Gary Austin
1941-2017 · Los Angeles, CA
Also known as Gary Moore
Founder of The Groundlings, the Los Angeles improv institution that launched Pee-wee Herman, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, and Melissa McCarthy.
Known for
- Performed with The Committee in San Francisco (late 1960s) under Del Close.
- Founded The Groundlings in 1974 after assembling a group of Los Angeles performers in 1972.
- Named the troupe after the cheap-seat audience members in Shakespeare's Globe.
- Later founded the Gary Austin Workshops, teaching into his 70s.
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