Jack Clay

Jack DeWayne Clay was an actor, and acting teacher whose drama proteges included Oscar and Pulitzer Prize winners. A pillar in forming professional theatrical training at universities, Jack was the esteemed teacher and mentor to many great actors and actresses. Among his best-known students were Kathy Bates, Powers Boothe, Patricia Richardson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Beth Henley, Hugh O'Gorman, Dylan Baker, Sandra Santiago, Regina Taylor, hit playwright Jeff Heifner and Jeffrey Nordling, who most recently starred in the HBO hit Big Little Lies with Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. Jack's sole on-camera performance was as Professor Ogilvy which he perfectly portray in Pendragon Pictures' authentically adapted film of H. G. Wells classic novel War of the Worlds titled "War Of The Worlds The True Story" directed by Timothy Hines and produced by Susan Goforth. "I was a teen actress in Seattle when Jack was head of the Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington and I was smitten with his productions," remembers actress, writer and producer Susan Goforth. "I called Jack up and humbly asked him to audition for our epic series "Chrome" and we instantly bonded over our passion for the love of language and the mastery of such. Timothy Hines and Jack became kindred souls over their shared mastery of American theater so, when we launched War of the Worlds Jack was all in." "Capturing Jack Clay on film was a gift and privilege," adds director and screenplay writer Timothy Hines. "He understood how important maintaining the classic language of H. G. Wells was and he helped set the tone and temper of the film with his performance. I am forever grateful to have his spirit live on in my film." Jack Clay was a graduate of Northwestern University school of speech under Alvina Krause. He taught at Oberlin College (1956 - 1957), the University of Miami (1957 - 1961), and the University of South Florida (1961 - 1966). He also headed the Professional Actors Training Programs at Southern Methodist University (1966 - 1986) and the University of Washington (1986 - 1991.) While in Dallas, he founded "Stage #1," a professional acting company, and served as its artistic director for eight years. Jack's teachers included Lee Strasberg, Martha Graham and Eric Hawkins. Jack was also a distinguished member of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. Clay died September 2, 2019 at age 92.