James DiStefano

James DiStefano is a respected professional actor and acting teacher with over 30 years of experience in the business. James has been directed by Kathryn Bigelow (first female to win an Oscar for Best Director), Mark Rydell, Albert Brooks (Oscar- nominee), Thomas Shlamme (Emmy-winner), and Danny Cannon (Emmy-nominee). He has acted for Oscar-winner Robert Altman. He is grateful to have been directed by the brilliant Oscar-winner, director of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola. James has studied with co-artistic director of The Actors Studio Mark Rydell (Oscar-nominee for best director, On Golden Pond), Martin Landau (Oscar-winner for Best Actor, Ed Wood), Shelley Winters (two-time Oscar-winner for Best Supporting Actress, including Diary of Anne Frank, Emmy-winner), and Barbara Bain (three-time Emmy-winner). James has taught both adult and teen classes at the Lee Strasberg Institute, The New York Film Academy, and East L.A. Classic Theatre. He created the first Cold Reading class at the Actor's Studio, which he taught for eight years. James is a lifelong member of The Actors Studio and actively participates in the Playwrights Unit and Directors Unit. In his private classes, James uses a variety of techniques to suit each individual actor, so that they can explore their needs, be vulnerable, and take chances to tap into their most creative selves. James lives in Los Angeles.