// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Jack Clay? A molding influence.

Jack Clay
Born	Jack DeWayne Clay (1926-10-20)October 20, 1926 Decatur, Illinois
Died	September 2, 2019(2019-09-02) (aged 92) Seattle, Washington
Education	Northwestern University
Employer(s)	Oberlin College, University of Miami, University of South Florida, Southern Methodist University, and University of Washington
Known for	an acting teacher, director and actor

Jack DeWayne Clay (October 20, 1926 – September 2, 2019) was an American acting teacher, director and actor.

A graduate of the Northwestern University school of speech under Alvina Krause, Clay taught at Oberlin College (1956 - 1957), University of Miami (1957 - 1961), and the University of South Florida (1961 - 1966). He also headed the Professional Actors Training Programs at Southern Methodist University (1966 - 1986) and the University of Washington (1986 - 1991). While in Dallas, he founded "Stage #1," a professional acting company, and served as its artistic director for eight years.

Clay's teachers included Lee Strasberg, Martha Graham and Eric Hawkins. Among his best-known students were Kathy Bates, Powers Boothe, Patricia Richardson, Stephen Tobolowsky, Beth Henley and Christopher Evan Welch.

Clay was also a distinguished member of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.

Clay died on September 2, 2019, in Seattle.

Further reading

• Hulbert, Dan (December 6, 1981). "Suddenly the Accent is Southern". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
• Kathy Bates, James Lipton (November 8, 1998). Inside the Actors Studio, Episode #4.12 (VHS). New School University, New York, New York: Actors Studio Drama School.
• Wilonsky, Robert (April 24, 2003). "In Character". The Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
• "Members". College of Fellows of the American Theatre. Archived from the original on 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
• "The Jack Clay Endowed Fellowship". University of Washington School of Drama. Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2006-10-03.