He has subsequently appeared in several films, including James Dean (portraying Lee Strasberg, under whom he had studied at the Actors Studio). Kessler studied acting with Lee Strasberg and was accepted into the Director"s Unit of the Actors Studio, where he wrote and directed his first one act play, The Viewing, which he subsequently directed at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New New York
Writer and director = Playwright Kessler"s most well known plays include his first full length work, The Watering Place, and Orphans. The Watering Place (written in 1969) premiered on Broadway starring Shirley Knight and William Devane. Orphans (1983) was directed by Gary Sinise and opened at Chicago"s Steppenwolf Theatre before starting its successful Office Broadway run.
Kessler"s other plays include: Robbers (1987) which has been performed at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut starring Judd Hirsch Possession (1976) which was premiered by the Ensemble Studio Theatre, directed by James Hammerstein.
Unlisted which was performed at the Tiffany Theatre in Los Angeles starring Charles Robinson. Burning Bright The Family Circle The Engagement The Viewing His plays have been published by Random House, Grove Press and Samuel French Incorporated.
= Films Kessler"s play Orphans has been made into a film of the same name. Directed by Alan J. Pakula, the film version of Orphans starred Matthew Modine and Albert Finney.
He has also written: The Saint of Fort Washington, for which he was executive producer.
Gladiator Touched, in which he also acted. Other activities This workshop brings together actors, writers and directors who create scenes and original plays to be performed by psychiatric patients, veterans and "at risk" students in the L.A Public Schools. Kessler and Mark Rydell co-moderate the Writer/Directors Unit of the s Studio West at Greenway Court Theatre.
Kessler served as the Director of the Sundance Screenwriter"s Laboratory
He also participated in the Sundance Screenwriters Conference in Hungary, working with writers from all over Eastern Europe. In 2009, Kessler, working with actor Martin Landau and director Mark Rydell, have teamed up to produce an education seminar, the Total Picture Seminar, a two-day event covering the disciplines of acting, directing and writing for film.
Albert Finney won the Olivier Award for his performance in the London West End production of Orphans. Kessler was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation Playwriting Grant for his play The Watering Place and won the New York State Council on the Arts Playwriting Award for his play Burning Bright. In 1998 they won the Ovation Award "for their excellence in using theatre to impact and involve a community.".
