Lee Strasberg, a legendary actor, director, and theatre instructor renowned for his influential, lifelong contributions to the world of theatre, died on February 17, 1982, at the age of 80. Strasberg was born in Austria-Hungary in 1901 and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1909. He attended City College of New York, then eventually found his way into acting, studying with renowned teachers and appearing in a variety of productions. One of his earliest successes as a director was the 1952 play The Immoralist. His fame as an acting coach reached a new level when he became artistic director of the Actors’ Studio in 1951 and developed the Method system of acting. This “Method,” as it became known, focused on emotional realism in order to create more emotionally truthful performances that could better draw an audience into the character’s experience. In addition to his teaching, Strasberg directed several successful films, including 1972’s The Godfather and 1977’s Deathtrap. He won numerous awards, including two Tony Awards and two Oscar nominations. He was honoured with an honorary lifetime membership in the Directors Guild of America. His legacy endures in the many actors who benefited from his powerful teaching and in his revolutionary approach to theatre. Strasberg’s death marks the end of an epoch in the theatre community.