Walter Witcover Scheinman (August 24, 1924 – November 15, 2013) was an American actor, director, and acting teacher born in New York City. His parents were Louis J. Scheinman, a sculptor and composer, and Juliette T. Benton, a critic and lecturer.[1] He received a BA and MA from Cornell University and served in World War II.[2]
Witcover studied acting under his mentor Lee Strasberg, as well as with Herbert Berghof, and Curt Conway. As director, three of his Off-Broadway productions won Obie Awards. He taught acting and directing at Berghof's HB Studio for twenty-five years and was Professor of Theatre Arts at the State University of New York at Purchase Theatre Arts program, and at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He also was co-founder and artistic director of Masterworks Laboratory Theatre (MLT).[3] He later founded the Witcover Acting Studio in New York City.[4] He directed plays featuring Jane Alexander, Dominic Chianese, Jerry Stiller, Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, among many others.
His students have included Barbara Barrie, Ernest Borgnine, Lance Henriksen, Christine Lahti, Tony Musante, Robert Clohessy, Liz Larsen, William Youmans.
Walt grew up in New York City and Kew Gardens, Queens.
He was lifelong friends with photographer Richard Avedon, whom he'd known since early childhood.