Elia Kazan

Biography

Elia Kazan was a Greek-American director and actor born in Kayseri to Greek parents who emigrated to New York at four. He co-founded the Group Theater in 1932 and the Actors Studio in 1947, introducing Method acting as a new form of self-expression and psychological realism. His provocative films, including Gentleman's Agreement, influenced generations of filmmakers with their real locations, unknowns, and realistic portrayals of social issues.