March 15, 1942–January 27, 2020
One of Hollywood’s best acting teachers has passed on. Corral Gayle, aka Corral Rose was founding president and owner of The Screen Actor’s Academy which operated in Chicago, Illinois, and later San Diego, California, with special workshops for select talent in Los Angeles.
Teaching the foundation of acting; Stanislavski, Corral was unique in the field for her unwavering honesty and integrity; always telling it like it was–not as students or potential students wanted it to be. She was also widely unique for her extensive stage, camera, and voice-over experience, working directly alongside many of the industries biggest stars. Additionally, Corral was known and respected for only working with the very best in the field of entertainment to round out her students training; from top Shakespeare instructors from the Royal Academy of London, to celebrity talent management.
Teaching not only the foundation of acting from Stanislavski’s three books, which she urged was a three year process, Corral Gayle also was one of the only acting instructors who also taught voice diction, as it was taught during the early studio-system days of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Corral also proudly taught “the business” of Hollywood, and discouraged students from moving to Hollywood prematurely, always working to keep them grounded in reality–not false hope.
I had the honor to meet Corral by phone nearly 20 years ago, and we struck up a friendship by phone that lasted throughout those years, talking at times daily about our respective clients, and the industry at large. Together, Corral and I attended A.C. Lyle’s Memorial Service at Paramount Pictures, where Corral was recognized by many, and bumped elbows with stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger among more.
Tough on her students, and never one to take any nonsense, Corral was also a kind, good-natured woman, with a brilliant wit and unending sense of humor. Self-deprecating, yet supportive of so many others, she would regularly have me laughing in tears with her hilarious jokes, one-liners, and stories.
Having helped many actors from around the country, including many children, Corral was widely respected by her students, peers, and all of those in Hollywood fortunate enough to know her. A mother, grandmother, teacher, coach, and friend, Corral was loved by many and will be greatly missed.
–Bruce Edwin; CEO, Starpower Management
“I’m not an actor–thank God! But if I was, I would let Corral teach me. She’s the best.”–A.C. Lyles, former President of Paramount, publicist to Marilyn Monroe and James Dean
“She was one of a kind. There will never be another Corral Gayle.” —-Moira Cue; Actress, Singer, Fine Artist
“So sad. She was a great lady!” –Jocelyn Jolley; Actress, Model
“So sad to hear about Corral passing away so suddenly. May the LOVE and LIGHT of Great Spirit surround her forever as she rests in peace!” –Gabriel Romero; Actor
“A very exceptional, rare, breath of fresh air, down to earth, real individual. A very caring and generous spirit. If we had more people as her in Hollywood and the entertainment industry our community and the world would be a completely different world than the current scene it currently is. Corral will be missed and I know that she is in a better place.” –Carl Urbin; Award Winning Producer
How to Succeed in Hollywood
From Corral Gayle:
1, Never let em’ see you sweat!
2, You should always have at least 4 monologues in your repertoire. Two from the classical era, and two from the modern era. Two comedic, and two dramatic.
3, Never choose a monologue by someone famous, unless you are better than them. Chances are, you’re NOT.
4, If a casting director asks if you can skydive, say yes. Then, go spend all weekend taking some skydiving lessons. And you better be sure to learn how to pull the chute!
5, Don’t be a prude. If you are a prude or too shy, you don’t belong in Hollywood, you belong in a monastery.
6, Don’t do anything trashy. Stick your morals.
7, I can skip a rock down Hollywood Boulevard and hit a dozen actors. Being an actor doesn’t make you special. To be special, you have to train and train hard, every day and become great. It’s hard work and it doesn’t come easy. There are no shortcuts. If you are looking for a shortcut, go home. There isn’t any.
8, Be nice. Be nice to everyone. The cab driver, the dishwasher, the busboy, and the waiter. They may be a waiter today, but tomorrow they may be the biggest director you’ve ever heard of. It’s a small town. And everybody knows everybody.
9, If you tick off the wrong agent or manager–a big one, you can be sure you won’t work in this town again. Treat your agent and manager and team like gold. And don’t be cheap and try to cheat them. Everybody’s worried about getting cheated. They have to make a living just like you do. You can’t do it on your own.
10, Too many actors and models are nuts. And they are spoiled and entitled. They think that Hollywood is just waiting for them with open arms, and candy and flowers at the airport to welcome them and ready to make them a big star! Guess what kiddo? You’ll be waiting at the airport a long time. There are no discoveries. Talent isn’t something you are born with, you have to make it. Everybody thinks they are all so great and oh so important. The one’s that are the most full of themselves are the ones who usually have no talent. Some of the biggest and best stars out there are some of the most kind and humble people you could ever meet.
11, To make it in this town you have to be obsessed. It has to be in your blood. You have to feel like you would die if you don’t do this–if you don’t act. You have to want it as much as the air that you breathe. If you don’t want it that bad then don’t bother. But then you have to have a job on the side, to make a living. Don’t expect to make a living as an actor–most don’t. We don’t act for the money. We act because we HAVE to. It’s who we are. It’s in our blood.
12, Break a leg! Just not where you need a cast.
(c) 2020, Hollywood Sentinel
“You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” –Bob Hope
