Biografia
Al was born in Chicago and earned three degrees in Theatre Arts: a BA from Loyola University of Chicago, an MA from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
He joined Actors' Equity at age 20, working alongside Charlton Heston, Bert Lahr, and Barbra Britton at The Hinsdale Summer Theatre. He has performed in over 200 professional productions and directed more than 100.
His notable stage and film work includes collaborations with many prominent actors such as Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Zoe Caldwell, Linda Darnell, Jack Carson, Margaret O'Brien, Joan Van Ark, Marge Champion, Wendell Corey, Leo G. Carroll, Lillian Roth, Dean Martin, Donald Pleasance, Lynn Redgrave, Wayne Rogers, Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Blair Underwood, Delroy Lindo, Danny Glover, Sean Cassidy, Paul Winfield, John Ritter, Karen Morrow, John Kerr, Walter Abel, Nina Foch, Tony Plana, Diana Canova, Cindy Williams, Ed Asner, Hugh O'Brien, Tyne Daly, and Steve Allen, among many others.
He has been directed by and studied with distinguished figures including Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Harold Clurman, Kristin Linklater, Douglas Campbell, Martin Esslin, Gordon Davidson, Bill Bushnell, Ron Sossi, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, John Hough, Roger Rees, and Ray Danton.
Al is the author of two books about his most influential mentor, Tyrone Guthrie: Minneapolis Rehearsals: Tyrone Guthrie Directs Hamlet, which details the rehearsals for the inaugural production at The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, and Astonish Us in the Morning: Tyrone Guthrie Remembered, a collection of interviews with renowned actors and collaborators such as Lord Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guinness, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Sir Alec McCowen, Sir Anthony Quayle, Sir Robert Morley, Sir John Mills, Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Stella Adler, Tanya Moiseiwitsch, Coral Browne, Paul Rogers, Arthur Hill, George Grizzard, and Len Cariou.
He currently serves as the Head of Acting at LACC's Theatre Academy in Hollywood, the oldest continuous professional training program west of the Mississippi.
