User:Andrelandzaat

Andre Landzaat was born and raised in The Hague in The Netherlands. He inherited his desire for adventure from his grandfather on his father's side, who was a sea captain that took him to all corners of the world. His desire for creativity came to him from his mother and her father Rotgans, who were both successful art painters. This combination prompted him to travel to foreign countries at a young age to pursue an acting career. Before he went abroad, he received a new talent award from the Nederlandse Film Maarschappij.

He began his studies in Paris for two years with Ives Furet whose teachings were based on the method of Lee Strasberg. During that time he was acquainted with Edward Albee who encouraged him to study with the master himself in his private classes at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Later, Andre became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. During that time in New York, he experienced and collaborated work with such talents as Shelley Winters, Robert de Niro and Al Pacino.  He was also influenced by the trainings of Peggy Feury and Warren Robertson.

Because of his Dutch accent, his friend Tennessee Williams thought it would be best for him to go to Los Angeles. After all, television and film there would present more opportunities for him than theatre in New York. Ironically, Tennessee once privately wrote to Andre that he felt "Los Angeles seemed to reek of a secret evil. Corruption!  It emanates a blanket of polluted air that stretches over the entire area."

Not long after arriving in Los Angeles, Andre received a Soapy Award from Soap Opera Digest for portraying the character of Tony Cassadine on "General Hospital." The show broke records for daytime drama viewership, earning over 14 million viewers per Nielsen Media Research. The show's success even drove Elizabeth Taylor to join the cast where she played Helena Cassadine, Tony's sister-in-law.

Dutch television became aware of Andre's success in America and invited him to play Rudolf Stikker in "Medisch Centrum West" in 1988 and later in "Westenwind" in 2000 as Wim Driessen. For a documentary on Maximillian Schell, he played Rolfe in "Judgment at Nuremberg" at the Actors Studio. Mr. Schell was present in the audience and praised Andre for his work.

He is also a member of Theatre West where he learned to sing his first songs from his close friend and acclaimed performer, Betty Garrett, who was the moderator of the musical workshop.

Recently, Andre taught method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute to fresh and eager talent from all over the world.

Currently living in The Netherlands, Andre continues to teach method acting regularly at an academy in Amsterdam. When time allows, he enjoys private coaching and conducting workshops and master classes throughout Europe. Recently he was hosted at RJB Studios in Almere and the Lucidare Acteer School in Amsterdam.