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Biography

Ken Lerner came to Los Angeles in 1975 after studying in New York with Stella Adler and appearing in off-off Broadway shows. He was immediately, cast in Happy Days, the #1 show in the country, where he preceded to secure recurring roles as tough guy Frankie Bing Bong, Demolition Derby driver Rocko Malacchi, and Fonzie’s best friend, Rocko Baruffi.

That same month, Ken got the lead in an AFI movie, Hot Tomorrows. The student film effort of director Marty Brest (Scent of A Woman, Beverly Hills Cop), Hot Tomorrows went on to the New York and Los Angeles film festivals, becoming a cult favorite.

Ken has continued to work in TV, movies, and commercials for the last 25 years, making his a recognizable face everywhere he goes. He has appeared in more than 50 top television shows, including NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Judging Amy, The Drew Carey Show, Dharma and Greg, Beverly Hills 90210, JAG, LA Law, Family Ties, Newhart, The Commish and Hill Street Blues.

Ken’s major film roles include Unlawful Entry, the Doctor, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Running Man, The Story of Us, Immediate Family, Irreconcilable Differences, Project X and many others. Ken has also starred in memorable commercials for Snickers, Federal Express, Immodium, McDonald’s, Toyota, Delta Airlines, Kitchen Aid and others.

Ken’s theatrical appearances include the murderous Jonathan in Arsenic and Old Lace at Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theater, and the frazzled bureau chief in the West Coast premiere of El Salvador

Ken began teaching for his mentor, the late Roy London, who gave Ken the honor of being his first student teacher. Ken has been teaching cold reading and scene study classes for the past 12 years and has helped numerous actors get jobs in movies, TV shows and pilots.

Ken’s technique combines the wisdom of the great acting teachers with whom he has studied—Roy London, Stella Adler and Peggy Feury—with his own hands-on experience as a steadily working actor. Very few acting teachers actually work as actors, and Ken’s experiences on sets and on stage give him the ability to share inside information with his students. Ken’s positive approach to the work and outstanding ability to break down scripts help him to nurture and bring out the best qualities in his acting students. Ken is in the trenches all the time and imparts his experiences in a gentle, but firm way

To arrange for Ken Lerner to give an acting workshop in your area, please contact Ken at 818-753-7744 or TheKenLernerStudio@gmail.com.

Classes can be audited at no cost.

Private coaching also available.

For information on acting classes, call 818-753-7744

© Ken Lerner

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