P

Paton Price

actor

Born
May 2, 1916
Died
April 26, 1982
Age
65 years
Nationality
United States

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Paton Price, 65, American actor, director, and acting coach

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Paton Price (May 2, 1916 – April 26, 1982) was an American actor, director, and acting coach. After moving from his native Texas to New York City and performing on Broadway starting in the 1930s, he became an acting coach. First associated with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, he would work with Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures, and would help to develop the careers of actors such as Kirk Douglas, Colleen Dewhurst, Jean Seberg, and Dick Clark, among others.

Biography

Price was born in Evant, Texas on May 2, 1916. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in English and would move to New York City to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and participate in Broadway productions. This included productions such as Crime and Punishment with Sir John Gielgud.

By the 1940s, he would go on to teach at the Academy, teaching notable actors and actresses such as Douglas, Dewhurst, Jason Robards, and Don Murray, among others. He also directed theater productions in Ohio during this time. During this time, he also collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright and Eugene Masselink in attempting to build a new theater in Hartford, Connecticut. Called the New Theater after Wright's previous plans to build a theater of the same name in Woodstock, New York, the plan was abandoned due to local opposition, but the two remained on good terms.

Price would later move to Hollywood in the 1950s and teach various actors and actresses including Seberg, Clark, Kent McCord, Victoria Shaw, the Smothers Brothers, and Glenn Corbett. He would also go on to direct episodes of various television shows in the 1960s, such as 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and The Partridge Family.

Politically active and a devout pacifist, Price spent four years at Lewisburg Penitentiary Center due to his refusal to serve in the United States Armed Forces during World War II as a conscientious objector. His pacifism, along with his regard of acting as a mode of professing one's beliefs, deeply influenced his then-student Dean Reed.

Price would retire from teaching professionally in 1964 and retire to his ranch in Paso Robles, California. He died on April 26, 1982, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Tilly and a son. He was buried at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

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Sources

Trivia & Knowledge· 12 questions

Questions drawn from Paton Price's archived record and the sources above.

  1. 1.In which decade did Paton Price begin performing on Broadway?

    • A.1920s
    • B.1910s
    • C.1940s
    • D.1930scorrect

    Paton Price performed on Broadway starting in the 1930s.

    Source: career section

  2. 2.Which organization was the first to be associated with Paton Price as an acting coach?

    • A.Warner Bros.
    • B.Broadway Theatrical Guild
    • C.Columbia Pictures
    • D.American Academy of Dramatic Artscorrect

    Paton Price was first associated with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

    Source: career section

  3. 3.Which studio did Paton Price work with in addition to Columbia Pictures?

    • A.Warner Bros.correct
    • B.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
    • C.20th Century Fox
    • D.Paramount Pictures

    Paton Price worked with both Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures.

    Source: career section

  4. 4.Who is one of the actors whose career Paton Price helped develop?

    • A.Marlon Brando
    • B.Kirk Douglascorrect
    • C.James Dean
    • D.Paul Newman

    Kirk Douglas is listed as one of the actors whose career Paton Price helped to develop.

    Source: career section

  5. 5.Which actress did Paton Price help in her career development?

    • A.Audrey Hepburn
    • B.Marilyn Monroe
    • C.Colleen Dewhurstcorrect
    • D.Elizabeth Taylor

    Colleen Dewhurst is explicitly named as an actor Paton Price helped.

    Source: career section

  6. 6.Besides Kirk Douglas and Colleen Dewhurst, which of these actors did Paton Price help?

    • A.Gregory Peck
    • B.Rock Hudson
    • C.Frank Sinatra
    • D.Dick Clarkcorrect

    Dick Clark is mentioned as one of the actors developed by Paton Price.

    Source: career section

  7. 7.Jean Seberg is linked to which person in the text?

    • A.Paton Pricecorrect
    • B.Kirk Douglas
    • C.Colleen Dewhurst
    • D.Dick Clark

    Jean Seberg was one of the actors helped by Paton Price.

    Source: career section

  8. 8.What city did Paton Price move to from Texas?

    • A.New York Citycorrect
    • B.Boston
    • C.Chicago
    • D.Los Angeles

    Paton Price moved from Texas to New York City.

    Source: career section

  9. 9.Which career role did Paton Price hold after moving to New York City?

    • A.Acting coachcorrect
    • B.Screenwriter
    • C.Producer
    • D.Studio executive

    Paton Price became an acting coach after his time performing on Broadway.

    Source: career section

  10. 10.On what date did Paton Price die?

    • A.April 26, 1916
    • B.April 26, 1982correct
    • C.May 2, 1916
    • D.May 2, 1982

    Paton Price passed away on April 26, 1982.

    Source: biography opening

  11. 11.In which state was Paton Price born?

    • A.California
    • B.Illinois
    • C.New York
    • D.Texascorrect

    Paton Price was a native of Texas before moving to New York City.

    Source: biography introductory sentence

  12. 12.What was the birth date of Paton Price?

    • A.April 26, 1916
    • B.May 2, 1916correct
    • C.May 2, 1930
    • D.April 26, 1982

    Paton Price was born on May 2, 1916.

    Source: biography opening

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