More About Gary Austin

Gary Austin is the founder and original director of THE GROUNDLINGS, Los Angeles' premier character-based improv company, which began in 1974.  Many of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'S actors and writers have come from THE GROUNDLINGS. He began his professional career as a performing member of San Francisco's famed improv company, THE COMMITTEE, where he worked with SECOND CITY'S Del Close. Gary holds a BA Degree in Theatre from San Francisco State University.

Gary conducts workshops and develops projects with actors and writers in Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Chicago. Colorado and Washington DC. He's a frequent guest-instructor at THE PIT in New York, at ARTISTIC NEW DIRECTIONS in New York, and at SECOND CITY in Chicago and New York. He also co-teaches with his wife, Wenndy MacKenzie, the highly regarded vocal coach.

Gary is developing theatre projects in New York, Seattle, Washington DC and Los Angeles, some of which are currently in production. He directs WORKS IN PROGRESS for Artistic New Directions in New York. "My purpose in presenting these original works is to help people develop projects of their own."  Gary directs his improvisational company AUSTIN'S DOG BREAD at the Groundling Theatre in Los Angeles.

Gary has performed his solo shows, "CHURCH," and "OIL" in New York, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Seattle, Washington DC, Woodstock, New York and Fort Collins, Colorado.

His students work throughout the world of entertainment as actors, singers, comedians, writers, directors and producers. Some notable artists to come from THE GROUNDLINGS are Lisa Kudrow, Will Ferrell, Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman), Laraine Newman, Kathy Griffin, Cheryl Hines, Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Maya Rudolph, Julia Sweeney, Phil LaMarr, Ana Gasteyer, Mindy Sterling, Wil Forte, Jennifer Coolidge, and the late Phil Hartman.

Gary's students include Oscar winner Helen Hunt, Jennifer Grey, Helen Slater, Lindsay Crouse (Oscar nominee), Tony winner Lillias White, the late Pat Morita (Oscar nominee), the late Jack Soo (BARNEY MILLER), Donna Summer, Loretta DeVine, Keith David, Mark Dacascos ( IRON CHEF AMERICA), Robert David Hall (CSI), Danielle Panabaker (SHARK, MR. BROOKS), Kay Panabaker (NO ORDINARY FAMILY), and Casey Wilson (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE).

Gary and his work have been featured on NPR's "Fresh Air," in major trades, and in several books, including "Acting Teachers of America" by Ronald Rand, "The Actors Guide to Qualified Acting Coaches" (both LA and NY) by Larry Silverberg, and "The Funniest One in the Room - The Lives and Legends of Del Close" by Kim "Howard" Johnson.

"I would like to thank my acting teachers, Lurene Tuttle, Gordon Hunt, Larry Moss, GARY AUSTIN, for giving me a way to learn about myself and the world and a way to express myself." -HELEN HUNT (Oscar Acceptance Speech)

"Working with Gary Austin, he's made me aware of everything in my daily life; it's made me freer as a performer to take more chances." -Tony Winner LILLIAS WHITE (as quoted in ACTING TEACHERS OF AMERICA by Ronald Rand)

Gary Austin has formed an alliance with award winning Deaf West Theatre in North Hollywood, California. Gary conducts workshops at Deaf West composed of both deaf and hearing actors. Deaf West's production of the musical, BIG RIVER, went to Broadway, followed by a national tour.

Gary helped to develop Paul Reubens' Pee Wee Herman character at The Groundlings.  THE PEE WEE HERMAN show is now on Broadway, with much of the original Groundling cast including, of course, Paul Reubens.