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Chicago1980

(1,968 posts)
Mon Mar 2, 2020, 02:57 PM Mar 2020

James Lipton, Interviewer Who Let Stars Shine, Dies at 93

Source: The New York Times

James Lipton, Interviewer Who Let Stars Shine, Dies at 93

His in-depth conversations with celebrities on “Inside the Actors Studio” focused on craft, not gossip, and made the show a hit on Bravo.


James Lipton, who plumbed the dramatic arts through perceptive, mostly admiring interviews with celebrity actors as host of the Bravo television series “Inside the Actors Studio,” died on Monday at his home in Manhattan. He was 93.

The cause was bladder cancer, his wife, Kedakai Mercedes Lipton, said.

Mr. Lipton was a knowledgeable interviewer who focused on craft while avoiding gossip, winning the trust of his famous guests as well as an international audience.

During his 23-season run as host — he left the show when it moved from Bravo to Ovation TV in 2019 — “Inside the Actors Studio” became a coveted stop for writers, directors and performers, who would give some of their longest and most unguarded interviews to Mr. Lipton.

His manner was sympathetic — fawning, to some, and often lampooned — but the formula worked, and among the 275 or so stars he interviewed were some of the brightest: Paul Newman, Alec Baldwin, Neil Simon, Sally Field, Dennis Hopper and Sidney Lumet, to name a few — and they came along in just the first season.


Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/arts/television/james-lipton-dead.html
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James Lipton, Interviewer Who Let Stars Shine, Dies at 93 (Original Post) Chicago1980 Mar 2020 OP
RIP and sympathies to his beloveds. irisblue Mar 2020 #1
... 2naSalit Mar 2020 #2
He was a good one. Botany Mar 2020 #3
+1 2naSalit Mar 2020 #4
+1 bronxiteforever Mar 2020 #7
+1 Kid Berwyn Mar 2020 #14
Couldn't stand the man or his show PJMcK Mar 2020 #5
I always liked the show Bayard Mar 2020 #6
Holy damn I never knew he was that old... Blue_Tires Mar 2020 #8
... Talitha Mar 2020 #9
R.I.P. He certainly has enriched TV viewing question everything Mar 2020 #10
Sad news Raine Mar 2020 #11
RIP DaDeacon Mar 2020 #12
The only time I ever saw James Lipton flustered: Paladin Mar 2020 #13
93?, he looked amazing, RIP, I've always enjoyed his interviews Demonaut Mar 2020 #15

Paladin

(28,204 posts)
13. The only time I ever saw James Lipton flustered:
Mon Mar 2, 2020, 09:21 PM
Mar 2020

Was when, in the midst of an interview on Lipton's show, Jack Lemmon admitted to being a long-time alcoholic. It was obvious that Lipton was caught completely off-guard by this news, but he settled down after a couple of minutes and the show went on as usual.

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