Stanislavski, Konstantin (1863-1938), was the stage name of an influential Russian stage director. While most acting of the 1800’s was artificial, Stanislavski taught his actors to seem more natural onstage by recalling their own feelings and behavior in similar situations. They would then transfer those feelings to their characters. The Stanislavski method is the basis of most modern acting styles. See Method acting.
Stanislavski was born on Jan. 17, 1863, in Moscow. His real family name was Alexeyev. In 1898, he established the Moscow Art Theater with fellow director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko. The success of the theater and Stanislavski’s books on the Method, including An Actor Prepares (1926), revolutionized world acting. Stanislavski also wrote an autobiography, My Life in Art (1924). He died on Aug. 7, 1938.
