Actress Anna Strasberg, the third wife of the famous acting coach Lee Strasberg, passed away on January 6th at the age of 84. Her death was confirmed via Instagram by The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, which she co-founded, and where she served as its artistic director, promoting the teachings of her late husband, the legendary Lee Strasberg, known as Method acting.
As stated by a publicist for the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute to The Hollywood Reporter, Strasberg died Saturday in New York City of natural causes. “Anna ensured that The Institute became a beacon for aspiring actors and remains a cherished space for artistic exploration and growth,” a statement posted by the Institute said. “Her lifelong commitment to The Method and unwavering devotion to The Institute have left an indelible mark on the world of acting and the countless talented people she inspired. “Her presence will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on through The Method and every class of passionate students.”
When Marilyn Monroe passed away at age 36 in 1962, she left the majority of her estate to her acting coaches, Lee Strasberg and his second wife, Paula. Paula then passed away in 1966, and Anna and Lee married a year later, in 1967. Upon Lee’s death in 1982, Anna inherited Marilyn Monroe’s estate, and although Monroe stated in her will that she wanted her personal effects and clothing to go to friends and colleagues, in 1999, she commissioned Christie’s to auction off Monroe’s memorabilia. The auction included the famous gown Monroe wore when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in May 1962, and the baby grand piano that originally belonged to Monroe’s mother, which was sold to Mariah Carey. The auction, which occurred over two days, was labeled “The Sale of The Century,” amassing over $13 million.
Anna Strasberg was born Anna Mizrahi on April 16, 1939, in Caracas, Venezuela. She came to the U.S. in 1960, and worked at the United Nations as Special Assistant to Jeff Sparks in the Cultural Department, working directly under the supervision of Eleanor Roosevelt. Following her marriage to Lee, they both would represent the United States for the State Department, traveling to Germany, Russia, Buenos Aires and Italy.
Her artistic accolades in film and television include appearances in Stay Tuned for Terror (1965), The Rat Patrol (1966), in 1966 episodes of Run for Your Life and The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., and Riot on Sunset Strip (1967). Ms. Strasberg is survived by her sons, David (the current artistic director and CEO of the Strasberg Institute), and Adam, as well as her daughters-in-law Lindsey and Nora; her grandchildren Gwendolyn, Scarlett, Sawyer, Owen and Asher; her sisters Victoria and Elena; her nephew Sasha; and her goddaughter, Drew Barrymore.
