Andre Gregory

**André Gregory**, born as André William Gregory on May 11, 1934, is a man of many artistic talents - A theatre director, a writer, and an actor, born in Paris, France with a mixed heritage of French and Russian Jewish descent. His claim to fame is his contribution to the comedy-drama film _'My Dinner with Andre'_ as a co-writer and star in 1981, directed by Louis Malle. Gregory’s avid interest in dramaturgy led him to The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Gregory kickstarted his dramatic directing career during the 1960s and 1970s through a series of avant-garde productions developed through ensemble collaboration. His most significant work is the adaptation of Lewis Carroll's two classic Alice books into 'Alice in Wonderland' (1970). Besides his directing pursuits, Gregory also starred in some selective roles including John the Baptist in The Last Temptation of Christ and Reverend Spellgood in The Mosquito Coast. His portrayal of the title character in My Dinner with Andre earned him widespread recognition. **His best-known film performance** was as the title character in _My Dinner with Andre (1981)_, directed by Louis Malle, where his riveting conversation with Wallace Shawn forms the crux of the film’s narrative. The conversation takes insightful turns discussing Gregory's spiritual journey in Europe and concerns about the future of theatre and Western civilization. Gregory took a brief hiatus from theatre in 1975, due to growing doubts about the role of theatre in the society of that time, and made a return to direct small productions. One of note is _Uncle Vanya_, which was developed from 1990 to 1994 and featured Shawn and Julianne Moore. Due to his profound artistic and theatrical contributions, a documentary about Gregory's life, Andre Gregory: Before and After Dinner, was launched by his wife, Cindy Kleine, casting light on his awe-inspiring journey, in his life and his career.