=28 March 2016 }}

Staller leads discussions on Shaw and human rights.{{Cite web|url=https://t2conline.com/project-shaw-brings-to-life-the-stepmother/|title=Project Shaw Brings to Life The Stepmother – Times Square Chronicles|date=24 July 2019 }}

Staller does voice-over work, radio and television campaigns, documentaries, and was a voice actor in David Chesky's animated musical film The Mice War.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4909250/characters/nm7966739|title=The Mice War (2017) – IMDb|via=www.imdb.com}}

Staller and Robert Osborne, a journalist and host of Turner Classic Movies, were in a relationship for 20 years prior to Osborne's death, in 2017; it was Staller who confirmed Osborne's death to the media.{{Cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2017/3/06/tcm-host-robert-osborne-dead-84-survived-same-sex-partner|title=TCM Host Robert Osborne Dead at 84; Survived by Same-Sex Partner|date=March 6, 2017|website=www.advocate.com}}

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Category:Living people

Category:American theatre directors

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American LGBTQ male actors

Category:1955 births