Acting Coach David LeGrant Dies

Acting coach David LeGrant, whose career in the entertainment industry spanned nearly six decades, has passed away. He was 87 years old.

LeGrant's many students included Broadway veterans such as Bernadette Peters and Carol Burnett as well as film and television stars from Steve Martin to Alyson Hannigan. 

In a 2010 interview with Back Stage, Alyson Hannigan spoke fondly of LeGrant, saying that "David has these great sayings. I wish I'd written them down because they were so clever and they help me every time I think of them."

Bernadette Peters had an equally glowing view: "The best quote from David - and I repeat it all the time when a young person asks me for advice - is, 'Never copy anyone,'" she says. "'There is only one of you in the world. The best thing you have to offer is your originality. If they already have a Robert De Niro or Meryl Streep, why would they need another one?'"

His success was likely due in part to his keen eye for talent, as he was quoted as saying that his students were "People who are hungry," because "you can't cook for people who aren't hungry."

LeGrant is survived by sons Jacob and Adam.

Photo Credit: studioforacting.com