Cynthia Szigeti
Cynthia Szigeti(October 26, 1949 – August 10, 2016) was an American comic actress andacting teacher,known for her work at theGroundlings,animprovandsketch comedytroupe and school inLos Angeles,and theACME Comedy Theatre.Her students includedAdam Carolla,Will Forte,Lisa Kudrow,Joel McHale,Conan O'BrienandJulia Sweeney.[1]Her professional acting credits includedNational Lampoon's European Vacation,as well as roles inSeinfeldandCurb Your Enthusiasm.[1]
Early life
[edit]Szigeti went toFairfax High SchoolinLos Angeles.[1]She later received hermaster's degreeinactingfrom theUniversity of California, Los Angeles(UCLA).[1]Szigeti began her career by waitressing at the Pitchell Players improv club after graduating from UCLA.[1]Her work at the club inspired her to enroll in improv classes atThe Groundlings,the L.A. improv school, for $45 a month. Szigeti took the classes before successfully auditioning to become a full-time member of The Groundlings' main comedy troupe.[1]
Acting and improv career
[edit]Cynthia Szigeti eventually left The Groundlings forThe Comedy Store,acomedy clubinWest Hollywood,where she joined The Comedy Store Players alongsideTaylor Negron,Martin ShortandRobin Williams.[1]In a 2009 interview, Szigeti spoke of the differences between performing within the comedy troupes of The Groundlings versus The Comedy Club, saying, "At the Groundlings it was all aboutwigs,rehearsalsandcostumes.At the Store, it was immediate, topical and edgy. "[1][2]
During the 1980s, Szigeti returned to The Groundlings to run the school.[1]She also continued to teach improv, as well as directing and overseeing the training of its acting teachers.[1]In addition to her work at The Groundlings, she also co-founded theACME Comedy Theatrein 1989, as well as taught at Keep It Real Acting,[1]and at UCLA Extension.
Szigeti's improv students at The Groundlings and the ACME Comedy Theatre includedAdam Carolla,Will Forte,Joel McHale,Conan O'Brien,Cheri OteriandJulia Sweeney.[1]ActressLisa Kudrow,who studied under her at The Groundlings during the 1980s, called Szigeti "the best thing that happened, on so many levels" and credited her with changing her perspective on acting.[1]In a 2012 interview with theArchive of American Television,Kudrow spoke of her experience studying under Szigeti, "She spoke to me in a way that no on else could have. I wasn't going to be OK with a touchy, feely, everyone sort of moan, crazy acting exercise thing. She was, 'There's no time in improv to work up to an emotion! You guys just need to have it [immediately]! It's all pretend anyway!'."[1][3]It was Szigeti who encouraged Kudrow to create her first "dumb" or "airhead" character, which Kudrow had initially resisted.[3]
Outside of improv, Szigeti accumulated her own numerous film and television credits, which spanned several decades. Her film credits includedI Never Promised You a Rose Garden(1977),You Light Up My Life(1977),The Gong Show Movie(1980),Repo Man(1984),The Wrong Guys(1988) andUp Close and Personal(1996).[1]Hertelevision sitcomroles includedWKRP in Cincinnati,Gimme a Break!,Married... with Children,Who's the Boss?,Empty Nest,The Norm Show,The King of QueensandCurb Your Enthusiasm(Season 1, Episode 10).[1]
Most notably, Szigeti playedJerry Seinfeld's former high school girlfriend in a 1991 episode of Seinfeld called "The Library".In the episode, Seinfeld tracks down Szigeti's character to use her as analibifor a borrowed book which he never returned to theNew York Public Library.[1]
Death and legacy
[edit]Szigeti died fromidiopathic pulmonary fibrosisat her home in Los Angeles on August 10, 2016, at the age of 66.[1]Gunnar Todd Rohrbacher,an acting coach, founder of Actors Comedy Studio, and another of Szigeti's former students wrote a tribute to Szigeti, noting, "She was definitely intimidating, unapologetic, shockingly intelligent, generous, joyful and demanding... She would tell stories that included names likeBruce Springsteen,Robin Williams,Martin Short,Robert RedfordandHelen Mirren.If you studied with her, your life was changed, and it was that simple. "[1]
Filmography
[edit]- The Big Bus(1976) - Bus Passenger #21
- American Raspberry(1977) - Dawn
- I Never Promised You a Rose Garden(1977) - Nurse
- You Light Up My Life(1977) - Cousin
- The Gong Show Movie(1980) - Diner Doll Sophie
- What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon(1983) - Nurse Darlene
- Repo Man(1984) - Deidre, U.F.O. Lady
- Johnny Dangerously(1984) - Mrs. Capone
- National Lampoon's European Vacation(1985) - Mrs. Froeger
- Hunk(1987) - Chachka
- The Wrong Guys(1988) - Spa Matron
- 976-EVIL(1988) - Female Operator
- A Sinful Life(1989) - Mrs. Crow
- Midnight Ride(1990) - Mrs. Egan
- Where the Day Takes You(1991) - Counselor
- Man of the Year(1995) - Betty Levy
- Beverly Hills 90210(1995) - Madame Raven
- Up Close and Personal(1996) - Focus Group Member #6
- Nobody Knows Anything!(2003) - Jimmy's Mother
- Diamonds and Guns(2008) - Mrs. Antignatti
- Married With ChildrenSeason 07. Episode 16. - Bertha
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghijklmnopqrsBarnes, Mike (2016-08-19)."Cynthia Szigeti, Groundlings Improv Teacher and 'Seinfeld' Actress, Dies at 66".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2016-09-06.
- ^Malone, Kris (2009-09-01)."Improv Expert 'Splains It All".Hollywood Passport.Retrieved2016-09-06.
- ^ab"Lisa Kudrow interview: Part 2 of 4".Archive of American Television.2012-12-22.Retrieved2016-09-06.