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Elizabeth Smith

1935–2026

Elizabeth Smith was a founding faculty member of Juilliard Drama and voice coach who trained actors including Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, and Wendell Pierce.

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Fieldtheatreacademia

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Elizabeth Smith was a distinguished voice coach and professor who served as a founding faculty member of the Juilliard School's Drama Division. Throughout her career, she helped numerous actors develop their vocal techniques and find their voices, working with many who went on to become major stars of stage and screen.

Her notable mentees included Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, and Wendell Pierce, among many others who credited her with shaping their craft. As a founding member of Juilliard Drama, she played a pivotal role in establishing one of the most prestigious actor training programs in the United States.

Smith died at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential voice coaches in American theatre. Her work continues through the generations of actors she trained who have gone on to achieve prominence in theatre, film, and television.

Compiled from source reports. Automated record.

Sources cited