Actor Alan Mandell, renowned Beckett interpreter, dies at 98

Acclaimed actor Alan Mandell has died at the age of 98 at his home in Westwood. Mandell was widely recognized as a premier interpreter of playwright Samuel Beckett’s works, having performed in Beckett plays dozens of times throughout his career. Notably, Beckett himself directed Mandell in productions of ‘Waiting for Godot’ and ‘Endgame’ in Europe.

Mandell’s career was marked by significant contributions to regional theater. In the 1950s, he worked with the San Francisco Actor’s Workshop, helping to establish it as one of the first regional theater companies in the United States. His 1957 performance as Lucky in ‘Waiting for Godot’ at San Quentin State Prison led to the co-founding of the San Quentin Drama Workshop alongside inmate Rick Cluchey, creating the first extended prison theater program in the country.

Beyond his stage work, Mandell appeared in films such as the Coen brothers’ ‘A Serious Man’ and ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’. His television credits include appearances on ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, ‘Baretta’, and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. He also held leadership and consulting roles at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.