Malina, Judith (1926–)

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Malina, Judith (1926–)

American theatrical director and actress. Born June 4, 1926, in Kiel, Germany; raised in US; dau. of a German rabbi; m. Hannon Resnikov; m. Julian Beck, 1948 (died Sept 14, 1985); children: 1.

Studied at New School University under Erwin Piscator and made debut at Cherry Lane Theater, NY; with Julian Beck, founded Living Theater (1947) which was dedicated to collective improvisation and anarcho-pacifist stance, became increasingly political in 1950s, and won Obie for Jack Gelber's play about drug addiction The Connection (1959); starred in several commercial films, including The Addams Family (1991) and Household Saints (1993). Living Theater toured successfully in Europe but, facing financial and legal trouble in US, closed (1963) and moved to London and then Europe; company returned to US (1968), toured Brazil (1970s), and settled in France (1975); productions include The Brig (1963), Paradise Now (1968), The Legacy of Cain (1971) and Masse Mensch (1980).