Biografia
Caris Corfman, a former fellow student at Florida State University School of Theatre in the mid-1970s, was a beautiful and talented actress whose life took a tragic turn in 1993. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, she underwent four surgeries to remove the benign growth, which unfortunately resulted in a severe and irreversible disability. The part of her brain responsible for short-term memory was damaged, preventing her from memorizing new lines. Remarkably, she retained the ability to recite verbatim passages and monologues she had learned long before her operations.
In a remarkable comeback, Ms. Corfman returned to the stage after more than a decade at the Flea Theater in Lower Manhattan in October 2005. She performed a deeply moving and spiritually uplifting one-woman show titled "Caris' Peace," where she spoke about her life and illness, both before and after her diagnosis, using index cards to help maintain focus and continuity. As writer David Carr noted in an article about her performance, "Her performance is about why she can no longer perform." A documentary film titled "Caris' Peace" captures her story and personal struggles. It is clear that this extraordinarily brave woman never lost her passion and love for the stage.
Born in Boston in 1955, Caris arrived at FSU in the mid-1970s around the same time as I did. Her talent was evident from the beginning. Her performances ranged from a tender portrayal of Laura in "The Glass Menagerie" to a powerful role in a bold feminist production of "The Taming of the Shrew," where the actors swapped traditional gender roles. Caris played one of the transgendered parts with energy, poise, and skill. Sharing the cast was J. Smith-Cameron, another future leading New York actress. Caris's natural, vibrant beauty was striking—her head full of blonde ringlets, high cheekbones, and a quick, mischievous smile made her captivating. She had a magnetic presence that drew people in wherever she went.
After FSU, Caris continued her studies at the Yale School of Drama. She made her off-Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed 1978 production of "Wings," part of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival. She also received praise for her role as Emma in the Yale Repertory Theatre's 1980 production of "Curse of the Starving Class." One of her career highlights was originating the role of Katherina Cavalieri, Salieri's music student, in the original Broadway production of "Amadeus" (1980) starring Ian McKellen. Shortly thereafter, she took over the lead female role of Constanze Weber, Mozart’s wife, succeeding Jane Seymour. Throughout the 1980s, Caris showcased her versatility in numerous contemporary plays, including "Fish Riding Bikes," "The Sleep of Reason," "Filthy Rich," "Exact Change," "Fathers and Sons," "The Voysey Inheritance," "Dream of a Common Language," and "All This and Moonlight." She worked alongside notable actors such as David Groh and the distinctive Sylvia Miles in "Tea with Mommy and Jack"; David Strathairn in "The Cezanne Syndrome"; Robert Lansing, Barbara Barrie, and fellow FSU alum J. Smith-Cameron in "Mi Vida Loca"; Christian Slater in "Dry Land"; and Samuel L. Jackson and Jimmy Smits in "Native Speech." Caris was a guest artist at respected repertory theaters like Arena Stage and demonstrated strong classical skills in productions such as O’Neill’s "Anna Christie," Shakespeare’s "Henry IV Parts I and II," and Congreve’s "The Way of the World."
Although her film appearances were limited, her leading role in the British period drama "Dreamchild" (1985) stands out. The film starred Ian Holm as Lewis Carroll and Coral Browne as Alice Hargreaves, the inspiration for Carroll’s "Alice" stories. While television roles were few, it was the theater that was Caris’s true passion.
Her professional career ended after a role in the 1993 film "The Pickle," starring Danny Aiello. From that point forward, her life focused on recovery, rehabilitation, and survival. Though she could not remember someone she had just met, she clearly remembered me from our FSU days. I have always remembered her—her stunning beauty inside and out, her charisma, her exceptional talent, and her unwavering dedication to her craft. Her one-woman show became a testament to that dedication and, more importantly, to her belief that her life was not over but undergoing a profound transformation.
Caris passed away peacefully in her sleep from a stroke on January 13, 2007, at the age of 51. She remains deeply cherished by family, friends, and fellow actors whose lives she touched and inspired, and she is profoundly missed.
